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Project Information EXHIBIT A
<br />*40. Project Title
<br />Keau'ohana Native Rainforest Restoration and Education Project
<br />41. Project Start Date
<br />07/01/2025
<br />42. Project End Date
<br />06/30/2026
<br />*43. Please select all areas of Hawaii Island where the project will be administered, delivered, and implemented.
<br />Puna
<br />*44. Please select the district of the Council Member from which you would like to apply for Contingency Relief Funds.
<br />Council District 4
<br />*45. In 2,000 characters or less, describe the project
<br />Our primary project focuses on the restoration of Keau'ohana State Forest Reserve, the largest and most intact native lowland rainforest remaining (<1,000ft) in Hawaii
<br />State. Keau ohana has since 2014 undergone an intensive restoration process that has focused on the control of invasive plant species, and the planting of native species
<br />on -a now consolidated —20 site in the most biodiverse portion of the reserve. Keau'ohana is today's last remaining lowland reservoir of rare native species, and its
<br />surviving biota is of great biological significance. It is the final native ecotype providing habitat for many native, rare, and endangered species. Of five State Forest
<br />Reserves set aside for conservation 1h 1903, Keau ohana is the only Puna reserve in which the original forest composition has not been replaced by invasive species due
<br />to lack of management. Because Keau'ohana Forest Reserve is State property, and its public purpose is to preserve, protect and restore the property and the natural
<br />resources thereon for future generations, we take pride in our efforts. As the most intact native lowland rainforest readily available to the public, Keau'ohana rainforest
<br />Is a living classroom for many local and international volunteer students, community groups and individuals to learn about native forest restoration, and about general
<br />Hawaii plant issues and solutions. Her educational program has reached thousands of local residents and visitors wishing for a meaningful experience, contributing
<br />essential knowledge for the protection and improvement of Hawai9's fragile and compromised environment. HER participation in community outreach events and public
<br />presentations also educate people on how they could help support our shared environment by making wise plant choices for sustainable living in their own lives. In these
<br />Ways HER engages the community in achieving its environmental goals to improve not only the Keau ohana forest, but Hawaii's lowland environment at large.
<br />*46.501(c)(3) Mission Statement
<br />The mission of Hawaii Environmental Restoration (HER) is to help restore the natural integrity of Hawaii's environment. HER is equally dedicated to nurturing
<br />environmental awareness for students and stewards who wish to contribute to Hawaii's historical heritage and environmental betterment. HER spiritual mission is.to
<br />inspire people in nurturing a sacred rapport to the land, one that honors its native people, perpetuates the Hawaiian culture, and protects its original plant community.
<br />*47. In 1,000 characters or less, explain how the 501(c)(3) is connected to the project
<br />With over'35 years of experience in sustainable development in Hawaii, President/Project Director, Cindy Jaya Dupuis (113.), is a tropical conservation biologist and
<br />environmental scientist, who launched and has managed these efforts since 2014. Keau ohana has from that time undergone an intensive restoration process that has
<br />focused on the control of invasive plant species, and the planting of native species on —30 acres of the reserve. As of June 2021, HER prioritizes a -20 acres
<br />consolidated site of most biodiverse portion to be more effective in its long-term restoration and preservation goals. Our intensive native rainforest restoration project
<br />began in 2014 under the umbrella of Malama O Puna, Pahca's environmental resource center. In 2019,, Hawaii Environmental Restoration (HER) was established as a
<br />501(c)(3) non-profit corporation in order to become more effective with our growing goals.
<br />*48. Please upload a completed CRF Grant Budget Form.
<br />CRF Budget Form 2025-26 HER.xisx
<br />Public Purpose of Requested Funds
<br />Per §2-138 of the Hawarl County Code 1983 (2016, Edition, as amended), the County may grant an award only if the proposed program or service provides direct public
<br />benefits and.fulfilis a public purpose within the County.
<br />49. According to §2-136, "public purpose" is defined as a benefit to, improvement of, or promotion of the Interests in the following areas. Please select all the public benefits
<br />to be derived from your -County fund request:
<br />Culture and the arts
<br />Educational concerns
<br />Public health and welfare of the people and the environment
<br />*50. In 2,000 characters or less, describe the measurable outcomes you aim to achieve with these funds.
<br />By the end of the grant period, our primary environmental impact goals include completing a full systematic pass of the 20-acre restoration site and maintaining
<br />successful follow-up sweeps in support of new native plantings. In 2024 alone, we planted 11107native seedlings —a record high for the project —and facilitated 600
<br />volunteer hours from 135 individuals. These contributions bring our totals since 2014 to 2;963 seedlings planted and 7,590 volunteer hours logged by 1,212 community
<br />members. While ecological impact is central to our work, our community engagement goals are equally vital. We view volunteerism as a pathway to stewardship, and
<br />each forest workday or educational presentation helps deepen public understanding of Hawaii's native ecosystems. In total, HER hosted'17 special events, a total that as
<br />usual, exceeds our minimum of 12 events per year. Since our launch, we have facilitated or supported more than 150 special events. In parallel, we continue to grow
<br />our online presence, now reaching over 1,000 subscribers via email and even larger numbers through Facebook and Instagram. These platforms allow us to share
<br />restoration updates, celebrate milestones, and offer ongoing education to a broader audience. A full record of our activities, including photos and event recaps, can be
<br />found at: https://hawaiienvironmentairestoration.org/blog. Looking ahead, we hope to continue strengthening the ecological health of Kearohana through annual
<br />restoration cycles, increased species diversity, and the steady accumulation of forest.canopy. Our work is about both protection and regeneration —ensuring that this rare
<br />native lowland rainforest not only survives but thrives. With support from this grant, HER is ready to continue building on a decade of results, community participation,
<br />and measurable progress.
<br />*51. For the project you are applying for, do you currently have or expect to have a contract/agreement with another department of the County of Hawaii during the
<br />current fiscal year (July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026) related to this same project?
<br />No
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