I am a resident of what is currently known as Hawai'i Kai, a community in Honolulu, Hawaii. However, this place was not always called Hawai'i Kai. For hundreds of years before it was renamed 60 years ago, it bore the name Maunalua - a name that carries with it rich stories and the history of our ancestors.

The renaming to Hawai'i Kai has resulted in an erasure of our historical heritage and disconnect from our ancestral roots. The original name, Maunalua, holds significant cultural value for us residents who respect and cherish our long-standing traditions and history.

Maunalua means "two mountains" in Hawaiian language which beautifully represents Kuamo'okāne (Koko Head) and Kohelepelepe (Koko Crater) - two prominent landmarks in this area. This geographical significance further emphasizes why we should reinstate the name Maunalua and share this important place name with the existing name of Hawai'i Kai (which honors the developer Henry J KAIser).  Maunalua was also the home to the largest fishpond in the archipelago of Hawai'i, Keahupuaomaunalua or Kuapā fishpond which covered 523 acres.  

By sharing the historic name Maunalua for what is now known as Hawai'i Kai, we can honor our past while moving forward into the future. We can ensure that generations to come will remember the people that came before them and understand their connection to this land's ancient history.

Let us restore pride in our heritage by restoring its rightful name - Maunalua as an addition to Hawai'i Kai through proper signage for this special 'āina. Please sign this petition (whether you are resident or simply support reviving our original place names throughout  Hawai'i nei) and you believe that preserving cultural heritage is important for maintaining community identity.