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 2023 highlights are as follows: protect - conservation purchases and easements: 1. Total places protected following hilt's strategic Land protection priorities: a. Protected 642 acres of culturally significant coastal lands at mahukona, kohala, Hawaii island through fee simple purchase and is our eighth community preserve. B. partnered with hana community group ke ao halii to protect 8.58 acres of iconic coastal lands in hamoa, hana, maui and a part of larger save hana coast efforts. C. protected 1.447 acres at honokohau bay, kaanapali, maui with community group na mamo aloha aina o honokohau. 2. Total Land protected in 2023: 652 acres 3. Hired manager of Land protection stewardship: 4. Stewareded 3,617 acres, continued the restoration of the kapoho wetland and fishpond at waihee refuge, planting a forested bio-shield at nuu refuge, finalizing a forest stewardship plan for kukuau community forest, expanding native habitat at kahili beach preserve, created medicinal plant garden at maunawila heiau complex, and working to develop a community garden at veterans peace park. 5. Planted 990 native and rare plants at hilt's preserves 6. 1,684 volunteers gave over 6,000 hours of stewardship at hilt preserves 7. Restored 1,000 feet of wall for kapoho fishpond at waihee refuge 8. Hired a steward & educator at mahukona, hilt's eighth preserve. Hired a part-time steward & educator at kahili beach preserve. Hired 2 full-time stewards at waihee refuge. Solidified part-time steward & educator at maunawila complex. Connect: aina engagement and education 9. Facilitated 39 talk story on the Land hikes 10. Hosted 5,118 students visits from 44 schools in aina-based education 11. Provided 30 college & high school students with internships 12. Welcomed 26,000 visitors to our preserves 13. Hosted 1,910 campers on hilt preserves 14. 16 cultural practices perpetuated at hilt preserves 15. One after school youth program facilitated at maunawila heiau 16. Second traditional Hawaiian hale built at maunawila with community 17. Delivered ahupuaa stewardship program in partnership with university of Hawaii maui 18. Over 160 hours of outreach to potential partners for kukuau's forest management and education programming 19. Two new partnerships with kilauea elementary and kanuikapono charter school at kahili beach preserve.