The hawaii department of land and natural resources will work from forest to sea to reduce land-based sources of pollution impacting the olowalu reef in west maui

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) awarded a $9,909,551 Cooperative Agreement to the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) under the Habitat Conservation federal grant program (CFDA 11.463). The purpose of this 3-year project, running from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2027, is to reduce land-based sources of pollution impacting the Olowalu Reef in West Maui. Key activities include reforesting native plants, controlling feral ungulates, reducing wildfires, constructing a sediment capture basin, and beginning plans to restore a wetland. The project will incorporate native Hawaiian traditional and cultural knowledge and partner with community organizations to implement restoration and land stewardship efforts.

They will help stabilize soils by reforesting native plants, controlling feral ungulates, and reducing the frequency and intensity of fires in the watersheds above the reef. They will construct a sediment capture basin to prevent sediment from entering the ocean and begin plans for restoration of a wetland in the area. This project will incorporate native hawaiian traditional and cultural knowledge and will partner with community organizations to implement restoration and malama INA (care for the land).