Operation ‘Ōpe’ape’a

Māhukona Ecological and Cultural Refuge

Acquired by the Hawai'i Land Trust in 2023, this 642-acre landscape will undergo coastal habitat restoration over the next five years. This land is home to over 175 archaeological sites, heiaus, as well as foraging habitat for the Hawaiian Hoary Bat.

The Hawaiian Hoary Bat (L. semotus), locally known as ‘Ōpe’ape’a, is a federally endangered species. It is not only the only bat species in the Hawaiian Archipelago, but the sole terrestrial mammal native to the islands.

Operation ‘Ōpe’ape’a is a multifaceted endeavor to build a unique detection model for the species and to monitor occupancy within the area to better understand habitat usage throughout restoration.