Jaya Dupuis

About Jaya Dupuis

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May 20, 2026

Waiʻele Community Cleanup & Coastal Stewardship Day– May 9th

On May 9th, thirteen dedicated volunteers gathered to mālama Waiʻele, a 156-acre coastal cultural forest in Halepuaʻa that is perpetually protected through the County’s PONC program.

The day began beneath the protective canopy of the majestic mango grove, where volunteers collected roadside debris along approximately one mile of Government Beach Road. From there, the crew followed the Kalaemanu Trail through dense hau thickets to reach the coastline.

Half of the group remained behind to enjoy the tide pools, while the remaining six gradually made their way along the coast toward Waiʻele. As expected, fresh marine debris had accumulated since our last cleanup effort. By the end of the trek, every participant carried full contractor bags of plastic debris along with frame packs loaded with discarded buoys before finally collapsing for a well-earned rest beneath the ocean almond grove at Waiʻele.

HER’s biannual cleanup events are held each New Year’s Eve and on the weekend closest to May Day, and future events will be announced through HER’s monthly newsletter.

April 28, 2026

April 22 – Earth Day at UHH

Jaya Dupuis Blog

Lā Honua / Earth Day at the UHH campus was especially bright and joyful this year, as Hawaiʻi Environmental Restoration (HER) enjoyed many meaningful and informative connections with students of all ages, teachers, and community members.

It is always a joy to celebrate our shared love for this Earth, explore the many ways we are connected to the plants and animals that surround us each day, and support one another in learning how we can mālama ʻāina (care for the land) from just a few steps outside our homes to larger community efforts within our native forests.

We especially enjoyed sharing knowledge about native and invasive plant species through the HER Plant Species Deck and plant identification game. This playful, hands-on activity helps participants learn to recognize native plants alongside invasive species, while exploring how this knowledge can support the health of our environment. At home, we can begin by planting native and non-invasive edible species, while also learning to identify invasive plants and dispose of them responsibly through careful composting or by bringing them to a nearby transfer station.

There are countless ways, both great and small, to support and protect our native ecosystems. It was a pleasure to meet new people, see so many smiles, exchange stories, and inspire one another to care for the Earth.

Mahalo nui loa for your kōkua!

February 16, 2026

Nā Leo o Nā ʻŌpio’s 2026 Spring Career Expo

Jaya Dupuis Blog

For more than 20 years, Nā Leo o Nā ʻŌpio has connected middle and high school students with meaningful career pathways through its annual Career Expo at Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium.

The February 12th, 2026 Spring Career Expo marked HER’s first year participating. Focused on middle school students, the event brought together 60 organizations, 155 presenters, and 1,169 students alongside 124 chaperones—an inspiring collective effort to help youth envision their futures.

HER was honored to introduce students to careers in environmental stewardship and restoration, planting seeds of curiosity about caring for Hawaiʻi’s natural and cultural resources. We look forward to returning in November for the Fall Expo and connecting with high school students as they begin linking education with workforce pathways.

Mahalo to Nā Leo o Nā ʻŌpio for cultivating opportunities that empower Hawaiʻi’s youth—and for welcoming HER into this meaningful and impactful tradition.

January 26, 2026

ʻŌhiʻa Love Fest 2026: Celebrating a Beloved Forest Guardian

Jaya Dupuis Blog

ʻŌhiʻa Love Fest 2026 was held on Sunday, January 25, returning for its second year at the Komohana Research and Extension Center in Hilo. The family-friendly event celebrated Hawaiʻi’s beloved ʻōhiʻa tree while raising critical awareness about Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death (ROD), the fungal disease that continues to threaten this keystone species and the ecosystems it supports.

The day brought the public together with farmers, gardeners, scientists, and environmental organizations in a shared effort to protect Hawaiʻi’s forests. A highlight for many was the plant distribution, where people lined up early to take home an impressive selection that included a strong representation of native species. It was inspiring to see growing community interest in using native plants to beautify home landscapes while supporting ecological resilience.

More than a celebration, ʻŌhiʻa Love Fest served as a powerful reminder of the importance of outreach and education. Hawaiʻi Environmental Restoration (HER) has proudly participated in this event since the onset of the ROD crisis in 2014—the same year our restoration efforts began in the Keauʻohana Forest. As the impacts of the disease intensified, so too did the urgency of our work. Events like this reaffirm our commitment to community engagement and long-term stewardship.

Please view this short video from an earlier ʻŌhiʻa Love Fest at ʻImiloa Astronomy Center which captures the spirit and reach of this movement, reflecting the collective dedication across our island network to protect Hawaiʻi’s most important native tree.

: Photo by JB Friday

: Photo by Toby Haze

: Photo by Lee Schectman

: Photo by FB Friday

: Photo by JB Friday

: Photo by Lee Schectman

: Photo by Tony Haze

: Photo by Lee Schectman

January 26, 2026

UH Hilo Connections Beyond Campus Fair — January 14th

Jaya Dupuis Blog

This year, Hawaiʻi Environmental Restoration (HER) participated in the UH Hilo Connections Beyond Campus Fair on Wednesday, January 14, offering students an opportunity to learn about our work and discover meaningful ways to engage with their community. We were encouraged by the strong interest shown by more than 30 students, several of whom we look forward to welcoming at our Spring Equinox planting this March.

Outreach continues to grow as a vital pathway for HER to share our mission. An increasing number of community events and partnership inquiries reflect a collective desire to reconnect—with the land and with one another. In times of uncertainty, we are witnessing the power of community building firsthand, and the strength that emerges when people come together in service of restoration and shared purpose.

December 22, 2025

HER’s Solstice Planting in Keau’ohana!

Jaya Dupuis Blog

Solstice is always a special moment in the forest of Keauʻohana, marking both a seasonal shift and the turning of the year. This time, an amazing group of 14 participants gathered for several meaningful hours of forest planting. We were blessed with comfortable weather and the collective energy of people working with care and intention.

Together, we planted 182 keiki, each lovingly watered and mulched at the time of planting. Now we await the rains to further bless them, trusting that during this season of Lono i ka Makahiki, an abundance of water will support their growth and future. The forest was truly shining yesterday — and so were the faces of our cherished participants.

May the return of the light bring health, vitality, and renewal to both the land and all who helped nurture it.

October 8, 2025

September 30th — Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death (ROD) Workshop Blog

Jaya Dupuis Blog

The Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death (ROD) outreach team from the Komohana Research and Extension Center hosted a 2-day outreach workshop for individuals who conduct outreach, non-formal education, and community engagement across the state. The purpose of this workshop was to prepare participants in sharing knowledge about ROD with communities across the islands.

HER took part in the event by hosting the workshop group in Keau’ohana to discuss restoration efforts in a forest impacted by ROD. A large group of 50 attendees were divided into two smaller groups facilitated by President, Jaya Dupuis and some of HER’s crew members. The event made for hardy discussion about restoration practices relating to the spread of ROD.

Most residents have been made aware of the serious threat this fungus poses to Hawaii’s most important native canopy tree, found in almost all of Hawaii’s micro climates from dessert to bog. ʻŌhiʻa is the first to rise out of barren fields of lava to begin the journey of tropical bounty, it is with no question the most significant species to the health of our ‘aina.

ROD presents a most serious threat to the entire State of Hawai’i. We can honestly say it has been the deepest tragedy for our beloved Keau’ohana despite HER’s best efforts. But we are determined to see it through this crisis, and witness the power of long term restoration.

September 25, 2025

Sept 21st — Fall Equinox Volunteer Event

Jaya Dupuis Blog

Aloha No, Nā Kanaka o ka ‘Āina!

A dozen of us had the pleasure of planting 176 seedlings in Keau’ohana for Equinox this year; these were a hui of plants coming from 4 different sources. It was very exciting to come home from the Hala Festival the day before, with 75 Neleau from BIISC to add to 70 splendid mix of native seedlings from Ann’s Koa’e Nursery, Cory’s wonderful contribution of 18 ‘akia and akiohala from his Māla Lā’au Hawai’i nursery, and 13 milo from my small home nursery.

We planted Milo and Neleau in transition zones to protect the interior site from invasive species encroachment, and hopefully reverse its direction over time. The more tender varieties are nestled tight to join the others in the dance of renewal.

We have so many to thank for the ongoing restoration of this precious forest, and this clearly includes YOU! Thank you for taking the time to inform yourself of HER efforts, and offering moral support in this way; it is truly appreciated!

September 25, 2025

Maku’u Market Hala Festival – Sept 20th

Jaya Dupuis Blog

We deeply enjoyed the second community celebration of hala at the Maku’u market place on Saturday the 20^th. Mahalo nui loa to the Big Island Invasive Species Committee (BIISC) and Pōhaku Pelemaka non profit, for their collaboration in bringing to the community this dynamic and culturally rich event!!! This year’s theme was “Ka makani ʻali hala o Puna” or, The wind bearing fragrance of Puna.

The Hala Festival was a day of learning, sharing, and celebrating the multiple uses of hala, from weaving and lei making to storytelling and more. Alongside workshops, the festival featured live music, cultural talks, food and craft vendors, and educational booths focused on protecting hala from invasive species like hala scale and coconut rhinoceros beetle.

That is where HER came in support of the event, to inspire awareness of our valuable native species and the struggle they continue to endure as they adapt to the many more aggressive introductions that have transformed the original landscape of Hawai’i.

Hala is prized for so many reasons! Its beauty along the coastal waters alone, sends us into a time when vibrant ecosystems were for millions of years unchallenged, something we could only dream of. But that doesn’t mean we cannot work together toward a healthier plant community in which coexisting species may harmonize. This is certainly HER mission, and we are privileged to take part in the long awaited renaissance of Hawaii’s native plant community!

August 29, 2025

Kulani Forest Event – Friday August 22nd

Jaya Dupuis Blog

On Friday the 22^nd of August, some of HER crew, and all of HER board members, convened at a special 3,000ft elevation Kulani road native forest segment, a forest with remarkable intactness and biodiversity. Some of us have been visiting this forest regularly over the past dozen years to soak in its beauty and support its resilience.

The main invasive species finding their way into the understory are the all too familiar clidemia and thimble berry, but with the thorned burden of Himalayan raspberry, a species we are so grateful not to encounter in Keau’ohahana forest.

In seeing the canopy open up due to recent storms and consequent effect of ROD, HER now entertains the thought of doing an annual effort there by a select number of plant lovers. We know all too well what lack of management looks like over time especially under such conditions, and hope to see this gem persist.

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