Kawela Plantations was developed in the early 1980's as Senator Henry Wadsworth Yee's dream of a modern “Ahupuaa.”

The traditional land division of ancient Hawaii or “Ahupua'a,” was basically, a pie-shaped wedge that extended from the mountains to the ocean. This provided the residents in the area with access to all the resources necessary for living— fish and limu (seaweed) from the sea, crops cultivated in the low lands, and water, wood, and other resources from the mountains. 

With this concept in mind, Kawela Plantations subdivision was developed to be a sustainable Ahupua'a: consisting of 210 two-acre agricultural lots with 5,500 acres of common area. The size of the individual parcels gives the owner privacy for living, and enough space to plant fruit trees and medicinal plants and herbs.  The 5,500 acres of common area consists of low lands for agricultural use, mountains for hunting and recreation, and a three- and-one-half acre beachfront parcel that provides the entire subdivision with access to the ocean.  Attached to the beachfront parcel are the remnants of an ancient Hawaiian fishpond.   A private well water system provides water to the homeowners in Kawela.  A clubhouse offers the homeowners a venue for meetings and gatherings. 

Throughout the subdivison, ancient Hawaiian archeological sites link the past to the present.  35 historic archeological site easements are located within the Kawela Plantations subdivision.  These significant historical sites were submitted to the National Register of Historic places, and were accepted and approved by the State of Hawaii Historic Places Review Board. No trails nor improvements have been made to provide access to the historic sites so they will remain undisturbed. 

Kawela Plantations Today

Although groundbreaking for Kawela Plantations commenced on December 20th, 1980, most of the parcels are still unimproved vacant lots: probably due to the high-number of off-island and out-of-state owners.  

An annually elected Board of Directors guides and directs the business affairs of Kawela Plantations. There is also a full-time secretary and office manager.  

Each property owner of the subdivision is assessed a small quarterly maintenance fee for the upkeep of common areas and a nominal amount for the capital improvement reserve account.

The map below shows the entire Kawela Plantations subdivision (Kawela 1, Kawela 2, and Kawela 3). 

Our lot is located in Kawela 1- it's the red parcel on the map.