Kahu ʻĀina Projects Bridge Culture and Conservation Across the Hawaiian Islands

For Immediate Release: January 22, 2026
HTA Release (26-01)

01-22-26 Kahu 'Aina Projects Bridge Culture and Conservation.pdf

HONOLULU - The Hawai'i Tourism Authority (HTA) announced 11 community-based programs selected to receive approximately $489,000 in support through its Kahu ʻĀina program, part of the agency's destination stewardship portfolio. These initiatives reflect the strength of Hawaiʻi's communities and their dedication to caring for the land, waters and ecosystems that sustain both residents and visitors.

"The Kahu ʻĀina program celebrates the deep relationship between our people and our environment," said Caroline Anderson, interim president and CEO of HTA. "These projects are led by the communities who know their lands best, ensuring that Hawaiʻi's natural and cultural resources are cared for with wisdom, integrity and aloha."

The Hawaiian Islands are among the most ecologically diverse places on Earth, home to 27 of 38 global life zones. Their beauty is unmatched - and their fragility equally so. HTA's Kahu ʻĀina program supports community-based organizations dedicated to the stewardship, conservation and revitalization of Hawai'i's natural resources.

The program is administered in partnership with Kilohana, a division of the Hawaiian Council and emphasizes ʻāina-kānaka (land-human) relationships and knowledge.

The following 11 programs are supported through the Kahu 'Āina program, collectively receiving approximately $489,000 from Hawai'i Tourism Authority.

HAWAIʻI ISLAND

Hinaʻaiulunui - Pōhāhā I Ka Lani

In Waipiʻo Valley, this project revives ancient ʻulu agroforestry systems once central to the valley's food abundance. Participants learn how restoring these groves also restores relationships between people, land and sustenance.

Kipa Waikōloa - Waikōloa Dry Forest Initiative

On the leeward slopes of Hawaiʻi Island, volunteers join guided hikes and service days in the rare dry forest, home to wiliwili, ʻiliahi and uhiuhi. The project invites all to experience the quiet resilience of this endangered ecosystem.

KAUAʻI

Kauaʻi Invasive Species Committee - Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit

Community workdays along Waimea Canyon and Kōke'e trails invite residents and visitors to remove invasive plants and learn the stories of native plants that define Kauaʻi's uplands. These efforts protect fragile bog ecosystems and maintain the beauty of the island's most beloved hiking paths.

Mālama Kukui Heiau - Pihana Ka ʻIkena

Located near Wailua, Kukui Heiau is a heiau hoʻōla - a temple dedicated to healing and well-being. Guided by cultural practitioners, the project restores the heiau's eastern wall using traditional dry-stack masonry and installs interpretive signage to teach proper protocol and share the mo'olelo of the area.

MAUI

Honolua Hands-On Conservation - Aloha Pūʻu Kukui

Community volunteers work in the upper slopes of Honolua Valley, learning to identify native and invasive plants, plant seedlings and understand the watershed's role in feeding the reefs of Lāhainā and Kāʻanapali.

OʻAHU

Forest to Frets: Stringed Instruments of Hawaiʻi Workshops - Kealakai Center for Pacific Strings

Honoring musical innovators Joseph Kekuku and Princess Kaʻiulani, this program teaches participants to craft guitars and ʻukulele from invasive woods, blending environmental restoration with the cultural legacy of Hawaiian music.

Komo i ka ʻĀina - Kauluakalana

At Ulupō Nui in Kailua, Kauluakalana restores loʻi kalo, fishponds and cultural sites once central to Kawainui's life-giving wetlands. Families, students and volunteers return to these storied lands to reconnect with food, tradition and community.

Kūkulu ʻĀina & Community at Maunawila Heiau - Hawaiian Islands Land Trust

At the nine-acre Maunawila Heiau Complex in Hauʻula, community members and visitors help clear invasive species and care for this heiau hoʻōla. Maunawila is a place of restoration and balance, where cultural education and service come together to heal both land and people.

Mālama Palehua - Palehua Conservation Initiative

High above the Waiʻanae Coast, Palehua's native forests and cultural sites are tended by kamaʻāina and volunteers. The program offers cultural tours and mo'olelo sharing, linking restoration work to the history of the mountains that watch over the coast below.

Mālama Pūpūkea

On Oʻahu's North Shore, Mālama Pūpūkea-Waimea engages residents and visitors in caring for the Pūpūkea Marine Life Conservation District through education, cleanups, native plant restoration and cultural outreach. The project fosters low-impact behavior, community connection and long-term coastal health through its ambassador programs and hands-on stewardship efforts.

Stewardship and Conservation of Hawaiʻi's Protected Marine Animals - Hawaiʻi Marine Animal Response (HMAR)

From the shores of Māʻili to Kailua, HMAR responds to calls about Hawaiian monk seals, sea turtles and seabirds, educating beachgoers on respectful coexistence. Volunteers bridge visitors and wildlife through hands-on conservation and daily outreach.