Canoe club fights eviction from Ewa Beach shoreline after nearly 20 years

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A local canoe club in Ewa Beach says it is fighting to stay on the shoreline it has called home for nearly two decades after receiving an eviction notice.

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Kamahao Canoe Club says the shoreline at Hammer Point, located within Kapilina Beach Homes, has served as a gathering place for Hawaiian canoe traditions for nearly 20 years. Club leaders say they were recently told they must vacate the property, though the deadline has been extended to November.

“We’re not looking to point fingers,” said Mana Santiago, president of Kamahao Canoe Club. “We’re looking for a way to keep a multi-generational Hawaiian cultural practice on the shores on which we’ve lived for the past 20 years.”

The shoreline sits within the former military housing complex, which is now a private residential community. Club leaders told the Ewa Neighborhood Board last week that Hammer Point is one of the few nearby locations safe enough for both keiki and kupuna to access the water.

Santiago said the club has explored possible relocation sites, including Puloa Beach Park, but safety remains a major concern.

“We have reached out to the city and county for a possible relocation in the case that we can’t keep our spot,” Santiago said. “Currently, we are looking at Puloa Beach Park. The issue with that area is that it’s known to have really rough waters.”

She said the waters at Hammer Point are significantly calmer and better suited for paddlers of all ages.

“Where we’re at, it’s really calm waters. It’s really easy to get in and out of that shore. And that’s why we’re fighting so hard to stay,” Santiago said.

The club is now turning to the community through a petition, hoping to preserve what members call a safe and irreplaceable cultural home.

Santiago said the club has also taken steps to address liability concerns raised by property management.

“We secured additional property and liability insurance on our own,” she said.

She added that the club attempted to formalize its presence through a memorandum of understanding.

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“We tried to create a simple agreement with a memorandum of understanding so that the expectations of the agreement would be clear between all parties,” Santiago said. “But then again, the response was met with another eviction notice.”

Some lawmakers who attended the neighborhood board meeting defended the club and questioned how the property’s lease and management have been handled.

State Sen. Kurt Fevella, who represents Ewa Beach, Ocean Pointe and Iroquois Point, criticized the decision to remove the club.

“These are the things that people should be fighting for,” Fevella said. “What they’re doing to this club is criminal.”

Fevella also raised concerns about the property’s lease history and management structure, arguing that long-standing issues remain unresolved.

In a statement, Kapilina Beach Homes said Kamahao Canoe Club has held a meaningful place in the community for years and noted that it extended the club’s deadline through the end of regatta season in November.

Management said it is continuing discussions to find a long-term solution that aligns with Navy requirements and community guidelines.

Even with the extension through November, club members said the uncertainty remains.

They said losing Hammer Point would mean losing one of the few safe places in Ewa where keiki and kupuna can paddle together and the potential loss of a cultural space that has served families for nearly 20 years.

Now, they’re turning to the community, hoping public support can help keep Kamahao Canoe Club on the shoreline it has long called home.

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