Moanalua is a valley, a stream, an ahupua‘a, and a residential neighborhood in Honolulu, Hawai‘i. The valley extends inland from behind Āliapa‘akai crater (Salt Lake) to the crest of the Ko‘olau.

The Moanalua neighhborhood includes a portion that extends up Ala Aolani Street into the valley, and another part that extends eastward along the lower slopes of the interfluve (slopes between valleys) to Fort Shafter and into the small valley of Manaiki Stream. The latter part includes Tripler Army Medical Center above the neighborhood and Moanalua Gardens below it.

Neighboring areas include Māpunapuna and Salt Lake on the south. Fort Shafter on the East, and Red Hill and Hālawa Valley on the west.

History

Samual Mills Damon acquired the ahupua'a (uplands-to-sea tract) of Moanalua in 1884 from Princess Pauahi Bishop, whose husband was a business partner of Damon. Before him, the lands belonged to the reigning House of Kalakaua which had in turn acquired them from the House of Kamehameha. Damon was involved with the Committee of Safety that succeeded in the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawai'i and obtained the abdication of Queen Lili'uokalani. Damon later became one of the first trustees of the Kamehameha Schools/Bishop Estate and served alongside philanthropist Charles Reed Bishop. The Estate of S.M. Damon sold the ahupua'a to commercial and residential developers in 1956.

Moanalua Gardens

Moanalua Gardens is a very popular garden visited by residents and tourists alike. Located just inland from the Moanalua Freeway (Exit 3), the garden is reached off Jarret White Road. The site was a gift to the public from business baron, Samuel Mills Damon and maintained by a trust since his death in 1924. It was one of Hawai‘i's earliest public parks when Damon dedicated the site for public enjoyment over a century ago, although has remained privately owned. The land is now headed for new ownership as the Estate of S.M. Damon liquidates assets under a recently activated provision in Damon's will (Gomes, 2004).

Sources

• Gomes, Andrew. 2004. Moanalua Valley's future still unclear. Honolulu Advertiser. Monday, November 29, 2004.