Hawai‘i Land Trust

08/19/2026

💦“Ho‘omoe wai kahi ke kao‘o.”💦
Let all travel together like water flowing in one direction.

⛈️ Lala left its mark on Māhukona Cultural & Ecological Refuge, toppling kiawe trees across trails, gathering spaces, and the landscape that so many have come to know and care for.

Join Hawaiʻi Land Trust for a community workday as we clear fallen trees, restore access, and mālama this special place.

📅 Thursday, August 20, 2026
🕗 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

📍 Meet Steward & Educator Keone Emeliano at the open gate along the fence line of Mahukona Road.
⏰ Please arrive before 8:15 a.m. The gate will close promptly at that time.

🥪 Optional: Bring a packed lunch and stay after the workday for Talk Story with Keone. Learn more about Māhukona’s rich cultural history, unique ecology, and the ongoing stewardship that helps this special place thrive.

Mahalo for lending your hands, your time, and your aloha. Together, we can restore Māhukona and continue caring for the places that care for us.

08/17/2026

Due to severe weather the Land Conservation Workshop on Monday, August 17, is CANCELLED. Mālama pono e ka lāhui.

08/14/2026

⚠️ HILT WEATHER ADVISORY | ʻĀINA WORKDAY UPDATES

In response to Tropical Storm Lala and anticipated weather conditions across the Hawaiian Islands, Hawaiʻi Land Trust (HILT) is cancelling or rescheduling several upcoming ʻāina and volunteer workdays.

The safety of our volunteers, community members, partners, and staff is our highest priority. Please note the following changes:

🛑WAIHEʻE COASTAL DUNES & WETLAND REFUGE | MAUI
CANCELLED: Friday, August 14 ʻĀina Workday.
CANCELLED: Saturday, August 15 Volunteer Workday.

🛑KŪKŪAU COMMUNITY FOREST | HAWAIʻI ISLAND
CANCELLED: Saturday, August 15, 2026 workday.

🛑MAUNAWILA HEIAU COMPLEX | OʻAHU
RESCHEDULED: August workday will be held Saturday, August 22, 2026.

HILT will continue to monitor weather conditions and communicate any additional changes that may affect our programs and community activities.

We encourage our communities across the pae ʻāina to remain informed, prepare as appropriate, and follow guidance from state and county emergency management officials.

08/12/2026

🌿“I ka ʻōlelo nō ke ola, i ka ʻōlelo nō ka make.” 🌿
In language there is life, and in language there is death.

The Hawaiian language carries knowledge, identity, and connection across generations—and on Saturday, August 15, we invite the Moku O Keawe community to bring ʻŌlelo Hawai‘i and mālama ʻāina together at Kūkūau Community Forest.

Join Hawaiʻi Land Trust for a Kūkūau ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi Mālama ʻĀina Day, a morning of learning, connecting, and caring for Hilo’s lowland wet forest.

Together, we’ll use ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi as a foundational lens to explore native forest ecology, watershed protection, seasonal cycles, and cultivate a reciprocal relationship to ʻāina.

📅 Saturday, August 15, 2026
⏰ 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
📍 Kūkūau Community Forest

We welcome Hilo DOE students and families, DOE faculty, and the greater community. Participants must be 16 years or older, and all levels of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi speakers are welcome—from beginners to fluent speakers. Register to attend: hilt.org/volunteer.

08/07/2026

🌿 “He aliʻi ka ʻāina; he kauwā ke kanaka.” 🌿
The land is chief; people are its servants.

This timeless ʻōlelo noʻeau reminds us that our relationship with ʻāina is one of humility, responsibility, and stewardship.

Join Hawaiʻi Land Trust for the Land Conservation Workshop on Monday, August 17, and learn how nonprofit organizations, community groups, and landowners can partner with local, state, and federal conservation programs to protect Hawaiʻi’s lands for agriculture, cultural stewardship, and future generations.

📅 Monday, August 17, 2026
🕙 10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
📍 Windward Community College – Hale ʻĀkoakoa
45-720 Keaʻahala Rd., Kāneʻohe

Mahalo to Councilmember Esther Kiaʻāina and our partners from the City & County of Honolulu, the State Legacy Land Conservation Program, the U.S. Departments of the Interior and Defense, Trust for Public Land, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and others for bringing this important workshop to our community.

📩 RSVP:
[email protected]

07/31/2026

Hawai’i Land Trust is working in partnership with Koʻolau Ranch to advance long-term and at . This week, members of our stewardship team from Maui and Hawaiʻi Island joined our Kauaʻi crew to remove - primarily haole koa - to prepare the area for Native Restoration and future Community Stewardship programming.

While this work can look dramatic at first glance, removing invasive trees is an essential first step in restoring healthy native ecosystems. The chipped material is returned to the site as mulch, helping protect the soil while creating space for native species to thrive. Every Leucaena leucocephala removed at Lepeuli today creates an opportunity for native forests to flourish tomorrow.

Mahalo to our dedicated stewardship crews, volunteers, partners, and community members for embracing the kuleana.

07/30/2026

The Maunawila Performance Hoodie was created to celebrate one of Hawaiʻi Land Trust’s cherished protected places and the enduring connection between people and ʻāina. Featuring original artwork by acclaimed North Shore Oʻahu artist Jack Soren, the design draws inspiration from the rich cultural history of Maunawila.

This limited - edition hoodie is more than something you wear - it’s a way to share the stories of Maunawila and support the work of protecting this ‘āina for future generations. In celebration of Lā Ho‘iho‘i Ea (July 31) weʻre extending the pre-sale of the Maunawila hoodie till Sunday (August, 2)! Reserve yours today and help carry the story of Maunawila wherever you go at hilt.org/shop

07/27/2026

Join Hawaiʻi Land Trust on the land in August!

Our Community Preserves across the pae ʻāina host monthly workdays that are open to the community

Kauaʻi opportunities - Kāhili Beach Preserve August 2nd and Lepeuli August 19th
Oʻahu opportunity - Maunawila August 15th
Maui opportunities - Waiheʻe Refuge most Fridays, August 8th, and August 15th
Hawaiʻi Island opportunities - Kūkūau Forest August 15th and Mahukona August 20th

Learn more and sign up at hilt.org/volunteer

07/24/2026

07/24/2026

The Mohala Liko Lehua Fellowship Program continues to strengthen its partnership with the Hawaiʻi Land Trust through ongoing stewardship and cultural learning opportunities. This video captures moments of service, reflection, and community as fellows participate in restoration efforts and cultural practices that honor the traditions of each Hawaiʻi Land Trust community preserve. With each visit, fellows deepen their sense of kuleana, recognizing that caring for sacred places is a shared commitment rooted in respect, learning, and service for future generations.