Keau'ohana Native Rainforest Restoration

Of five State Forest Reserves set aside for conservation in 1903, Keau’ohana is the only Puna reserve in which the original forest composition has not been replaced by invasive species due to lack of management. Since June of 2014, Keau’ohana has undergone an intensive restoration process that has focused on the control of invasive plant species and the planting of native species on 30 acres of the most biodiverse portion of the reserve. Keau’ohana is today a last remaining lowland reservoir providing habitat for many rare native and endangered species. Protecting the few remaining native forests is crucial to preserving Hawai’i’s unique cultural and biological resources. The educational component of HER efforts is equally important. Keau’ohana is a living classroom for many local and international volunteer students, community groups and individuals to learn about native forest restoration, and about general Hawai’i plant issues and solutions.