Kānepuʻu Preserve Restoration

August 2024 – Lāna‘i Culture and Heritage Center and nearly 90 community volunteers teamed up to protect Kānepu‘u Preserve, one of Hawaiʻi's largest native dryland forests. On August 24, the Center invited friends and families to volunteer and donate supplies to help mālama this storied place.

Dryland forests in Hawaiʻi host over 100 native plant species. Many face endangerment, including the state flower, ma‘o hau hele (Hibiscus brackenridgei). Introduced animals, invasive weeds, and soil erosion increasingly threaten these forests. Conservationists and local residents now prioritize preserving Kānepu‘u Preserve.

For months, Lāna‘i CHC and community youth nurtured native plants from locally sourced seeds and cuttings. Volunteers planted species such as naio, ʻaʻaliʻi, ʻilima papa, and wiliwili. At the August event, stewards planted 50 native plants in the preserve’s self-guided area.

Kānepu‘u shelters native plants like lama (Hawaiian ebony), olopua (native olive), and nā‘ū (Hawaiian gardenia). It also supports native animals such as the pueo (Hawaiian short-eared owl) and Blackburn’s blue butterfly.

“Kānepuʻu is a wahi pana on Lāna‘i that deserves our care and attention,” said Shelly Kaiaokamalie. “By coming together as a community, we can make a lasting impact and ensure this special place thrives into the future.”

Watch the video here.