HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommunication No. 2018-28- Upolu Erosion Prevention PVEC GroupComm. No. 2018-28
November 19, 2018
UPOLU AIRPORT Environmental Restoration
The Upolu Project includes erosion prevention, establishing a trail, educating about native
plants and restoring native habitat, and informing the public of an on-going cooperative
effort. Today we are focusing on erosion prevention.
1. Value of ongoing erosion prevention program
Prevent contamination of coral reefs offshore
Prevent erosion of the shoreline cliff
Preserve fish habitats
Preserve existing vegetation
Prevent destruction of introduced native plants
Provide for return of seabird nesting areas
Prevent further erosion of pedestrian trails and jeep road
2. Timeline of a successful project
2011 Kohala Lihikai and eight other Kohala organizations enter agreement with Airports
Division to undertake environmental restoration of land makai of runway.
2012 Nursery of 700 naupaka starts created next to airport terminal.
2013 First planting of 600 naupaka along trail.
2015 Second planting of 800 naupaka, ilima and pa'u o Hi'iaka.
2015 Students from KHS, with funding from HTA and mentoring from Malama Kohala
Kahakai, designed and installed three check dams.
2016 Airports Division provided additional material and labor to install other sediment
collecting dams.
2018 Check on progress: both types of dams are collecting sediment from run-off and
aiding in the growth of increasing ground cover including the native pa'u o
Hi'iaka, ilima and naupaka.
3. Key Learnings
1. Work with the landowner
2. Community involvement essential
3. Kids teach us while they learn
4. It takes time
5. The project never ends
4. Next Steps
a. Evaluate the effectiveness of the present dams
b. Work with DOT Division of Airports engineer to locate additional dam sites
c. Work with KHS and Senior Project Program to find workforce for new dams
d. Create a nursery project to propagate erosion prevention vegetation
e. Use the lessons learned to undertake erosion prevention projects on
Kohala Open Space Lands — Pao'o, Kaiholena and Hapu'u —
using the County's Open Space Maintenance Fund