Restoring a Treasure along the southeast Kaʻū coast, Hawaiʻi Island
The natural and cultural resources of the Waiʻōhinu coastal strand along the southeast side of Hawai‘i Island came to our attention in 2001 with the birth of a monk seal pup. This parcel includes over 1,350 acres along a 2-mile stretch of shoreline, three dozen native dry forest plant species, multiple anchialine pools, and provides habitat for dozens of native wildlife species (with wings, fins, and flippers alike).
We initiated action to protect this resource-rich site in 2005 by working with state agencies to transfer the coastal strand parcel from an agricultural “grazing lease” into a conservation-zoned “Forest Reserve” status officially in 2013, just one example of how we shape legislation to protect wahi pana (legendary places) and native ecosystems.
We paid for the boundary survey (with help from an US FWS award and private donations) and all other costs of formal subdivision to complete the zoning changes (2007) and formalize the land transfer to management by Hawai‘i DLNR’s Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) in October 2013.
And we’ve been helping to restore the coastal dry forest (plant communities) and wetland ecosystems in this location and nearby properties along the Ka‘ū coastline ever since, thanks to your support.