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Highlighted here on the map of Hawaiʻi Island, Waiākea stands out as the largest ahupuaʻa on the island. This visualization not only shows its size but also shows its location in relation to the neighboring ahupuaʻa.

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Waiākea is located in the Hilo moku on Hawaiʻi Island. Native Hawaiians settled here around 1100, and immigrants later worked on sugarcane plantations. Despite earthquakes, lava flows, and tsunamis, the community has rebuilt many times. Hilo is now known for its history, parks, and cultural events like the Merrie Monarch Festival.

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What does Waiākea mean & how is it pronounced?

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What does Waiākea mean & how is it pronounced?

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Waiākea, meaning "broad waters" in Hawaiian. This is because it is known for its abundant rainfall, raining nearly 360 days a year. It is pronounced "why-uh-kay-uh" or phonetically as "way-ә-ke-ә."

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Waiākea as a Thriving Ahupuaʻa: Waiākea was a productive area with taro fields, sweet potato farms, and fishponds that supported the local Hawaiian community. It was also a center for canoe-making and bird-catching, focusing on sustainable practices.

Missionary Influence and Centralization: In the early 1800s, missionaries arrived in Hilo, including Waiākea, bringing Christianity and Western education.

Hilo as a Trade Hub: Waiākea, located by Hilo Bay, played a key role in Hilo becoming a trade center. Contact with foreign ships brought new crops, tools, and economic opportunities, which altered the traditional Hawaiian economy.

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A tsunami hit Hilo Bay on November 7, 1837, destroying homes and farms. Many Hawaiians needed help from missionaries and their way of life changed.
After the tsunami, Reverend Titus Coan saw a religious revival in Hilo, with up to 10,000 people attending. Many Hawaiians gave up their traditional beliefs and became Christians.

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The Māhele: The Māhele of 1848 replaced the communal ahupuaʻa system with Western-style land ownership. Crown Lands, Government Lands, and Konohiki Lands were established, makaʻāinana were given the right to claim kuleana they actively cultivated.

While some residents of Waiākea successfully claimed kuleana lands, many struggled due to strict documentation requirements. Much of the upland agricultural land was left unclaimed as populations continued to centralize in coastal areas, furthering the decline of traditional subsistence agriculture.

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Measles Epidemic-1848: A measles epidemic killed about one-third of Waiākea's population. Many farms were left abandoned, and traditional practices began to fade.

Changes in Housing and Agriculture: Western-style wooden houses replaced traditional Hawaiian homes. Sugarcane farming grew in the uplands, showing the rise of plantation agriculture in Waiākea.

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Kuleana Land Ownership in Waiākea: After the Māhele, few Native Hawaiians claimed land. Some, like Keaniho and Kapuaʻakuni, secured kuleana lands, but most land was leased to foreigners or taken over by plantations.

Establishment of Waiākea Mill Company-1879: The Waiākea Mill Company started large scale sugar production in the area. Founded by Alexander Young and Theo H. Davies, it controlled over 6,000 acres of cane fields and employed many workers, making Waiākea a key part of Hilo’s sugar economy.

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Map Highlights where the Waiākea Mill is located 

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May 24, 1918 Agreement: The Territory of Hawaiʻi made a deal with the Waiākea Mill Company to process sugar from over 2,000 acres of homestead land in Waiākea. This was meant to include homesteaders in the plantation economy.

Homesteader Struggles: Many Native Hawaiian homesteaders faced financial problems, disputes with the mill, and difficulties meeting their contract terms. Some shifted to subsistence farming or raised poultry, pigs, and vegetables.

Pineapple and Other Crops-1920s: Japanese farmers grew pineapple alongside sugarcane, with support from a cannery in Hilo.

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Image highlights the damage from the 1946 tsunami 

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April 1, 1946: A tsunami hit Hilo, damaging Waiākea and destroying the Waiākea Mill Company’s facilities and railway, stopping its operations.

December 31, 1948: The Waiākea Mill Company closed after 70 years of sugar production. The land was either developed for housing or used for smaller farming projects.

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Present-day Waiākea, covering 154.224 square miles, has a population of 121,173 people, with a density of 786 people per square mile.

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This map provides a view of present-day Waiākea, showing its current features and layout

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The future of the Waiākea Peninsula in Hilo focuses on revitalizing a 101.1-acre area, with a emphasis on reclaiming 62.6 acres of golf course land currently leased by the State. This is essential for enabling cultural and historically based development opportunities. The area’s strategic location near Hilo International Airport, downtown, and the Port of Hilo, along with its rich cultural and environmental resources, presents potential for growth. However, concerns about security, maintenance, flooding, and sea-level rise must be addressed. Future development should balance economic revitalization with cultural preservation and environmental sustainability, ensuring a thriving, resilient community space.

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The highlighted area on the map shows the location of the Waikīkī ahupua‘a, located on the southern coast of O‘ahu.

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This picture highlights the Moku of O‘ahu. The purple is Kona which is where Waikīkī is located

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Shown in purple is where Waikīkī is located on the moku of Kona. Kona is one of the traditional land divisions on the island of O‘ahu, encompassing the southern and central parts of the island. It is known for its rich cultural history, including key historical sites and significant natural resources.

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Waikīkī means "the spouting waters" in Hawaiian, referring to the freshwater springs and streams that used to flow in the area. These springs were important for the people who lived there, providing water for drinking, farming, and daily activities. The name highlights the area's strong connection to water and its importance to the community.

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The dark blue notes the streams (Piʻinaio, Āpuakēhau and Kuekaunahi). The light blue notes the fishponds and the green notes the areas that were once in taro loʻi and then rice cultivation

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The streams in Waikīkī came from the Makiki, Mānoa, and Pālolo valleys:

Pi‘inaio (Makiki Stream) - Flowed into the sea at Kālia, near Fort DeRussy.

‘Āpuakēhau (Mānoa and Kālia Streams) - Flowed into the ocean at Helumoa, near the Royal Hawaiian and Moana Hotels.

Kuekaunahi (Pālolo Stream) - Flowed into the sea at Hamohamo, near Kalākaua Avenue.

These streams brought fresh water and helped make Waikīkī's marshlands suitable for farming.

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View of rice fields towards Pālolo Valley from the back of Waikīkī

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Rice farming helped manage Waikīkī's wetland areas, which were originally marshes good for fish ponds and taro farming. The rice fields, along with fish ponds, made good use of the area's water resources.

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Taro farming was very important in old Waikīkī. The marshy land, watered by streams from the nearby valleys, was ideal for growing taro. Hawaiians developed a system of irrigated taro fields, which became a major part of the region’s agricultural production. These fields not only provided a steady food supply but also supported the community's growth and helped maintain the connection between people and the land. Taro farming was central to the economy and cultural life of ancient Waikīkī.

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Pi‘inaio Stream was important in Waikīkī for its fresh water and fishponds, especially in Kālia, where fish were farmed for royalty. Kālia was also known for seaweed and was a resting spot for travelers.

In the early 1900s, the U.S. military filled in the ponds to build Fort DeRussy, and the land was further changed by the Ala Wai Drainage Canal.

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The Ala Wai Canal, built in the 1920s, drained Waikīkī’s wetlands and fishponds, destroying its native culture. Before this, Waikīkī was a sacred area with taro farms, fishponds, and healing sites. In the early 1900s, it became a popular tourist spot. The canal was created under the pretense of disease prevention but also made the land uninhabitable for Native Hawaiians. This change led to military and tourist developments, displacing indigenous people and transforming the area. Today, Waikīkī's history is often forgotten as it becomes a symbol of overdevelopment.

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This image shows how much Waikīkī has developed over the years, with its towering structures and expanded land. Today, it is a very popular destination for tourists

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This is a current map of Waikīkī, highlighting its location and developments.

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Waikīkī’s beaches are facing major challenges due to the impact of tourism and overdevelopment. The constant flow of visitors has led to coastal erosion and environmental strain. To address these issues, a $12 million project is planned to protect the shoreline from climate change, erosion, and rising sea levels. This includes adding sand regularly and building sea walls

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This image provides a visual summary of the strategies designed to address the impact of sea-level rise and other climate change concerns in Waikīkī

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University of Hawaii researchers have developed plans to adapt Waikīkī to sea-level rise, expected to reach six feet by 2100. Their designs include elevating buildings, moving critical equipment, and adding stormwater systems to manage flooding. With input from over 700 stakeholders, these strategies aim to protect Waikīkī, a key economic area, and can be applied to other coastal cities facing climate change

Living Shoreline: Restoring natural shorelines to protect against erosion.

Resilient Streetscape: Enhancing streets with materials and designs that can withstand climate impacts.

Elevate Critical Equipment: Raising essential infrastructure above potential flood levels.

Wet Floodproofing: Making buildings resistant to water damage.

Floodable Open Space: Creating open spaces that can safely absorb water during floods.

Dry Floodproofing: Preventing water from entering buildings in flood-prone areas.

Elevate Exterior Circulation: Raising walkways and exterior paths above potential flood levels.

Re-purpose Below-grade Spaces: Converting basement areas into flood-resistant spaces.

Ecological Water Treatment: Using natural methods to manage stormwater runoff.

Elevate on Fill: Raising structures using fill to prevent flooding.

Elevate Interior Circulation: Raising internal pathways in buildings to protect against flooding.

Protect & Replace City Utilities: Upgrading utilities to withstand climate impacts.

Cisterns for Water Storage: Installing water storage systems for stormwater management.

Elevate on Open Foundation: Building on elevated foundations to keep structures above flood levels.

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Geller, Larry. 2014. “History of Waikiki & the Ala Wai Canal.” Alohahawaiionipaa.org. September 6, 2014. https://alohahawaiionipaa.org/205-2/.

Hiraishi, Kuʻuwehi. 2021. “Future of Waikīkī Beaches May Rely on $12M Shoreline Stabilization Project.” Hawai’i Public Radio. August 9, 2021. https://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/local-news/2021-08-09/waikiki-beach-climate-change-erosion-tourism.

HistoricHawaii. n.d. “Ala Wai Canal (Waikiki Drainage Canal).” Historic Hawaii Foundation. https://historichawaii.org/2014/02/19/ala-wai-canal-waikiki-drainage-canal/.

Kona.” 2024. AVAKonohiki.org. Excerpt from "A Lamentation for Kahahana. 2024. https://avakonohiki.weebly.com/kona.html?c=mkt_w_chnl:aff_geo:all_prtnr:sas_subprtnr:1538097_camp:brand_adtype:txtlnk_ag:weebly_lptype:hp_var:358504&sscid=b1k8_mwwtb&utm_source=ShareASale

Moku Maps | Aha Moku.” 2022. Ahamoku.org. 2022. https://www.ahamoku.org/index.php/maps.

Pili, Kamaka. 2020. “Meaning behind the Name ‘Waikīkī.’” KHON2. May 14, 2020. https://www.khon2.com/aloha-authentic/meaning-behind-the-name-waikiki/.

Yamanaka, Sarah. 2024. “UH Researchers’ Architectural Designs Address Sea-Level Rise in Waikiki.” Spectrumlocalnews.com. Spectrum News Hawaii. June 12, 2024. https://spectrumlocalnews.com/hi/hawaii/news/2024/06/12/uh-manoa-researchers-address-sea-level-rise-in-waikiki

Young, Peter. 2023. “Waikīkī Streams.” Images of Old Hawaiʻi. February 24, 2023. https://imagesofoldhawaii.com/waikiki-streams/.

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“History and Culture of Hilo.” 2017. Hiloliving.com. 2017. https://hiloliving.com/Hilo_Culture.html.

Ikeda, Janice. 2023. “Envisioning the Future of the Waiākea Peninsula.” Vibrant Hawaiʻi. November 6, 2023. https://www.vibranthawaii.org/post/envisioning-the-future-of-the-wai%C4%81kea-peninsula.

“Moku of Hilo – Ka Leo O Ka Uluau.” 2021. Hawaii.edu. 2021. https://hilo.hawaii.edu/blog/kaleookauluau/category/hilo/.

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“Waiakea Ahupua`a Neighborhood in Hilo, Hawaii (HI), 96720 Subdivision Profile - Real Estate, Apartments, Condos, Homes, Community, Population, Jobs, Income, Streets.” 2024. City-Data.com. 2024. https://www.city-data.com/neighborhood/Waiakea-Ahupua-a-Hilo-HI.html..

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“What Does Waiakea Mean & How Is It Pronounced?” 2019. Waiakea.com. 2019. https://help.waiakea.com/en-US/what-does-wai%C4%81kea-mean-&-how-is-it-pronounced-14385.

Young, Peter T. 2016. “Waiākea Sugar Mill.” Images of Old Hawaiʻi. August 31, 2016. https://imagesofoldhawaii.com/waiakea-sugar-mill/.