Priscilla Chan helped protect a Hawaiian beach preserve and wetland habitat; 17 acres are now protected for the public
A 17-acre stretch of coastline on Kauaʻi’s North Shore is now protected for public access and long-term conservation, with philanthropic support from Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg helping fund its ongoing stewardship. Kāhili Beach Preserve, also known locally as Rock Quarry, includes a windswept beach, the mouth of Kīlauea Stream and important riparian areas. The Hawaiʻi Land Trust owns the preserve and holds it in perpetuity. Chan and Zuckerberg did not acquire the property themselves. Instead, their endowed gift through the Chan Zuckerberg Kauaʻi Community Fund of the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation supports the long-term care of land that was first protected through a private donation in 2003 and later expanded by HILT. The preserve now combines public beach access, habitat protection, restoration and community stewardship.
How Priscilla Chan helped secure Kāhili Beach’s future
Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg contributed to Kāhili Beach Preserve through an endowed gift made through the Chan Zuckerberg Kauaʻi Community Fund of the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation. The Hawaiʻi Land Trust says the fund supports the preserve’s ongoing stewardship and helped establish funding for a part-time staff presence dedicated to caring for Kāhili. The contribution came after the land had already begun its conservation journey, so Chan and Zuckerberg were not the original purchasers or donors of the property. HILT’s own material says the original preserve had been protected without a dedicated stewardship fund, making long-term financial support important for its continued care. The specific value of Chan and Zuckerberg’s Kāhili gift has not been publicly disclosed in the sources available from HILT and the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation. Their contribution therefore represents support for maintaining protected land rather than the purchase of the 17-acre preserve itself.
How the original beach parcel was protected
The conservation story began in November 2003, when Louise and Monte Zweben donated a 5.43-acre oceanfront parcel to the Hawaiʻi Land Trust. The property lies at the mouth of Kīlauea Stream and beside the Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge. The donation protected the shoreline while preserving public access to Kāhili Beach. The beach is also known locally as Rock Quarry and has long been used for surfing and recreation. HILT identifies public access and habitat restoration among the preserve’s main conservation values. The original donation established the foundation for protecting the coastline from future development while allowing the community to continue using the beach.
How the preserve expanded to 17 acres
The protected area grew significantly a decade later. In 2013, Hawaiʻi Land Trust purchased an adjoining 12.2-acre parcel, bringing the combined Kāhili Beach Preserve to 17.63 acres. The larger property includes the Kīlauea Stream river mouth and riparian buffer areas as well as the beach and coastal landscape. HILT owns the preserve and holds it for conservation in perpetuity. The organisation’s approach means the land is not simply protected temporarily but is intended to remain conserved for future generations. The expansion also increased the amount of coastal and streamside habitat that could be managed as a connected landscape rather than as a single narrow strip of beach.
Why the coastline and stream habitat are important
Kāhili contains several interconnected coastal environments, including sandy shoreline, dunes, the Kīlauea Stream mouth and riparian habitat. HILT highlights the importance of the area’s muliwai, where freshwater from the stream meets the ocean. These transition zones can provide important habitat and feeding opportunities for coastal wildlife. The preserve also supports native coastal vegetation, while the nearby Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge adds another layer of protected habitat to the surrounding landscape. HILT’s conservation work at Kāhili includes addressing invasive plants, marine debris and erosion. Protecting the land therefore helps preserve more than recreational beach access. It also maintains a section of the coastal ecosystem where freshwater, terrestrial and marine environments meet.
How the community is helping care for the preserve
Kāhili’s conservation story has continued through local volunteer work and restoration. After the original 2003 donation, Hawaiʻi Land Trust worked with the Kīlauea Neighborhood Association on regular beach clean-ups. HILT says volunteers have contributed more than 1,000 person-hours to such efforts. More recent activities have included removing invasive vegetation and planting native coastal species. The trust also organises educational programmes and guided Talk Story on the Land experiences, giving visitors an opportunity to learn about the area’s native plants, wildlife and cultural history. Together, land protection, philanthropic stewardship and community involvement have helped turn Kāhili into more than a protected parcel. The 17.63-acre preserve now provides public access while giving a coastal ecosystem a long-term layer of protection.
