Papakōlea group details plans for Native Hawaiian education and community center, neighborhood watch

Lilia Kapuniai, executive director of the Papakōlea Community Development Corporation, told Neighborhood Board No. 12 on Jan. 20 that her organization has secured site control from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and completed a master plan for a proposed Native Hawaiian education and culture center on Alwailimu Street.

The board was told the site has been overgrown and used recently by homeless encampments, but the project team has prepared conceptual drawings and an environmental assessment. "We are moving forward on this," Kapuniai said, noting the organization is fundraising for phase two — detailed construction plans, building permits and capital infrastructure work — and expects to return to the neighborhood with progress updates.

Kapuniai outlined community programming tied to the project, including a neighborhood watch and training, CPR classes and a February 2 moʻolelo session about the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act and Prince Kūhiō. She said the center’s primary target audience is the homestead community but that it will serve neighboring areas as well.

Board members asked for follow‑up on future community meetings and whether Papakōlea could provide materials for the board’s shared drive; Kapuniai said she would share a flyer and follow up by email.

The presentation also prompted a resident suggestion to screen archival material about the neighborhood’s history — a film referred to as "Aina Remains" — to honor the late founding board chair Clarence Ku Ching; Kapuniai and other board members supported considering the film at an upcoming in‑person meeting.

The board did not take votes; the project’s next steps identified in the meeting were continued fundraising, finalizing permits and returning with more specific timelines and materials.