Kaulunani Urban and Community Forestry, a Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife program, has awarded three-year funding to seven forestry projects across the state that strengthen community connections with trees.

What You Need To Know

  • The County of Maui Department of Management’s Maui Urban Forest Management Plan – Building Capacity and Partnerships and Advancing Equity in Community Forestry, established via a federal award, will include a thorough analysis of tree canopy data to support informed decision-making
  • Malama Hamakua Maui’s Restoring the Hamakualoa Coast through a Community-led Native Plant project will coordinate community involvement in the reforestation of Hamakualoa Open Space Preserve
  • Kokua Kalihi Valley’s Ulu Koa: Aligning Generational Abundance & Ancestral Wholeness program works to strengthen the resiliency of Kalihi’s land and communities by connecting urban land and people through Pacific Island tree-planting culture
  • Hiki Ola’s Ola i ka Aina project will build upon a restoration project at the Kealakekua Mountain Reserve by creating opportunities for students to engage with aina through active kilo, learning about wao, seed collection, bird identification and native tree planting

“The department recognizes the cultural, ecological and economic values that community trees provide,” said DOFAW administrator David Smith. “We are proud to partner on these projects and support expanded work to foster vitality in communities of trees and people.”

A release announcing the awards noted that urban trees “provide clean air and water, cooling shade, iconic natural beauty and improve physical and mental well-being.”

The selected programs include:

Kauai

  • Malama Kauai’s Village Harvest: Engaging and Educating Kauai Residents in Community Forestry project will invest in local fruit tree nurseries and host educational events to improve the management of fruit trees island-wide. 

Maui

  • The County of Maui Department of Management’s Maui Urban Forest Management Plan – Building Capacity and Partnerships and Advancing Equity in Community Forestry, established via a federal award, will include a thorough analysis of tree canopy data to support informed decision-making.

  • Malama Hamakua Maui’s Restoring the Hamakualoa Coast through a Community-led Native Plant project will coordinate community involvement in the reforestation of Hamakualoa Open Space Preserve.

Oahu

  • The Honolulu Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency’s Updating Honolulu Rules, Regulations, and Practices for Urban and Community Forestry project will draw on community and technical experts to develop and propose needed changes to city code for improved management of street and park trees.

  • Kokua Kalihi Valley’s Ulu Koa: Aligning Generational Abundance & Ancestral Wholeness program works to strengthen the resiliency of Kalihi’s land and communities by connecting urban land and people through Pacific Island tree-planting culture.

Hawaii Island

  • Hiki Ola’s Ola i ka Aina project will build upon a restoration project at the Kealakekua Mountain Reserve by creating opportunities for students to engage with aina through active kilo, learning about wao, seed collection, bird identification and native tree planting.

  • Waikoloa Dry Forest Institute’s Waikoloa Community Forest Expansion project will support community-driven restoration to replace 10 acres of invaded grassland with 10,000 native plants. 

Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at michael.tsai@charter.com.