About the Logo

The logo for Hale Makana O ʻUluwehi features the blossom of the native pōhuehue—a low-lying vine that once grew abundantly along the sandy shores of Māʻili and the broader Waiʻanae moku. In choosing this plant, we draw on its deep cultural and ecological ties to place. Pōhuehue is resilient, firmly grounded in shifting sands, and beautifully adorned with vibrant blossoms that speak to persistence, connection, and life at the shoreline.

The word ʻuluwehi can refer to lush, verdant growth, but also to an adornment—not merely decorative, but intentional, dignified, and full of mana. In Hawaiian worldview, to adorn is to uplift, to make sacred, to prepare something with care and purpose. In this spirit, the logo reflects how this project seeks not to impose itself on the land or the community, but to become a part of it—to adorn the existing landscape in a way that is respectful, grounded, and responsive.

Hale Makana O ʻUluwehi, like the pōhuehue blossom, symbolizes beauty growing out of challenge. This project addresses one part of Hawaiʻi’s ongoing housing crisis by offering secure, affordable homes for 40 Native Hawaiian ʻohana. It is not the final, end-all answer—but it is a step forward, grounded in aloha ʻāina and kuleana to our lāhui.

And just as the pōhuehue vine connects and spreads across the coast, the future tenants themselves are the true adornment—those who will bring life, laughter, stability, and purpose to this place. In honoring them, we honor the land and the legacy of Māʻili.