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Nuuanu’s auwai continues to flow preserving the past

Farmers around Hawaii still use the auwai system in their loi kalo today. But in a neighborhood that has seen a century of redevelopment and a wipeout of loi kalo, it’s impressive that Nuuanu’s auwai continue to flow.

By George F. Lee

May 5, 2025

Hawaii Photos

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Auwai fed by the Nuuanu stream meandered its way through the residential areas often Dowsett neighborhood of Nuuanu Valley on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
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Auwai fed by the Nuuanu stream meandered its way through the residential areas often Dowsett neighborhood of Nuuanu Valley on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. Some residents make the make the resource a landscape feature of their property. This is Brady Jencks.
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Auwai fed by the Nuuanu stream meandered its way through the residential areas often Dowsett neighborhood of Nuuanu Valley on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. A small concrete foot bridge was installed in order to traverse the flowing auwai.
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Auwai fed by the Nuuanu stream meandered its way through the residential areas often Dowsett neighborhood of Nuuanu Valley on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
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Auwai fed by the Nuuanu stream meandered its way through the Dowsett area of Nuuanu Valley on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. Some neighbors whose property auwai run through and inventive ways of preserving channel concrete and covering them to protect the against debris.
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Auwai fed by the Nuuanu stream meandered its way through the Dowsett area of Nuuanu Valley on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
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Auwai fed by the Nuuanu stream will often collect as duck ponds as it meanders its way through the Dowsett area of Nuuanu Valley on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
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The auwai known as Pahoaliilii fed by the Nuuanu stream wound its way street side from Allan Street through Alika Street in the Dowsett area on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
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Dowsett area resident and member of Hui Malama Auwai o Nuuanu Lisa Wong stood on the hand built channel known as Kukuioliilii on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
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Dowsett area resident and member of Hui Malama Auwai o Nuuanu Lisa Wong stood on the hand built channel known as Kukuioliilii on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
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Dowsett area resident and member of Hui Malama Auwai o Nuuanu Lisa Wong stood on the hand built channel known as Kukuioliilii on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
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Dowsett area resident and member of Hui Malama Auwai o Nuuanu Lisa Wong stood on the hand built channel known as Kukuioliilii on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
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Dowsett area resident and member of Hui Malama Auwai o Nuuanu Lisa Wong stood over the hand built channel known as Kukuioliilii on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
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Dowsett area resident and member of Hui Malama Auwai o Nuuanu Lisa Wong stood over the hand built channel known as Kukuioliilii on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
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The Nuuanu stream supplied water to auwai near the Dowsett area home of Lisa Wong on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.

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