The division of forestry and wildlife (DOFAW) proposes the acquisition of the 43.73 acre kahanui wetland in molokai, hawai'i through a subgrantto the molokai land trust (MLT)

Molokai S south shore has some of the greatest wetland restoration potential in hawai'i the expansive coastalfloodplain has a mosaic of fresh, brackish and saltwater habitats. Such an undeveloped floodplain is rare in hawai'i, lost mainly to development. This acquisition is essential to prevent the continued loss of wildlife habitat to invasive species, sedimentation and possibly development attempts to support the current owner to find restoration funding have not succeeded. Purchase by another owner with different objectives would contribute tothe fragmentation of this floodplain (the site is in the center of the plain), while a purchase by MLT would help to reverse ongoing habitat losses. MLT are committed to protecting the culturally valuable fishpond on site and including the community in restoration efforts they will work with themolokai wetland partnership and other local organizations to facilitate this. Acquisition by MLT effectively returns the site from private ownershipto the hawaiian people. The land is currently on the open market, has generated interest already and could be purchased for non conservation reasons at any time, with the listing outlining options for building development. This grant application proposes acquisition only restoration is planned for future applications. The wetland, 3 miles west of kaunakakai, has been degraded through sediment from past upslope agricultural practices and encroachment ofinvasive vegetation (mainly mangrove). ?0.76 acres are dry scrubland the remainder is NWI designated wetland. Springs are present and afteracquisition, there is potential to enhance existing freshwater and coastal habitat for endangered waterbirds, migratory birds, bats, and aquatic insects. Kahanui has been identified as a candidate in the pacific island climate adaptation science center (PICASC) restoration planning project.future restoration plans (not included in current grant funding application)restoration would focus principally on the eradication of highly invasive red mangrove (rhizophora mangle), pickleweed (batis maritima) andkiawe (prosopis pallida). In future phases, a restoration plan will be developed and implemented to achieve the end goal of a healthy coastalwetland ecosystem. MLT has the capacity and track record to eliminate invasives and manage for the recruitment of native flora and fauna. The sitehas deep cultural importance, due to a buried ?600 year old loko 'UME'iki (shoreline bound fishpond). There is potential to strengthen cultural tiesby developing taro fields on site when managed for indigenous agro ecology, they provide excellent habitat for waterbirds, and serve as a bridgelinking the local community with conservation work. In preliminary outreach sessions, the community expressed a strong desire for this approach.future restoration aligns with similar USFWS funded work at alakoko fishpond (kaua'i) and he'eia national estuarine reserve network (O'ahu),integrating long term waterbird conservation with traditional hawaiian agricultural practices. The site provides an opportunity to adapt to climatechange through managed retreat. As sea level rise (SLR) occurs , there is space for the freshwater interest to retreat north. MLT has the in housecapacity to develop a climate change and sea level rise response plan to guide the management response to SLR.