History

The Koali Niu project is located on a 5.39-acre parcel that was part of a large plus 900 acre known as Koali Ranch property. The land was purchased in the late 1940’s by Richard V. Vanderburgh of Honolulu. Richard “sought out the assistance of forward looking men such as Dr. Howard Liljesrand,” my father-in-law, who was made President of Hanahuli Ltd. 

Honolulu was turning from a dreamy port into a metropolis during the war years and it was predicted the island of Oahu would not return to the leisurely pace of previous days. Those desiring the atmosphere of Old Hawaii sought a more remote area for weekend vacation living: Hana was a village untouched by time. Like others involved in the project, the Liljestrands dreamed of a second home as well as a place for their four children to swim, ride horses and hike the trails. They formed a land group known as Hanahuli Ltd. and planned to sell lots to other Honolulu people who they would like as neighbors. Unfortunately, Vanderburg passed away several years after the purchase  which created complications.

The Koali Ranch was purchased from a man named Fredrick Drummond who unknowingly (to them) had swindled the property from local families. Stories circulate that he would ride around Koali on his horse with a gun and a stash of alcohol. He offered a bottle or two for acres of land. Understandably, years later Hanahuli became very unpopular with the locals as they knew their land was now in the hands of well to do haoles. When I first came here with Bob there were hate signs made on sheets hung from trees along the roadside.

My late husband Bob Liljestrand acquired this piece of  land just at the time we were getting together in the late 90’s after reuniting at our high school 40th reunion. The property was overgrown and jungly. We had a great courtship here on the property clearing the bottom section of guava, invasive trees, and vegetation. We then planted exotic fruit trees, bananas, as well as decoratives such as the Pride of Burma (thought of as the world’s most beautiful tree) and a Pak Lan that is now sixty five feet tall and covered with small white fragrant blossoms. Bob designed and dreamed of a house here. After his father passed we turned the family house into the Liljestrand Foundation and writing a book took all our time.

After Bob passed in 2021, and getting chased away from the Liljestrand Foundation I knew I had to return to Hana inorder to create a worthwhile project that would somehow “give back” to the Hawaiians. This created the birth of Koali Niu which will catalog and perpetuate the ancient varieties of Hawaiian coconuts that would otherwise be lost.