Hawai'i Land Trust

Hawai'i Land Trust (hilt) works in three programmatic areas: protect, steward, and connect. Hilt is constantly furthering its efforts to: 1) protect lands in line with its strategic Land protection priorities (coastlines, Hawaiian cultural landscapes, and lands that grow food for Hawai'i's people); 2) steward its public preserves and conservation easements with numerous conservation values (stunning scenic vistas; public outdoor recreation areas; places of cultural and historical significance; ranches and farms that provide fresh local food; wildlife habitats that secure biodiversity; beaches for people to enjoy; and other water resource areas); and 3) connect communities to their special natural places. Some 2022 highlights are as follows: conservation purchases and easements: 1. Total places protected following hilt's strategic Land protection priorities: a. Protected 24 acres of prime agricultural lands with kahumana organic farms in wai'anae, o'ahu b. partnered with the hana community group ke ao hali'i to protect 32.7 acres of coastal ranchland of great cultural significance at mokae, hana coast, maui c. coordinated with Hawaiian memorial park and ko'olaupoko Hawaiian civic club on the protection of 156.5 acres of Land in kane'ohe, oahu that will include a cultural preservation area to be stewarded by the ko'olaupoko Hawaii civic club providing cultural and educational access d. returned opelu point to the kipahulu community with a conservation easement protecting 9.5 acres in kipahulu, maui 2. Total Land protected in 2022: 230.5 acres stewardship: 3. Continued implementing the climate change resiliency plan for waihe'e coastal dunes and wetlands refuge and began implementation for kahili beach preserve and nu'u refuge 4. Planted 336 native and rare plants at hilt's preserves 5. 1,655 volunteers gave 6,590 hours of stweardship to hilt preserves 6. Hosted 125 volunteer days at waihe'e refuge, nu'u refuge, veterans peace park, kahili beach preserve, and maunawila heiau complex 7. Restored 170 feet at kapoho i'a kalo kuapa 8. Hired kukuau 'aina steward and educator to begin developing hilt's seventh community preserve: kukuau community forest, hilo, Hawai'i 9. Provided annual monitoring for 47 conservation easements per national standards 10. Removed invasive plants from 2 acres at waihe'e refuge, nu'u refuge, maunawila heiau complex, and kahili beach preserve 'aina engagement and education: 11. Led 27 talk story on the Land hikes across the Islands, sharing the importance of malama 'aina with over 300 participants 12. Taught 3,385 students in 'aina-based education on hilt preserves 13. Provided 32 high school and college internships in natural and cultural resource management and Land protection 14. Welcomed 30,000 visitors to our preserves across Hawai'i 15. Built the first traditional hale in hau'ula in over 100 years at maunawila heiau complex 16. Hosted 1,865 campers at hilt preserves 17. 16 'aina and kai-based cultural practices perpetuated on hilt's preserves 18. Provided 1 after school youth education programs at maunawila heiau complex 19. Partnered with uh maui college to deliver the ahupua'a stewards leadership program 20. Strengthened 14 community partnerships expanding hilt's reach with malama 'aina partners 21. Provided 12 hours of educational outreach to the kahili ocean-user community at kahili beach preserve 22. Hosted 3 community kilo (observation) programs at waihe'e coastal dunes and wetlands refuge, kahili beach preserve and maunawila heiau complex