“Kua ana nō i ka lā‘au o ke ali‘i, a no‘ono‘o aku ana nō i nā lā‘au ‘ōpiopio no ke ali‘i ‘ōpio, ‘oiai, a hala aku ho‘i kākou, a laila, ‘a‘ole ho‘i lākou e lilo i po‘e ali‘i ‘ilihune, ma muli o ko kākou ho‘omaopopo ‘ole i kēia kumu waiwai e pono ai nā ali‘i ‘ōpio no ka manawa e hiki mai ana.”
“When cutting the wood for the ali‘i, be thinking of the young trees for the young ali‘i. After we have gone, they will not be poor because we did not understand that this source of wealth will benefit the young ali‘i in the future.”
– Kamehameha I
Kamehameha Schools stewards and protects the natural resources on ‘Āina Pauahi, including watershed forests, native plant and animal species (many of which are threatened or endangered), coastal and marine resources, and other unique ecosystems foundational to our lāhui.
A new conservation fence protecting critical watershed habitat in Keawanui, Moloka‘i.
Across Hawai‘i, more than 60% of our native habitats have been destroyed, making the work we do to conserve and enhance native ecosystems and species on ‘Āina Pauahi critical. More than 25% of the watershed forests that sustain Hawai‘i’s freshwater aquifers are on ‘Āina Pauahi, and more than half of Hawai‘i’s endangered species depend on the habitats we manage. Our approach is to protect intact native communities, enable natural regeneration by suppressing priority threats, and, where necessary, reintroduce biocultural diversity.
KS invests about $3 million annually to support natural resources stewardship. In addition, we leverage between $1 million - $2 million annually to support our natural resources work through our partners, lessees, and others conducting work on KS ‘āina. We also work with partners to support systems-level and community-focused projects such as the Ahupua‘a Accelerator Initiative and the Holomua Marine Initiative. We work closely with and rely on collaborators embedded in place, including:
Additionally, our natural resources team provides subject matter expertise across the KS enterprise. We support KS’ native forestry initiatives which provide blended returns, including increased habitat for native plants and animals and potential revenue for future stewardship efforts. For renewable energy projects on KS lands, we assess and monitor any impacts to our native threatened and endangered species. We also work with renewable energy companies and government agencies to increase habitat for these species through mitigation projects designed to offset any losses.
Kamehameha Schools serves on and supports the Ka‘ūpūlehu Marine Life Advisory Committee (KMLAC), which spearheaded the first community-led 10-year marine rest area in Hawai‘i.
KS has a deep and meaningful impact on Hawai‘i’s natural resources, including:
Native Species on ‘Āina Pauahi
Explore the interactive photo gallery below to learn about the native species that call ‘Āina Pauahi Home.
A‘eo: KS manages wetland habitat at Makalawena and ʻUkoʻa for native waterbirds including the endangered ʻalae keʻokeʻo (Hawaiian coot), ʻalae ʻula (Hawaiian moorhen), and aeʻo (Hawaiian stilt), which is pictured here.
Kāhuli: ʻĀina Pauahi supports critically endangered and rare populations of tree snails or kāhuli through habitat conservation and through collaborations with trained biologists. All of the 42 kāhuli species in the genus Achatinella are either federally listed as endangered or extinct.
Alālā: Alalā or the Hawaiian Crow is extinct in the wild and currently only exists in captivity. Currently, the majority of the population of these birds live and are being bred at the Keauhou Bird Conservation Center on KS’ Keauhou-Kaʻū lands. KS participates in the interagency ‘Alalā Working Group to return ʻalalā to Hawaiʻi’s landscape.
Hau hele ‘ula: Hau hele ‘ula (Kokia drynarioides) is a critically endangered dryforest tree. Some of the last remaining wild individuals are found in Ka‘ūpūlehu, where KS collaboratively manages and works to restore Hawai‘i’s rare and biodiverse dryforest ecosystem.
Koa: Educational koa planting began in Keauhou, Ka‘ū in 1976 and since then, KS has added koa and associated native species to thousands of acres of former pasture land there. One hope for the trees is that a future generation may one day sail a koa voyaging canoe of their own construction.
‘Iliahi: One of the largest tracts of ‘iliahi-māmane-naio forest remaining exists on KS lands in Mauka Kona. KS, in partnership with others, is working to conserve and restore this unique high-elevation dryforest ecosystem.
Vicia menziessii: Vicia menziessii is the first ever endangered plant listed in the United States in 1978, and is only known to exist on ‘Āina Pauahi in Keauhou-Kaʻū. This important species is covered by the historic Safe Harbor Agreement that protects 32 threatened and endangered species in Keauhou-Kaʻū.
Umaumalei: Umaumalei is a surgeonfish known to be traditionally important to the kamaʻāina of Ka’ūpūlehu. A study of Kaʻūpūlehu’s marine rest area, initiated by lineal descendents, has shown that surgeonfish populations have increased 310% inside, and 116% outside the reserve after four years, an indication that these important food fish are recovering.
Hesperomannia swezeyi: Hesperomannia swezeyi is a beautiful and extremely rare native plant in the Asteraceae (sunflower) family. As a result of mitigation performed by the U.S. Army in the northern Ko‘olau mountains, KS has been able to expand conservation of rare species like this one.
Kamehameha Schools’ policy is to give preference to applicants of Hawaiian ancestry to the extent permitted by law.
