Why We Must Protect Mount Kaʻala

A private developer is proposing to build a gondola and zipline system on the sacred slopes of Mount Kaʻala—Oʻahu’s highest point and one of our island’s most spiritually and ecologically important places. The proposed project, called Kamananui, would sprawl across 2,300 acres of valley and hillside lands between Kaukonahua Road and Mount Kaʻala, including a visitor center, cafe, restrooms, and recreational trails—all built on land zoned for agriculture.

This development is not just shortsighted—it would permanently scar a place that holds deep cultural, environmental, and spiritual significance.

Mount Kaʻala Is Sacred

Mount Kaʻala is revered not only for its breathtaking views, but for its unspoiled majesty and ecological richness. Installing steel cables, towers, and concrete infrastructure across this sacred landscape would forever alter its natural beauty and spiritual significance. What makes Kaʻala special is its untouched nature. Turning it into a commercial attraction would strip it of that essence.

Perhaps most importantly, Mount Kaʻala is sacred. To Native Hawaiians, it is not just a landmark—it is a place of deep cultural and spiritual meaning. Commercializing it would be an act of desecration and disrespect to the people who have stewarded this land for generations. Construction risks disturbing burial sites, ancestral remains, and cultural features that should never be unearthed or treated as obstacles to development.

The Environmental Toll

The environmental impact would be devastating. Mount Kaʻala’s summit and surrounding forests are home to rare and native species, fragile watersheds, and ecosystems already under threat. Construction, noise, and increased foot traffic could cause irreversible harm to these habitats.

There are also quiet efforts under way to consider building a wastewater treatment plant to support this project—further threatening the valley’s integrity.

Infrastructure and Safety Concerns

The surrounding infrastructure simply cannot support the kind of tourism traffic this project would bring. Developers estimate 700 tourists and 1,600 vehicles per day. Rural roads like Kaukonahua Road are already narrow, steep, and dangerous. Increased traffic would pose a serious risk of accidents, pollution, and strain on emergency services.

Violation of Land-Use Laws

This project is being built on land zoned for agriculture—land meant to feed our island, not entertain visitors. The developers are exploiting zoning loopholes by labeling the gondola project as an “agribusiness,” even though the primary purpose is clearly tourism. This undermines our food security and violates the spirit of agricultural zoning laws.

The original 2019 Conditional Use Permit (Minor) required the developer to establish 933 acres of agroforestry. To date, only 51.5 acres of koa trees have been planted, and the developer is now seeking to abandon the rest of the forestry commitment.

No Community Input or Environmental Review

Despite the size and scope of the project, there has been:

• No Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

• No formal community presentations or consultation

• No public review of wastewater impacts, endangered species, or cultural protections

• Only 2 days’ public notice before major changes were submitted to the city

New Modifications Filed in 2024 (Still Using “Minor” Permit)

Kamananui has applied to modify its agribusiness permit in seven significant ways, including:

1. Lowering gondola route and consolidating stations to allow for more café and commercial activity

2. Changing the zipline to an electric thrill ride

3. Modifying and centralizing hiking/biking trails

4. Deleting forestry and expanding grazing/conservation changes

5. Modifying top and mid station layouts

6. Upgrading composting toilet facilities

7. Relocating the visitor entrance (to a location with even more risks)

Each of these changes further distances the project from anything agricultural—and brings it closer to a full-blown commercial tourist theme park.

What We’re Demanding

• The City must deny the “minor” modification and require a new Conditional Use Permit

• A full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) must be conducted

• The community must be fully informed and included in decision-making

• Agricultural lands must be preserved for food and native forestry, not exploited for private gain

• Sacred and ecologically sensitive lands must be protected from destructive development

Once a place like Kaʻala is altered, the damage is permanent. This fight is not just about stopping a gondola—it’s about safeguarding the land, the people, and the very essence that makes Hawaiʻi unlike anywhere else on Earth.