Kepaniwai

Kepaniwai is a watershed and a public park located on the island of Maui, Hawaii. The name Kepaniwai comes from Hawaiian language elements and is commonly interpreted as meaning “the waters meet” or “the gathering waters,” reflecting the area’s network of streams and its place in the island’s hydrology.

The park is situated in Wailuku, near the Iao Valley and within Maui’s central valley region. Its centerpiece is the Kepaniwai Heritage Gardens, a collection of landscaped spaces designed to honor Maui’s diverse cultural communities. The gardens incorporate design and planting concepts associated with Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, and Hawaiian traditions, featuring pavilions, ponds, and pathways that evoke each culture’s landscape aesthetics.

In addition to the gardens, the site includes a managed stream and ponds that contribute to the park’s tranquil setting. Kepaniwai Park is used for recreation, picnicking, and seasonal cultural events, attracting both residents and visitors. The gardens and grounds are administered by Maui County’s Department of Parks and Recreation and are part of the broader Iao Valley–Waihee watershed landscape, an area of historical and cultural significance in Maui’s development and in the experiences of Native Hawaiians and immigrant communities.