Akaka Foundation For Tropical Forests: Preserving Hawaii's Biocultural Legacy

Kaiāulu Puʻuwaʻawaʻa, formerly Pu‘uwa‘awa‘a Community-Based Subsistence Forestry Area (P-CBSFA), is transforming 84 acres of pastureland into native forests in Pu‘uwa‘awa‘a, enhancing biocultural education, and fostering community wellbeing amidst climate changes. This partnership aims for multi-generational engagement, promoting innovative reforestation and stewardship strategies. Through community-driven efforts, it seeks to restore and sustain the land, offering education, promoting cultural practices, and providing a model for community-based reforestation on public lands, thus preparing for a more ecologically sustainable future.

Our Pilina ‘Āina program offers immersive courses for students and training workshops for educators in Hawai‘i's native forest ecosystems. Students gain hands-on experience, fostering a passion for environmental stewardship, while educators acquire the skills to teach environmental conservation, promoting a culture of responsibility and engagement within and beyond the classroom.

The ʻŌhiʻa Disease Resistance Program (ODRP) is committed to safeguarding Hawaiʻi's native ʻŌhiʻa (Metrosideros polymorpha) forests, essential to Hawaiʻi’s ecosystems and watersheds. These forests are crucial for Native Hawaiian culture but are threatened by Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death (ROD), caused by two fungal species. Established in 2018, the program diligently works to identify ROD-resistant ʻōhiʻa, aiming to cultivate disease-resistant plants for restoring native forests and preserving biocultural landscapes.

The Ulu Lehulehu—Million ʻŌhiʻa Initiative strives to protect and restore Hawai‘i's endemic tree, ʻōhiʻa lehua, through community education, outreach, and reforestation efforts. Engaging schools and local communities, it aims to foster a deep connection between the people and this vital part of Hawaii’s ecosystem, working towards the grand goal of planting a million ʻōhiʻa trees across the islands, ensuring its preservation for generations to come.