{"id":230587,"date":"2026-03-10T14:55:07","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T00:55:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=230587"},"modified":"2026-03-10T14:55:07","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T00:55:07","slug":"bezos-gift-restore-grasslands-reduce-wildfire-risk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2026\/03\/10\/bezos-gift-restore-grasslands-reduce-wildfire-risk\/","title":{"rendered":"Bezos gift backs UH<\/abbr> research to restore Maui grasslands and reduce wildfire risk"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

\"Fire<\/p>\n

A $2-million gift from Jeff Bezos and Lauren S\u00e1nchez Bezos is supporting University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>-led research aimed at restoring fire-prone grasslands on Maui and reducing the risk of future wildfires, building on earlier investments in watershed protection<\/a> and long-term recovery following the devastating 2023 fires.<\/p>\n

\"Grass\"
Guinea grass<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Much of Maui\u2019s former sugar plantation lands are now unmanaged and dominated by invasive species, such as guinea grass, that create more fire-prone vegetation and intensify wildfire risk. Several UH<\/abbr> units are collaborating to address that vulnerability through land stewardship research designed to inform policy and guide on-the-ground management decisions.<\/p>\n

The effort brings together researchers from the UH<\/abbr> Economic Research Organization<\/a> (UHERO<\/abbr>) housed in UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa\u2019s College of Social Sciences<\/a>, the Institute for Sustainability and Resilience<\/a>, and the Ecosystems and Land Care Program in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management<\/a> (NREM<\/abbr>) in the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience. The work will be conducted with watershed partners, ranchers and ʻ\u0101ina (land)-based organizations across Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>.<\/p>\n

“Insufficient investment in land care across former plantation lands has left large areas of Maui vulnerable to wildfire,” said Kimberly Burnett, a specialist with UHERO<\/abbr>. “This work builds on evidence that actively managed lands, including forests, well-managed rangelands and agriculture, can significantly reduce fuel loads and support outcomes like erosion reduction, food production, biodiversity and community resilience.”<\/p>\n

Data-driven strategies for wildfire prevention<\/h2>\n
\"Guinea
Guinea grass<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In the early stages of the project, researchers will work closely with partners to co-develop research questions and products that are directly useful for land managers and decision-makers. Anticipated outcomes include statewide wildfire risk and probability maps to help guide fire reduction strategies across a range of land uses, as well as analyses of different wildfire mitigation scenarios over space and time.<\/p>\n

Those scenarios may include forest restoration, green breaks, agroforestry, grazing and mowing, with researchers assessing the benefits and costs of each approach.<\/p>\n

“We want to look at options beyond just mowing brush given how well these different actions align with other things people value and contribute to public safety,” said Clay Trauernicht, a specialist with NREM<\/abbr>.<\/p>\n

The project will also examine policy and market-based tools that could help finance and support land-use transitions that advance multiple ecosystem services, including wildfire risk reduction, across Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>.<\/p>\n

The gift builds on existing support from the Bezos Maui Fund to restore the island\u2019s watersheds and reduce wildfire risk, and reflects a broader strategy that links environmental recovery with community resilience. That land-based work is complemented by a separate $1.5-million investment to support Lahainaluna High School graduates enrolled at UH<\/abbr> who continue to face economic hardship following the fires.<\/p>\n

“We are profoundly grateful to our donors for their continued commitment to Maui,” said UH<\/abbr> Foundation CEO<\/abbr> and Vice President of Advancement Tim Dolan. “Their support is making a lasting difference for the people and places that define this community.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Large areas of former plantation lands are vulnerable to fires.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":230616,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[301,212,665,1409,1363,1314,1597,544,73,9,60,947,343],"class_list":["post-230587","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-research","tag-college-of-social-sciences","tag-college-of-tropical-agriculture-and-human-resilience","tag-conservation","tag-disaster-emergency","tag-manoa-research","tag-manoa-sustainability","tag-maui-wildfires","tag-natural-resources-and-environmental-management","tag-sustainability","tag-uh-manoa","tag-maui-college","tag-uh-system","tag-uhero","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t