Restoring people and productivity to Puanui: challenges and opportunities in the restoration of an intensive rain-fed Hawaiian field system

aimeesch@hawaii.edu — Mon, 31 Jan 2022 22:01:21 +0000

“Prior to European contact, Hawaiian cultivators developed and sustained large rain-fed field systems based on sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) and other crops. However, these intensive systems largely were abandoned in the 19th century, and there is little knowledge of how they functioned. Since 2008, we have worked to restore people and production to one such rain-fed field system at Puanui in leeward Kohala on the Island of Hawai’i using traditional knowledge, local knowledge, and experiments to understand how such systems functioned and to provide an educational and cultural resource to local communities. We encountered both climatic and biotic challenges to using traditional knowledge for restoring agricultural production. Climatically, there has been a recent drying trend and a severe 6-yr drought. Biotically, a wide range of weeds, pests, and diseases have been introduced to Hawaii since European contact. Experimental studies of cultivation practices demonstrated that rock mulching, a traditional practice, led to significantly greater yields of sweet potato than did alternative methods. More than 3000 students and community members have participated in the restoration effort and have contributed local and traditional knowledge in the process.” Abstract from Restoring people and productivity to Puanui: challenges and opportunities in the restoration of an intensive rain-fed Hawaiian field system by Marshall et al.

View the full article

Auwahi Dry-land Forest Restoration Project

aimeesch@hawaii.edu — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 21:34:00 +0000

The Hawaiian dryland montane forest is considered one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems in the islands; however less than 10% of Hawai‘i’s original dry land forest remains (Medeiros and von Allmen, 2006). The southwestern leeward slopes of Haleakalā Volcano were once covered with healthy dryland forests but these forests have been severely impacted by invasive species, human development, fire and agricultural practices. Feral ungulates, including goats, pigs, cattle, and sheep have consumed the native vegetation, and fire prone alien grasses now dominate the understory in most dryland forest ecosystems. Native Hawaiian plants did not evolve with mammalian herbivores or frequent disturbance, so they do not survive well under these increased pressures (Medeiros and von Allmen, 2006). In recent decades, a multi-agency collaboration, spearheaded by Arthur Medeiros of the USGS, has focused efforts on the reestablishment of the native dryland forest of East Maui in Auwahi and Kama‘ole districts (Medeiros, 2003). Extensive field exploration in the late 1980’s (Medeiros et al., 1986) called attention to the deterioration of the leeward dryland forest on the slopes of Haleakalā, and the Auwahi region was identified as prime area to focus conservation efforts (Erdman et al., 2000). Auwahi is one of the last remaining relatively intact dryland forests in the state of Hawai‘i and is home to greater variety of native trees than nearly any other dryland forest in the state (Medeiros et al., 1986). A land owner (‘Ulupalakua Ranch), resource managers, scientists, and volunteers began an effort to restore a 10 acre section of this dryland forest beginning in 1997. The area was completely fenced to exclude grazing animals, and measures were taken against alien grass and other invasive species, using herbicides and fast growing native species. Botanical members of the original community were protected and added as necessary. Since the initial restoration efforts began the project has expanded and now covers a total of 56 acres at three different sites (Figure 48).

To learn more, read by Longman et al. or visit

agriculture – Hawaiʻi Climate Data Portal

Restoring people and productivity to Puanui: challenges and opportunities in the restoration of an intensive rain-fed Hawaiian field system

Auwahi Dry-land Forest Restoration Project