Hawaiian Islands Land Trust

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Kalista Decker, Max Feuti, Kaylee Eckert, & Kinley Elliott

What was the reason for the coastal initiative, when and where set up?

• To restore the Waihe’e Refuge to what it was 200 years ago
• Protects 17503 acres across 4 islands
• 24 acres of coastal wetlands, 103 acres of dunes, 7,000 ft of shorelines, and 8 acres of riparian habitats
• Established in 2011

What was the reason for the coastal initiative, when and where set up?

• Area has always been important in the traditional history of Hawaii
• cultural tribes and kings have lived there, there are burial sites, Hawaiian legends have focused/taken place there, and it is the primary home to 10 endangered species

Laws and Agencies/Organizations Supporting the Initiative

Our Mission Is Simple: To Protect The Lands That Sustain Us For Current And Future Generations.

OUR PROMISE, AUDACIOUS: PERPETUITY.

Hawaiian Islands Land Trust (HILT): https://youtu.be/H6Ivl0JCXZw

Key partners who funded the initiative:

• The County of Maui
• United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
• Other grants and private funding from foundations, individuals, and groups

Did everyone agree with the initiative, who, why, why not?

How the public feels…

• Donations can be made by the public to show their support and some donors are even members
• Donors can decide to withhold their donation on certain projects
• Many companies and agencies support HILT as well as many individuals
• United states fisheries and wildlife service(FWS)
• National oceanic and atmospheric administration (NOAA)
• Wetland service program
• This organization is saving many plants, animals, and land in Hawaii so almost all citizens of the area support the organization

Economic benefits and costs

Costs

• Receive donations and funding from other organizations
• Allows anyone to make donations
• Nonprofit organization

Benefits

• Saves and replenishes natural resources
• Gives avenues to tourism

Social benefits/cost

• Strengthens the island members’ sense of community/heritage
• Daily/Weekly scheduled group walks on the refuge for visitors
• Volunteers lead environmental educational outreach
• Collaboration with local and state gov’t
• Local citizen led volunteer councils on each protected island
• Overseeing advisory board and Board of Directors
• Funding is through charity/donations and grants

Environmental Benefits/Costs

Protects over:

• 24 acres of coastal wetlands
• 103 acres of dune ecosystem
• 7000 feet of marine shoreline
• 8 acres of riparian habitat for the recovery of native birds and vegetation

Preserves the area’s rich archaeological and cultural resources

What is the current state of things?

Habitat restoration

Endangered species residing in Refuge are thriving, including native Hawaiian bird species and habitat-appropriate plants

• Ae’o (stilt)
• Alae ke’oke’o (coot)
• Koloa (duck)
• Nene (goose)

Wetland restoration, and plans for coastal dune restoration (ideal sea bird habitats)

Protected Animals

Hawaiian stilt

Hawaiian coot

Hawaiian goose

Habitat Types

• Coastal wetlands
• Dunes
• Marine shoreline
• Near-shore reef systems and riparian habitat
• Historic agricultural land (and cultural resources)
• Extensive coastal reef system – one of the longest and widest on Maui

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What are the threats to continued success of the initiative?

• HILT has had to be sensitive of the cultural significance of the burial sites located in the sand dunes when they were designing a restoration plan for that area
• These burial sites should not be disturbed due to archeological and cultural significance
• 95% of the plants found on the site were considered to be invasive species
• Relies upon volunteers
• Public interest needs to be kept up in order for the initiative to continue and thrive

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Cont.

• If sea level rose 10 ft. or more, 50-60% of the entire 277 acre refuge could be submerged.
• Sea walls or other protective structures have been ruled out at as a solution because they are not a long-term, viable option.
• A hardened shoreline would alter sediment input to nearby sites, have cascading consequences into the future, and go against the land trust’s goals to preserve, protect and restore natural landscapes.
• The initiative can only hope that restoration will increase resilience

Citations

• https://www.hilt.org/
• https://climatechange.lta.org/case-study/hilt_waihee_restoration/
• https://coast.noaa.gov/data/czm/landconservation/media/celcpplan-hi-final.pdf
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaiian_Islands_Land_Trust#cite_note-wh-4
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