Kīpuka Kamalō Reforestation Project
BY KA IPU MAKANI CULTURAL HERITAGE CENTER
The Kīpuka Kamalō Reforestation Project is a community driven effort to restore native dryland forest within the Kamalō Ahupuaʻa on the southeast end of Molokaʻi. Located at ʻAikoʻolua and led by kūpuna Bobby Alcain
This project focuses on protecting a culturally and ecologically significant landscape that has experienced decades of environmental degradation.
We honor the kamaʻāina of Kamalō and mahalo our partners, Kamehameha Schools- ʻĀina Pauahi, for allowing us the privledge to care for and learn from this powerful place! Ola Kamalō!
Once known for its productive agricultural lands and abundant coastal resources, Kamalō has faced increasing pressure from invasive species, erosion, and habitat loss. Through native plant restoration and dryland forest regeneration, this project works to rebuild ecological resilience and restore balance to the landscape.
Protecting Kamalō’s Last Wiliwili Grove
At the center of the project is the protection of the last remaining wiliwili grove in Kamalō. Wiliwili (Erythrina sandwicensis) is a keystone species of Hawaiian dryland forests and plays an important role in both the ecological and cultural landscape of Hawaiʻi.
Protecting and expanding this grove supports the recovery of native dryland forest ecosystems while ensuring that these culturally significant trees continue to thrive in Kamalō.
Restoring the Landscape from Mauka to Makai
Restoration at ʻAikoʻolua focuses on removing invasive vegetation and reestablishing native plant communities that strengthen the resilience of the land. These efforts help stabilize soils, reduce erosion, and rebuild the health of the dryland forest ecosystem.
Because the restoration site sits mauka of Kamāhuʻehuʻe Loko Iʻa, restoring native vegetation also helps reduce sediment runoff that can impact the fishpond and nearshore marine environment.
Why This Work Matters
Dryland forests were once a defining feature of Molokaʻi’s landscape. These native ecosystems helped stabilize the soil, protect watersheds, and support the balance between upland environments and the coastal ecosystems below.
Over time, the loss of native vegetation and the spread of invasive species have contributed to erosion across many areas of East Molokaʻi. Sediment from degraded landscapes can wash downslope, impacting nearshore reefs, fishponds, and marine habitats that are vital to Molokaʻi’s food systems.
Restoring native dryland forests at ʻAikoʻolua helps rebuild this natural system. Native plants hold the soil, strengthen watershed resilience, and support biodiversity across the landscape.
Just as importantly, restoration reconnects people with the cultural knowledge and stewardship practices that have sustained Molokaʻi’s landscapes for generations.
This initiative will not only focus on preserving native plants but it will also incorporate the creation of a food forest. By integrating these elements, we aim to enhance biodiversity and provide sustainable food sources.
The development of a native plant bank and nursery is a vital part of our overall restoration efforts. The work done in the nursery is essential, as it ensures the availability of locally grown healthy plants that will support both ecosystem restoration and community needs.
Project Impact Dashboard
Last Updated September 2026
01
Acres cleared of invasive vegetation
169
Community members and volunteers participated in restoration workdays
9,283
Native plants propagated
in the nursery
430
Native plants outplanted in restoration area
A Vision for the Future
As restoration efforts expand across the 20+ acre project area, Kīpuka Kamalō will serve as a living seed source for the recovery of native dryland forests throughout Kamalō.
Over time, the project aims to:
Strengthen watershed health
Restore a thriving native forest ecosystem that stabilizes the land
Supports the connection between upland landscapes and the coastal ecosystems below
Through continued stewardship and community participation, this work will help ensure that the Kamalō landscape remains healthy and abundant for future generations.
Community Stewardship
Kīpuka Kamalō is grounded in community stewardship and mālama ʻāina. Restoration workdays and learning opportunities invite community members, students, and volunteers to participate directly in caring for this landscape.
Through hands-on restoration, the project reconnects people with the Kamalō landscape while cultivating the next generation of mālama ʻāina practitioners dedicated to the long term health of Molokaʻi’s ecosystems.
“Through caring for this land, we restore not only the forest, but our relationship with the ʻāina.”
-Uncle Bobby
