Waikoloa Dry Forest Preserve

The Waikoloa Dry Forest Preserve, located on the leeward side of the Big Island, encompasses 275 acres of remnant dryland forest. The Waikoloa Dry Forest Initiative’s Hoola Hou project was introduced to bring the dryland forest back to life through natural resource management and community education and participation. Since the beginning of 2014, the project has dramatically reduced invasive plants and the threat of fire within the preserve while promoting the recovery of the native forest. Initiative staff and many volunteers, including students, have replaced weeds with 2,000 native plants in just ten months. In addition to land management and forest restoration, Cooke Foundation support has helped the organization improve existing programs to educate more adults and children in the community about the ecological and cultural importance of native dryland forest ecosystems. These activities have engaged 600 people in planting ten acres of future forest this year, leaving a legacy for future generations.

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