Protect Hawaii's Last Lowland Native Rainforest

The year 2024 marked a decade of intensive restoration and education efforts in the Keau’ohana Forest Reserve and in the Puna/Hilo Community. The Keau’ohana crew began  a  9th pass of the 20 acre restoration site in late August of 2024; the 8^th pass was accomplished well within the annual aim, and included secondary passes in the volunteer area, endangered species rich area, and trails systems. HER expects to again complete its systematic restoration pass within a year.

A total of 600 volunteer hours were completed by 135 volunteers in 2024, bringing our total since 2014 to 7,590 volunteer hours by 1,212 volunteers. A record high of 1,107 seedlings were planted within the year, bringing our grand total to 2,963 keiki planted in Keau’ohana since the project’s launching in 2014. The greater part of these plants have been donated by Ann Kobsa at the Koa`e Native Plant Nursery, which is now under the umbrella of HER nonprofit!

Also in 2024, 7 forest volunteer events were facilitated, and HER participated in 10 outreach/education events completing a total of 17 special events. Since 2014, we have facilitated, and participated in over 148 special events! All totals for 2024 were well beyond stated intentions. HER has beyond 1,000 e-mail subscribers and an actively growing Facebook/ Instagram audience that informs and engages people about HER highlight activities throughout the year. Please view our website blog https://hawaiienvironmentalrestoration.org/blog/  to enjoy photographs, and to learn more about the details of HER activities in 2024.

Links:

• HER Blog
• Website Main Home Page

This quarter was rich on levels of outreach and education, between the quarterly Revitalize Puna, the Pohoiki Ka ’Ohana of Kalapana, and the ‘Vitousek Talks’ held at the University of Hilo, the latter during which HER presented a “10 Years Later” update of the Keau’ohana Native Rainforest Restoration project.

The Kosasa Foundation has in most recent years been one of Hawaii Environmental Restoration’s principle grantors. In August, HER was invited to gather with 25 Kosasa Community-Based Environmental Stewardship (CBES) grantees and 8 other local environmental stewardship foundations at the University of Hawaii on Oahu. It was an interactive learning event to discuss practices that are working well, and possibilities to overcome barriers together. HER is proud to be among networking developments occurring in support of our community and its fragile environment.  

HER is now preparing for its Fall Equinox Planting Party in the forest this coming weekend, on September 22nd! 

Links:

• HER Website
• Check out HER Blog!