Hawaii Environmental Restoration

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Hawaii Environmental Restoration

The goal of this project is to restore Keau'ohana, the largest and most intact native lowland rainforest remaining in the State of Hawai'i (

Keau’ohana is a living classroom for many local and international volunteer students, community groups/individuals to learn about native forest restoration, and about general Hawai’i plant issues and solutions

06/02/2026

Please come join the Keau'ohana 'ohana in honor of this Summer Solstice!
Sunday, June 21st from 10:00am to 2:00pm

The month begins with bountiful rain—a beautiful and nourishing start to summer. We hope this will translate into a planting event together, and in any case, the forest will benefit from care for the young seedlings already established.

Please come prepared for forest work in variable conditions: long pants and sleeves, sturdy shoes or boots, a hat, gloves, rain gear, plenty of water, and lunch.

Parking is located between mile markers 16–17 at the Highway 130 and Upper Puna Road junction (just above Black Sands).

To help us prepare, please register for the event at [email protected] and be sure to email a completed waiver form if this is your first time, or bring a hard copy with you on the day.

05/07/2026

Aloha kakou,

BIG NEWS
One of the biggest and most exciting milestones in HER’s journey is finally underway — fencing has officially begun at the Keauʻohana Restoration Site!

This marks a profound turning point in the stewardship and protection of our precious lowland rainforest. With the fencing in place, young native plantings will now have the opportunity to grow and thrive without the constant impacts of feral pig activity. We are deeply grateful to everyone whose support, dedication, and belief in this work has helped make this long-awaited step possible.

APRIL IN REVIEW
Although every day is Earth Day, April always brings a special focus on environmental awareness and appreciation. It is also officially recognized as National Native Plant Month, making it an especially meaningful time for restoration efforts across Hawaiʻi. In honor of this, the Keauʻohana crew planted 152 native seedlings into the forest, continuing the ongoing work of restoring habitat and biodiversity within this special place.

Lā Honua / Earth Day at the UHH campus was especially bright and joyful this year, and Hawaiʻi Environmental Restoration (HER) was grateful to celebrate our shared love for the Earth alongside students, teachers, and community members. It is always inspiring to connect through conversations, stories, and hands-on learning that remind us of the many ways, both great and small, that we can support and protect our native ecosystems.

MAY UPCOMING EVENTS

May 9th – Waiʻele Beach Cleanup
Meet at Keone Place (Government Beach Road, just past Payapa Farms Road; turn left at the orange gate for secure parking)
9:30 a.m. until pau

May 9th – Activate Puna Event
Downtown Pāhoa at Hale Halawai O Puna
3:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.

May 15th – Rotary Club Presentation
Presentation by HER President Jaya Dupuis
Grand Naniloa Hotel

Mahalo nui loa for your continued support. Each of you plays a part in this ongoing restoration.
With aloha, The HER ʻOhana
Together, we restore forests—and the future. 🌿

03/03/2026

Spring Equinox in Keau’ohana is scheduled for:
Saturday, March 21st from 10:00am to 2:00pm

It would be an honor if you would join us in a spring planting for Keau'ohana this month; it is always a great time!

Come prepared with long clothes, sturdy shoes/boots, hat, gloves, rain gear, lots of water and lunch. Parking is located between 16-17mm at the HWY 130 and Upper Puna Rd junction (just above Black-Sands).

Please email us a completed waiver form and register for the event at [email protected]; or bring a hard copy along!

02/02/2026

Aloha Friends of Hawaiʻi Environmental Restoration,

As we move into February, we’re grateful for the strong sense of connection and momentum that began the year. January offered meaningful opportunities to celebrate Hawaiʻi’s forests, deepen community engagement, and connect with students eager to get involved in restoration work.

January Highlights: Celebrating ʻŌhiʻa and Community Engagement

In late January, HER was proud to participate once again in ʻŌhiʻa Love Fest 2026 at the Komohana Research and Extension Center in Hilo. The family-friendly event celebrated Hawaiʻi’s beloved ʻōhiʻa tree while raising awareness about Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death (ROD), which continues to threaten this keystone species. HER has participated in ʻŌhiʻa Love Fest since the onset of the ROD crisis in 2014, and the event continues to affirm the importance of outreach and education in protecting Hawaiʻi’s forests.

Earlier in the month, we connected with students at the UH Hilo Connections Beyond Campus Fair on January 14. More than 30 students expressed interest in HER’s work, and we look forward to welcoming several of them to our Spring Equinox planting this March.

Looking Ahead: February Youth Outreach

HER will take part in a Spring Career Opportunities Expo for Hawaiʻi Island students in grades 5–8. This outreach focuses on introducing youth to careers in environmental restoration and natural resource management, while inspiring mālama ʻāina values at an early age.

Mahalo for being part of our growing community. Your continued support makes it possible for us to restore forests, educate the public, and cultivate the next generation of environmental leaders. We look forward to sharing more as the spring season unfolds.

With gratitude,

Hawaiʻi Environmental Restoration (HER)
Together, we restore forests—and the future. 🌿

01/03/2026

Aloha Friends of the Forest,

As 2025 draws to a close, we at Hawaiʻi Environmental Restoration (HER) pause with deep gratitude to reflect on another meaningful year of stewardship, learning, and community connection in the Keauʻohana Rainforest.

This past year marked a season of steady growth rather than haste—a sign of a maturing restoration effort grounded in long-term care. Together, we continued the patient work of tending what has already been planted while thoughtfully out-planting 754 more seedlings into the forest.

Seasonal solstice and equinox plantings once again brought reflection, celebration, and purpose into the forest. These gatherings—alongside school visits, community workdays, and outreach events—reminded us that restoration is as much about relationships as it is about ecology.

With more than a decade of continuous stewardship behind us, HER’s work in Keauʻohana stands as a testament to what consistency, care, and community can achieve. Each year builds upon the last, transforming once-degraded lands into a recovering native ecosystem—and strengthening the human network that protects it.
Nursery Manager: Ann Kobsa, who donates all plants!

Keau'ohana Current Crew: Cory Edging, Amy Miller, Jaya Dupuis (President/special events), Jon Rathbun (Field Assistant), Koa Quitevis, Ka’imi Elvena, Ododo Fortier.

🌱 Forest Restoration in 2025
Throughout the year, our team focused on maintaining and strengthening previously restored zones, protecting young native plants, reinforcing canopy development, and reducing invasive pressure.
754 native seedlings planted in 2025
3,717 total seedlings planted since 2014
An average of 413 seedlings planted annually over the life of the program
Each planting represents not just a tree, but a step toward a resilient, self-sustaining native forest that supports biodiversity, watershed health, and cultural connection.

🤝 Community at the Heart of Our Work
HER’s restoration success continues to be powered by people. In 2025, community participation grew, reaffirming the shared commitment to mālama ʻāina.
2025 Volunteer Highlights:
165 volunteers engaged
18 volunteer and outreach events
884 volunteer hours contributed
Cumulative Impact Since 2014:
1,312 volunteers
165 events
7,952 volunteer hours

From seasonal plantings and invasive species removal to educational field days, every pair of hands made a difference.

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As we step into 2026, we do so with appreciation for everyone who planted, weeded, learned, taught, donated, or simply held this forest in their hearts.

Mahalo nui loa for being part of this journey. We look forward to continuing the work together in the year ahead.

With gratitude and hope,
Jaya C. Dupuis
Project Director
Hawaiʻi Environmental Restoration (HER)
Together, we restore forests—and the future. 🌿

Visit our website to purchase our vegetation book

“Hawai’i Plant World Essentials”
https://hawaiienvironmentalrestoration.org/plant-book/

This plant identification guide offers clear lists and images of the most common plant species found in Hawaii, categorized between native, Polynesian-introduced and invasive plant species.
Other Ways to Support
https://hawaiienvironmentalrestoration.org/ways-to-support/

12/03/2025

Happy Holidays Dear 'Ohana O Keau'ohana!

Winter solstice approaches and what better way to celebrate the return of the light than to plant trees and tend your local native forest? Hawaii Environmental Restoration invites you to attend the fourth and final quarterly forest volunteer event of the year on Sunday December 21st, from 10:00am to 2:00 pm

If this is your first time please first sign-up as a volunteer on our site Hawaii Environmental Restoration and complete the waiver form to either bring along, or send via email to Jaya when you register for the event at [email protected]

Parking is located between mm 16-17 on Hwy 130, at the intersection of Pahoa-Kalapana Rd and Upper Puna Rd, just above Black Sands subdivision. Please bring long clothes, sturdy shoes/boots, hat, gloves, rain gear, mosquito repellant, drinking water, and lunch.

For Christmas, consider gifting our plant identification book to someone you love so that they may learn more about how to make wise plant choices at home! Or check out art available as prints,t-shirts and more.
https://hawaiienvironmentalrestoration.org/plant-book/

All proceeds go to Hawaii Environmental Restoration!
Visit our website and discover more Ways To Support HER
https://hawaiienvironmentalrestoration.org/ways-to-support/

11/03/2025

🌿 Happy News for HER – Keau‘ohana ‘Ohana! 🌿

We’re excited to share some uplifting updates from the Hawai‘i Environmental Restoration (HER) team and the Keau‘ohana Forest!

The long-awaited Keau‘ohana fencing project has finally gone out for bid! On October 28th, a pre-bid site visit was held for interested contractors to view the project area and ask questions. We were thrilled to have four companies participate — all planning to submit bids within the next two weeks.

Once bids are reviewed and a vendor is selected, the administrative process will take about one to two months to complete purchase orders. After that, clearing and construction can begin — meaning fencing work could officially start in early 2026! 🌱

🌺 Upcoming Giving Opportunity
HER will once again be joining GlobalGiving’s annual Giving Tuesday Campaign — our one time each year to fundraise through their platform. This year, $500,000 in Incentive Funds will be shared among participating projects, with each project’s share determined by how much they raise.

🗓 Campaign Dates:
December 2, 2025, 00:00:00 EST – December 3, 2025, 12:00:00 EST
💚 Donate here: HER Project on GlobalGiving

Your support during this 36-hour event helps HER continue protecting and restoring native Hawaiian forests — ensuring that the precious ecosystems of Keau‘ohana can thrive for generations to come.

We are deeply grateful to our entire community for your continued aloha, generosity, and belief in this vital work. The forest of Keau‘ohana thanks you too!

Mahalo nui loa,
The HER Team 🌿

09/02/2025

Aloha Keau'ohana Supporters

Autumn is around the corner, and we hope to see you in Keau'ohana! We are praying for rain, so that we may do our fall planting while also tending existing young seedlings in the volunteer area.

Fall Equinox in Keau’ohana is scheduled for:
Sunday, September 21st from 10:00am to 2:00pm

Aloha Keau'ohana Supporters

Autumn is around the corner, and we hope to see you in Keau'ohana! We are praying for rain, so that we may do our fall planting while also tending existing young seedlings in the volunteer area.

Fall Equinox in Keau’ohana is scheduled for:
Sunday, September 21st from 10:00am to 2:00pm

Please come prepared with long clothes, sturdy shoes/boots, hat, gloves, rain gear, lots of water and lunch. Parking is located between 16-17mm at the HWY 130 and Upper Puna Rd junction (just above Black-Sands).

Please subscribe as a volunteer on our website if you have not done so; this will provide you with a link to the waiver form to be e-mail electronically at [email protected]; or bring a hard copy along! (if you think you might like to return to a future event please write INDEFINITE for end period).

Want a tree planted in your name?

https://hawaiienvironmentalrestoration.org/plant-a-tree/

Order a certificate for yourself or a loved one, and HER meaningful Gift Certificate will be personalized and e-mailed to you!
Other Ways to Support

08/06/2025

Mahalo for an Incredible Community ‘Ohana Day in Pāhoa! 🌺
With more than 40 amazing community partners coming together, the event was a lively showcase of local resources, hands-on tools, and inspiring ideas for living more sustainably and being prepared for whatever may come our way here in Hawai‘i, especially now that the heat of summer is hitting!

One of the highlights? Seeing so many folks, from keiki to kūpuna, excited to learn about the plants that shape our daily landscape. Hawai‘i Environmental Restoration kept crowds engaged with practical tips on identifying invasive species, restoring native ecosystems, and even turning pesky plants into healthy soil.
It was beautiful to watch our community share hopes for a stronger, more self-reliant Puna. Many families left not only with new knowledge, but with free plant keiki to start (or add to) their home gardens!

Mahalo nui to everyone who participated, volunteered, or simply showed up with an open heart. Events like this prove that when we come together, amazing things happen.

We’re already looking forward to the next opportunity to gather and grow. Until then, let’s keep nurturing our ‘āina and each other. 🌱

07/02/2025

Aloha Kakou Dear Supporters of HER

This fiscal year marked 11 years of Hawaii Environmental Restoration’s committed work in the Keauʻohana Forest Reserve, and with it came the formal transition from calendar year to fiscal year reporting. FY 2024–25 was a steady and meaningful year for HER, demonstrating consistent management, robust community engagement, and continued ecological care.

HER launched its ninth systematic restoration pass in August 2024 and remains on track to complete the full 20-acre Keauʻohana site within the fiscal cycle. Maintenance efforts emphasized repeat sweeps in the most sensitive zones—especially regions supporting endangered and newly planted native species. Although the anticipated fencing project was again postponed, HER responded with increased crew coordination and more frequent site-wide walkthroughs to protect outplants from pig disturbance.

A total of 855 native seedlings were planted during FY 2024–25—contributing to a long-term vision of returning shaded native forest canopy to degraded areas. Seedling stock was largely provided by the Koa‘e Native Plant Nursery, overseen by Ann Kobsa, and now operated under HER’s nonprofit umbrella. While the prior year saw record-breaking totals, this year’s planting and monitoring efforts maintained strong momentum and ecological diversity.

HER facilitated nine volunteer field days and participated in ten outreach and educational events over the course of the year—bringing the number of special event days to 19. In total, 151 individuals contributed 635 hours of service toward HER environmental and educational efforts. These efforts reflected the contribution of students, residents, visitors, and partner organizations from across the island and beyond.

Please take a look at a more complete summary of HER fiscal year's accomplishments!
https://hawaiienvironmentalrestoration.org/ FY 2024-25 Report

And please also take a moment to view footage on HER latest Volunteer Event for Wai'ele, facilitated and produced by Diga Kern
June 28th Wai'ele Beach Clean up and Tree Planting Event

Ways to Support HER :
https://hawaiienvironmentalrestoration.org/ways-to-support/

Address

Pahoa, HI

Website

https://hawaiienvironmentalrestoration.org/

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