Re-imagining
Wao Kānaka
What If the Forest Was Already Here?
Wao kānaka — the ancient Hawaiian term for the zone where people live and work — was once alive with native plants, wildlife, and the abundance of a thriving ecosystem. Today, much of urban Honolulu is paved and nearly bare of that natural heritage. Re-imagining Wao Kānaka asks: what if we could see it restored?
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Deceiving the Eye,
Inspiring the Future
A large-scale 3D mural has been painted on a prominent building wall at the corner of Kalani St. and Waiʻakamilo Rd. in Kalihi-Pālama. Using the French technique of Trompe-l’œil — literally “to deceive the eye” — artist Kaiʻili Kaulukukui has transformed the building façade into an immersive vision of a native urban forest.
ʻŌhiʻa lehua, ʻulu, wiliwili, and other native Hawaiian and canoe plants appear to envelop the building, as if the forest never left. Passersby don’t just see a mural. They see a possibility.
Three Goals. One Vision.
This project works on three levels — building public imagination, deepening understanding, and sparking real action across Honolulu's communities.
Awareness
Help Honolulu residents viscerally imagine what our city could look like nestled within a thriving urban forest, making that vision feel real and achievable.
Education
Through this website, visitors can explore the science, culture, and ecology behind urban forests, native plants, and the ahupuaʻa system of integrated land stewardship.
Action
Inspire community members to create their own kipuka — pockets of native habitat — whether in a backyard, community garden, or on a balcony or lanaʻi.
The Benefits of Urban Forests
When a community invests in green infrastructure and nature-based solutions, the returns touch every part of daily life.
It's Being Done — and We Can Do It Here
Urban forests aren't a fantasy. Cities around the world — and right here in Hawaiʻi — are proving it's possible.
🌍 Around the World
🌺 Right Here on Oʻahu
Be Part of the Vision
Want to grow your own kipuka? Explore our Go Native! plant guide, register for a free tree if you live in Waimānalo or the Waiʻanae Coast, or support the work of Grow Good Hawaii with a donation.