Active ʻĀina Protection Projects
We strive to protect entire landscapes, establishing reciprocal relationships with the land as Hawaiʻi’s ancestors did - safeguarding clean water, maintaining habitat connectivity for native species, and ensuring functional connectivity of cultural sites.
Growing Hawaiʻi’s Farms
In the rich soils of Lualualei Valley in Wai‘anae, O‘ahu, a farm that has supported those most in need is poised to expand and receive permanent protection. The nonprofits Kahumana Farms and Hawai‘i Land Trust have partnered to forever dedicate 24 acres to regenerative agriculture that will feed community in perpetuity.
How We Protect
Hawaiʻi’s identity, values, culture and economy is based in the health of the land. Losing Hawaiʻi’s coastlines, fertile agricultural lands, and historic landscapes to overdevelopment will inextricably alter Hawaiʻi, sacrificing the very core of what makes Hawaiʻi so special. Hawaiʻi Land Trust focuses on protecting privately-owned land with threatened natural, cultural, and/or agricultural resources of high importance by fee purchase or Conservation Easement.
Places protected following HILT’s Strategic Land Protection Plan priorities:
1) Wahi kupuna (Hawaiian cultural landscapes)
2) Coastlines
3) Lands that grow healthy food for Hawaiʻi’s people
When HILT works to protect a place, we meaningfully engage kamaʻāina, lineal descendants, and the surrounding community. We empower them to lead the effort, knowing that community-led land protection results in a stronger community, and community stewardship of the land once protected.
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Kaumaui Loko Iʻa, Keaukaha, Hawaiʻi Island
Hui Hoʻoleimaluō, a local 501(c)(3), Ka ʻUmeke Kāʻeo Public Charter School, and Hawaiʻi Land Trust have partnered for the permanent protection of Kaumaui’s loko wai (fresh water ponds), punawai (fresh water springs), waikai (brackish water) and its unique ecosystem for native species to thrive. This conservation easement project will protect 3-acres of rare habitat and what could be 8-residential structures, ensuring stewardship and cultural-based education to benefit all current and future generations. Project partners have applied to the County of Hawaiʻi’s Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Commission (PONC) for conservation easement acquisition funds.
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Waikalua Loko Iʻa (Fishponds Complex), Kāneʻohe, Oʻahu
HILT is working with the nonprofit Pacific American Foundation, the Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Program, and the City & County of Honolulu to ensure permanent protection of Waikalua Loko Iʻa with a conservation easement—the last two remaining ancient fishponds in the Kāneʻohe ahupuaʻa. This is a place of education where all are welcomed to join in culturally-rooted stewardship restoration work. Once protected with a perpetual conservation easement, the fishponds will be safeguarded and educational access will always continue.
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Maunawili Loʻi, Pālāwai & Makaliʻi, Oʻahu
HILT is helping the Maunawili community to purchase and conserve traditional kalo lands which will be stewarded by the nonprofits Hoʻokuaʻāina and Kauluakalana. These loʻi kalo lands are part of a bigger effort to protect 1,000 acres in Maunawili, with Hui Maunawili-Kawainui, the State DLNR, and The Trust for Public Land. Collectively, we are working toward collaborative community-based land stewardship that reconnects people to ʻāina and allows Maunawili to feed Oʻahu once again.
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Mokae to Makaʻalae, Hāna Coast, Maui
HILT has supported the Hāna based nonprofit organization, Ke Ao Hāliʻi in the successful purchase and permanent protection of over 150 acres of coastal cultural and agricultural lands since 2020. Together, we are in the final stretch of the effort ensuring that neighboring lands that were donated to Ke Ao Hāliʻi are permanently protected with a conservation easement.
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‘Ohana Kepler Lo’i, Ke’anae, Ko’olau, Maui
Maui Hikina was historically renowned for its self-sustaining economy and rich agricultural heritage. Given this deep sense of place and community, the Kepler ‘Ohana and HILT have partnered to ensure the permanent protection and active cultivation of a little over 6 acres of lo’i kalo lands, including the historically famed personal lo’i kalo of the ancient Chief Ke’anae, the namesake of the wider area. This agricultural conservation easement will protect the potential of up to 36 actively farmed lo’i kalo, supplied with water from Polaukulu Stream through a series of irrigation channels (‘auwai).
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Kealoha Family Loʻi Kalo, Niuliʻi, Kohala, Hawaiʻi
Located at the convergence of two streams are the verdant ʻOhana Kealoha loʻi and agricultural lands of Niuliʻi, Kohala, on Hawaiʻi Island. HILT has partnered with ʻOhana Kealoha to ensure the forever protection of generational ʻohana loʻi kalo (wetland taro) lands, reactivating kalo (taro) cultivation once again in this storied place.
