HONOLULU (KHON2) -- The Aloha Tree Alliance (ATA) is an organization that is diligently working to restore Oahu's indigenous forests.
Here is what you need to know and how you can get involved.
The Kuliʻouʻou Ridge Trail in East Oʻahu is a beautiful hiking spot that needs urgent restoration. Overuse and misuse have severely damaged the trail.
Deeply cut switchbacks have killed trees and plants and has led to soil erosion. This erosion harms the coral reefs and natural ecosystems in Maunalua Bay.
The area, once full of native trees, shrubs, birds, and snails, has lost much of its natural beauty.
To combat this, the Aloha Tree Alliance is stepping in. They are uniting East Oʻahu community members, schools, tourists, and hiking groups across the island.
Their mission is to plant native trees, restore the forest, and repair the trailhead to its original state. By doing this, they aim to reduce soil erosion, increase forest diversity, and build resilience against global climate change.
This collaborative effort hopes to revive the area's natural ecosystem and ensure its beauty and health for future generations.
You can get involved this Saturday, June 22. Here are more details from ATA.
- Held one Saturday a month from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Main activities are removing invasive species, preparing the earth, planting native trees and creating natural barriers at trail cuts.
- Tree planting will occur during the makahiki (rainy season) from October - April. The rest of the year is focused on watering, weeding and caring for the plants.
- Help maintain all of ATA’s plantings through weedings and watering keiki native trees and shrubs.
- Activities include hiking up to 1 mile over uneven terrain one gallon water jugs. Each jug weighs about eight pounds.
- Please bring a backpack, drinking water and good hiking shoes.
- Volunteer as a docent to assist ATA with educational site visits with K-12 schools at the Kuli‘ou‘ou Ridge Trail.
- Please email info@alohatreealliance.org for more information.
Adopt-a-Kīpuka is a community program where businesses and volunteers care for parts of the Kuli‘ou‘ou Ridge Trail for one year. They help maintain native trees, prevent erosion, and improve natural resources. Volunteers create positive experiences for hikers and inspire stewardship.
This flexible opportunity allows volunteers to visit based on their schedules.
Kuli‘ou‘ou Valley is rich in cultural history and diverse natural resources. The Kuli‘ou‘ou trail, a popular hiking spot on O‘ahu, offers recreational beauty and serves as a crucial watershed for East Honolulu, impacting Maunalua Bay's health.
However, overuse has caused forest degradation, invasive species, erosion from hikers cutting trails, heavy foot traffic, and insufficient state funding for proper maintenance.
This has led to significant environmental issues, affecting the trail's sustainability and the health of the surrounding ecosystem.