He'eia Estuary Restoration
2015- August 2022
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From 2015 through August 2022, Hui o Ko’olaupoko worked at the He'eia Estuary Restoration Project, aimed at improving water quality and increasing habitat for native aquatic animals by removing invasive plants and replanting native Hawaiian species. Located on nearly six acres of He'eia State Park, which is currently leased by Kama'āina Kids, this is HOK's largest restoration project. Since the mid-1900’s, the area had become dominated by non-native species, including mangrove and hau bush. Both species have encroached on the main stream channel and made it nearly impassable for native fish like the ‘o’opu. In Hawai’i, mangrove is considered a highly invasive and detrimental plant that contributes to poor water quality by dropping large amounts of leaves and other organic matter, which results in nutrient loading and anoxia, sedimentation, and hyper-salinization. Over the years, HOK and 5000+ dedicated volunteers have successfully removed four acres of mangrove and other invasive species from the He‘eia Estuary project site, out-planted over 4600 native plants, and conducted ongoing biological and water quality monitoring. The efforts to remove the final acre of mangrove remaining on the He‘eia estuary State Park property, closest to the bridge, began in February 2019. The invasive mangrove was removed by hand, as no heavy machinery could operate on the mudflats. In 2020 the trunks and canopies were hauled off the estuary to be used in offsite hale building projects. Throughout 2020 the final phases of mass invasive species removal began. HOK staff and volunteers first worked to remove acres of umbrella sedge, grasses, and other invasives that colonized the grounds after the mass removal of mangrove canopy in 2019. In 2021 we wrapped up the removal of invasive species and mangrove prop-roots to begin focusing the majority of our efforts to native out-planting in Spring 2022. Funding for this project came from a variety of sources including: the Hawai'i Fish Habitat Partnership (FWS National Fish Passage Program), Hawai'i Tourism Authority, and Hawai'i Community Foundation’s Community Restoration Partnership Program, Hawai'i Department of Health, Environmental Protection Agency, and the Laura Jane Musser Fund. |
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He'eia Fishpond circa 1928 - pre mangrove inundation
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He'eia Fishpond January 2018 - as restoration efforts continue
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"I really do like volunteering for Hui o Ko’olaupoko. I love working and being in the He'eia Stream, I think it’s a really meaningful and great way to start the weekend off." |
"Kamanu and I have done a few projects with Hui o Ko'olaupoko such as the Popoi’a Stream, Hakipu’u Stream and here at Upper He'eia. HOK is a great organization to work with, always keeping us informed, making sure that we are taken care of and that we learn a lot." |
