Blog - Hawaii Environmental Restoration

May 24, 2023

May 22, Deputy Regional Forester Visit

A Deputy Regional Forester meeting was held May 22^nd to discuss forest restoration in light of Rapid ‘Ohi’a Death (ROD), which included a splendid hike up to Pu’u Heiheiahulu, a very important facet of Wao Kele O Puna’s 126,000 acres located above Keau’ohana.

Wao Kele O Puna is the largest remaining native lowland forest above 1,000 feet, and the view from the pu’u was astounding as we looked over vast early succession ‘ohi’a/uluhe forest. We also had the privilege of glimpsing into the pu’u from its rim at a protected native remnant of stunning biodiversity, where large colonies of the endangered ha’iwale (Cyrtandra nanawalensis) were recently discovered.

This was certainly a highlight to the day, which Kalena and Kirk from Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) graciously facilitated for participating United State Forest Service (USFS) representatives of Califonia, O’ahu, and Hilo. Big Island Invasive Species (BIISC), and Hawaii Environmental Restoration.

A visit to Keau’ohana followed, in which discussion was held about HER efforts over the past decade, as ROD progressed in conjunction with HER intensive restoration measures. HER crew has witnessed the collapse of our primary native canopy to ROD, as it worked hard to secure the Keau’ohana understory. HER persists in its mission to protect what remains among the last of Hawaii’s biodiverse native lowland plant assemblage despite the dramatic effects of ROD.

We all hope there will be a future turning point in which shade will be re-established on the site, but even as a more open forest, Keau’ohana serves as a necessary living classroom of native biodiversity, vegetation issues, and restorative solutions. It is an invaluable representation of the past and the stark reality of human impact.

May 16, 2023

Keaau Middle School Special Volunteer Event — May 15th

Jaya Dupuis Blog

Although we generally don’t facilitate very large groups in Keau’ohana due to its delicate state, there were 34 of us this Monday the 15th as HER hosted a special group of young honor students from Kea’au Middle School. A prior event with them had been cancelled due to rain, and though it rained all night and morning leading to the event, this group was determined to persevere rain or shine.

We were however, unexpectedly blessed with dry comfort beneath cooling clouds for our restoration efforts, which made for a very enjoyable experience! Kea’au middle schoolers were troopers, helping out in a very open and disturbed area of the forest. Among half a dozen species, there were plenty kukae maile vines that were heroically conquered!

Thank you Kea’au girls and boys for helping out the native forest from being bullied by invasive species, and for making your teachers and school proud!

May 9, 2023

May 5th Lowland Wet Forest Working Group (LWFWG) visit to KMR

Jaya Dupuis Blog

HER joins the Lowland Wet Forest Working Group (LWFWG) to discuss restoration issues and strategies in our region. This is invaluable opportunity for forest specialists focusing on various local restoration projects to network and support one another in the choosing of restoration species; a serious question for the future of Hawai’i at this time of environmental crisis.

As part of this exchange, we will be visiting one another’s sites to discuss this particular question for each location. Our first visit was on May 5th at the Keaukaha Military Reservation (KMR), where Becky Ostertag from the University of Hawaii at Hilo (UHH), and Susan Cordell from the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry (IPIF), have been developing experimental plots under the Hawaii Army National Guard Environmental Program over the past decade.

HER enjoyed the occasion to witness in action the current results of their research with hybrid ecosystems, utilizing mixed native and non-native species to reduce invasion, promote native biodiversity and sequester carbon. Through this partnership we hope to develop a climate-resilient restoration approach that combines functional traits, climate, and geographic data in building plant communities that improve ecosystem functioning and are self-sustaining.

Thus far HER out-plantings in Keau’ohana have focused on native species alone, but due to the dramatic effects of ROD on the site, we now consider the possibility of integrating a few non-native/non-invasive species for the building of much needed shade. At this junction, we may utilize a mixed approach in which more intact areas within the site remain entirely native, while more open disturbed areas receive a different treatment. Already some monkey pod trees have been planted on outer edges to clearly separate the site from the threatening invasion.

April 19, 2023

Native Hawaiian Plant Month and Earth Week Celebrated April 17th

Jaya Dupuis Blog

A healthy 20 volunteers showed up in Keau’ohana for Native Hawaiian Plant Month on April 17th, and 55 native seedlings were planted by noon! Earth Week has also been properly celebrated by this special occasion!

It is rewarding to receive local community assistance, 9 of whom are members of Hawaii Eco Retreat (HER, just as ours) on the Red Road! They were very inspired by the event and have requested exploring a regular partnership; HER joins HER in a shared mission of caring for the land! We welcome their ‘ohana warmly to help support our shared community native rainforest of Keau’ohana!

Thanks to all who participated in this successful occasion; we sincerely appreciate you taking part in betterment and beauty upon this precious earth! And let us not forget to give Ann Kobsa yet another warm thank you for her generous plant donations that continue to enrich the forest’s integrity!

March 28, 2023

Pacific Quest Volunteer Event

Jaya Dupuis Blog

Yesterday, March 27th, HER hosted a volunteer group with Pacific Quest (PQ), a residential treatment program based in Hilo, Hawaii, serving young adults and adolescents in crisis. PQ achieves its mission for change through horticultural therapy, whole-person wellness, individualized clinical care, healthy community living, and Rites of Passage.

In response to overwhelming support from the staff team, Pacific Quest is beginning their community outreach program through our newly formed partnership. In this way, they hope to contribute to HER’s important work while celebrating our shared values of environmental education through restoring our relationship with the land. Our first day together was bright and energetic, and we very much look forward to a continued alliance!

March 28, 2023

Red Road Resource Fair

Jaya Dupuis Blog

On Saturday, March 25th, so many active community members joined together for the Red Road Resource Fair, an event which took place at Sea View SPACE as a part of the Resilience Hub. This was an opportunity to gather as a community and learn about resources, make plans for disaster preparedness and celebrate our assets with local grindz from the SPACE gardens! There were Resource Booths, discussions, Neighborhood Watch, Seed/Plant Exchange, Circus and Music, and much amusement for the Keiki.

HER tabled the event, informing people about plant issues and solutions in Puna, sharing about our environmental work in the community, and rallying new volunteers! I was deeply touched by the Sea View community members for creating such a successful community event, and for modeling a healthy and sustainable living example to all of us.

March 20, 2023

Spring Equinox Volunteer Event

Jaya Dupuis Blog

Spring Equinox 2023

On March 19th, eight of us shared some sweet time in Keau’ohana for Spring Equinox. Under such sunny, hot and dry conditions lately, we did not opt to plant keiki, but rather helped clear the understory of young budding clidemia, erichtites, thimble berry, and even tackled kukae maile vines to help out natives!

Though the forest has an open canopy and suffers damages due to the inevitable tree fall of large ‘ohi’a that died over the past 8 years due to ROD, its beauty and biodiversity is still striking. All who spend time immersed in the ancient forest composition are renewed and enriched.

We are once again grateful to several returning volunteers who travelled from Kona side and up Volcano to participate in this event. It was delightful to share discussion over lunch and get to know each other some!

March 20, 2023

Feb 6th Cyrtandra nanawalensis Collection

Jaya Dupuis Blog

On February 6, 2023, a group of researchers and natural resource managers were hosted in the field by Jaya Dupuis of Hawaii Environmental Restoration. The purpose of the field trip was to visit Keauʻohana Forest Reserve to collect leaf cuttings from Cyrtandra nanawaleensis (haʻiwale), an endemic and endangered plant only found in east Hawaiʻi Island.

When seedlings are large enough, they will be transplanted into larger pots and then eventually outplanted back into the field. The plants will be grown at the greenhouse facilites at Keaukaha Military Reservation as a part of a contract and collaboration with the Hawaii Army National Guard Environmental Office. Outplants will be put back into the appropriate habitat for haʻiwale, the lowland wet forest, and will be monitored for growth and survival.

December 19, 2022

Two End of Year Holiday Planting Events

Jaya Dupuis Blog

A bright sunny day surprised us all in Keau’ohana on the December 17^th Solstice Hapu’u Planting Event, so nicely tucked in between the recent winds and rains! We are grateful to report a solid 24 participants contributing 57 volunteer hours to the planting of over 70 hapu’u ferns donated to Hawaii Environmental Restoration, by Pat Conant from Volcano Village. With such support, the morning passed swiftly, though a good number of us enjoyed lunch together, discussing many forest and vegetation questions.

We mustn’t forget to mention that the Giving Tuesday Event on November 29th also successful contributed awesome support with half a dozen volunteers planting 57 seedlings in the forest. Seedling varieties consisted of ‘ohe, kopiko, loulu palms, and even some uki uki grass, all of which were donated by our beloved Ann Kobsa! It is touching to see so many people in the holiday spirit of giving, come together for the forest. Thanks all so much and Happy Holidays!!!

October 23, 2022

Special Event with BIPOC Group /October 20th

Jaya Dupuis Blog

Yesterday was a shining afternoon in Keau’ohana with a special group of BIPOC Femmes/Nonbinary practitioners of Iyengar Yoga, who came to Hawai`i Island for a yoga retreat. The participants came from across the United States and abroad. BIPOC, which stands for Black/Indigenous/People of Color, is an acronym to recognize the struggles that people in Black and Indigenous communities share.

The retreat focused on the particular needs of women and nonbinary folks of color in embracing yogic practices of wellness and rest. They came to HER to learn about native plant life, Hawaiian culture, and engage spiritually with the `aina. They found the work of tending the `aina arduous, but satisfying and meaningful. “We especially appreciated the native Hawaiian protocols with Ariana and Thomas,” said Gwi-Seok, an organizer of the BIPOC retreat along with Misia Denéa.

Indeed, active local crew member of Hawaii Environmental Restoration, Arianna Arakaki, and cultural advisor, Thomas Brennon were radiant in their positions of leadership! The afternoon was rich as everyone worked together, and as always, it was so satisfying to look back at our efforts and see how much was done in so little time.

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