Tommy Waters

Protecting and preserving sacred spaces, particularly ones that hold iwi kūpuna, is a remarkably important kuleana. As the councilmember representing District 4, I worked alongside the community and lineal descendants of Puʻuhunoa o Wailupe to preserve these East Honolulu lands in perpetuity.

Mahalo to Puʻuhonua o Wailupe, most especially Healani Sonoda-Pale and Michael Hikalea, for working with Councilmember Esther Kiaʻāina to finally get this done. Your patience, perseverance, and leadership have truly been the backbone of this effort. Mahalo to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs for partnering with Puʻuhonua o Wailupe and assisting them throughout the application process. And mahalo to the Clean Water & Natural Lands Advisory Commission and the City Department of Housing and Land Management (DHLM) for voting to approve the application.

Together, we’re helping ensure that Puʻuhonua o Wailupe remains pristine for generations to come.

Still thinking about this past weekend’s festivities — it was awesome! It was great to see the community come out to watch the Walter J. Macfarlane Memorial Canoe Regatta 🎉 🛶 and participate in the Hawaiʻi Kai Shopping Center Market & Concert 🎶

Fun fact: Every 4th of July canoe paddlers from around Oʻahu gather at Waikīkī Beach for the Outrigger Canoe Club’s annual Walter J. Macfarlane Memorial Canoe Regatta. The Macfarlane Regatta is the only wave race on the Oʻahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association schedule and is the oldest annual outrigger canoe race in the world, getting its start in 1943.