More About HWHCA

Since the 1960s, the Hanalei-Wainiha-Hā‘ena Community Association (HWHCA) - formerly known as the “Hanalei-to-Hā‘ena Community Association” and before that, the “Hanalei Community Association” - has served our community on dozens of issues, including:

Spearheading the approval of the state and county rules that regulate commercial boating, surf schools and other commercial activities at Hanalei’s beaches and parks
Advocating and litigating to protect public access to-and-along the shoreline
Preventing inappropriate development on the Hanalei River Ridge
Leading the community’s efforts to expand Black Pot Beach Park, to convert the Hanalei Courthouse to a community center, to prevent converting park open space to new parking lots, and to enforce against the illegal commercial activities and signage
Sponsoring periodic cleanups of beach access paths and Kuhio Highway.

Over just the past 3 years, the HWHCA has been active in:

Passing legislation to prohibit cruise ships and mega-yachts from entering Hanalei Bay
Locating a new emergency ambulance service base in Hanalei town
Ensuring that Hanalei’s new Kuhio Highway pedestrian path maintains Hanalei’s rural feeling
Coordinating community efforts against unnecessary cell towers in our residential neighborhoods
Locating the new Hanalei Playground on an unused portion of the County baseyard
Coordinating weekly and monthly standing conference calls with the Department of Transportation to ensure that its work on Kuhio Highway best meets the needs of our community
Advocating for the continued preservation and maintenance of the Historic Hanalei Bridge
Protecting the Hanalei Valley viewplane, and testifying against the expansion of commercial tours in the Hanalei Wildlife refuge
Advocating with the Department of Water to give high priority to upgrade the capacity of its fire-fighting infrastructure on Weke Road
Advocating with the Kauai Emergency Management Agency on the needs and specifications for an emergency evacuation/ingress route out of/into Hanalei Valley
Reducing air tour noise by encouraging tour aircraft (helicopters and fixed wing) to avoid flying over our homes and neighborhoods, and opposing recent proposed reductions in minimum altitude requirements for tour helicopters
Advocating for public hearings and conditions on proposed commercial markets in parks and other open spaces
Testifying against proposed commercial developments on residential, agricultural and open-zoned lands outside the commercial district
Mitigating overtourism’s impacts by advocating for Kauai-resident-only parking in our beach parks and on public streets, and for limiting the expansion of the Lihue airport.

Provided testimony on proposed county and state legislation that would impact our communities, including the County’s General Plan, the Black Pot Beach Park Master Plan, the Hā’ena State Park Master Plan

But there is still much to do and we need your participation and we need your input!

What issues are important to you?

Please join with your neighbors to improve our community!

Membership in the Hanalei-Wainiha-Hā‘ena Community Association is open to anyone 18 or older who lives in Hanalei, Wainiha or Hā‘ena and to businesses whose primary place of business is in that area.

Dues (normally $5 per year) are waived for 2025. Being a member entitles you to participate, to vote on matters raised at meetings, and to serve on and vote for new members of the HWHCA Board of Directors. To become a Member, please email us at: hwhcommunityassociation@gmail.com

Mahalo,

The Board of Directors, Hanalei-Wainiha-Hā‘ena Community Association