Restoring the Wiliwili Forest of Waikoloa by Jen Lawson, Waikoloa Dry Forest Initiative

Waikoloa Village on Hawai‘i Island was built in an area that was once a native Ha- waiian tropical dryland forest, one of the most biologically diverse and beautiful eco- systems of our islands. Not that a casual ob- server would know that looking at Waikoloa today. The lowland dry forests of the past have been almost completely lost, largely due to human activities, the introduction and ex- pansion of feral ungulates, invasive plant spe- cies and an increase in fire frequency. What is left is precious. Although fragmented and degraded, the areas of native forest that still persist are precious, beautiful and inspiring Wiliwili flower places and the wiliwili forest of Waikoloa is one of those amazing places worthy of preservation.

In 2003 members of the Waikoloa Village community, that would later form the Waikoloa Dry For- est Initiative (WDFI), saw something startling happening in their community. Ancient wiliwili (Erythrina sandwicensis) trees were being removed from the native soil that had been their home for hundreds of years and being transplanted into the landscapes of wiliwili enthusiasts wealthy enough to procure one from the wild. The small group of citizen stewards was effective in preventing the removal and sale of any more wiliwili trees in the area and also began a movement to change the future of the landscape in Waikoloa.

Today WDFI manages the Waikoloa Dry Forest Preserve which protects nearly 300 acres of lowland dry forest including many of the wiliwili trees that remain in the area. The preserve is also home to another native leguminous trees, the uhiuhi (Mezonueron kavaiensis), which is federally listed as criti- cally endangered. The preserve protects these special trees and is also the site of ac- tive forest restoration which involves the Hi'ialo (Wiliwili Tree) growing and planting of about 35 different native dryland species some of which are also endangered species that rely on con- servation efforts like the preserve for sur- vival. With help from the Natural Resources Conservation Service and DLNR’s Forest Stewardship Program a perimeter fence was completed in 2011 to exclude goats, and other ungulates, from the preserve. Priori- ties include reducing fuels and invasive grasses and planting thousands of trees over 10-15 acres per year. Reforesting Waikoloa is challenging and expensive and depends on Uhiuhi Flowers. Photo: Josh McCullough the collaboration of many agencies and indi- viduals to be successful. Community out- reach and environmental education are cen- tral to the WDFI’s mission and an important part of the long-term sustainability of the forest. WDFI regularly hosts volunteer days and group visits, provides interpretive tours for visitors and also coordinates a program for children, the Waikoloa Future Foresters, which incorporates ecology, Hawaiian cul- ture and land stewardship in a hand-on, out- door setting.

The challenges of dry forest conservation are many and there is always more work to Future foresters planting. be done, but reforestation is possible; it is necessary and the results of the efforts to reforest Waikoloa are promising. In just a few years of working in the preserve we see healthy thriving trees, native plants outcom- peting weeds and some of the rarest plants of the islands producing flowers and seeds and giving us hope for a future where a di- verse dryland forest can once again sustain itself. For more information on how you can sup- port WDFI and our efforts to preserve, pro- tect and restore our dryland forests please visit waikoloadryforest.org or email [email protected]. WDFI is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and all donations are tax deductible.