A place for native animals to thrive...

October 24, 2019

My name is Daniel and I am a fellow Kilo Aina student researcher. My group mates (Kaitlyn & Hayley) and I were assigned with the restoration of native plants at Kapapapuhi Point Park in West Loch, Ewa Beach. Our project is to replenish native vegetation in a challenging semi-arid environment. With the clearing of the landscape thanks to numerous volunteers, we can now make use of the space (plots) that were once overgrown with mangrove and other invasive species.

We got an exciting idea of how impactful our project could potentially be by visiting the Pouhala Marsh in Waipahu. The marsh was once known as a garbage disposal dump filled with acres of waste. The area has since then flourished with a dramatic change over the past few years and is now a wildlife sanctuary that is home to a few native trees and flora. Native water birds like the Hawaiian stilts, Hawaiian Coots, Koloa, and the endangered Hawaiian Gallinule, have all been showing back up at Pouhala Marsh since its restoration and that’s what we hope to aim for in Kapapapuhi Park. It’s a win win for everyone! We see a beautiful native landscape, and native animals see a place to thrive.

- Daniel