Hawaiʻi County awarded $1.9M grant for Puapuaʻa Iki Habitat Restoration Project

Hawaiʻi County Office of Sustainability, Climate, Equity and Resilience was awarded $1.9 million in federal grant funds to support the Puapuaʻa Iki Habitat Restoration Project.

This initiative aims to restore native ecosystems, preserve historic and cultural sites and strengthen community resilience against climate impacts such as erosion, flooding and sea level rise at Puapuaʻa Iki, a parcel of land in Kona managed by the Hawaiʻi County Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Commission. 

“The Puapuaʻa Iki Habitat Restoration Project is a good example of the important work being done by the County of Hawaiʻi to support conservation and cultural preservation,” said Hawaiʻi County Mayor Kimo Alameda. “By engaging with local stakeholders, we can ensure that this land is properly stewarded for future generations.”

Office of Sustainability, Climate, Equity and Resilience will manage the project in close collaboration with the Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Commission.

Puapuaʻa Iki has deep cultural and ecological significance and long faced challenges from invasive species, erosion and trespassing.

Hawaiʻi County engaged local stakeholders with connections to the site as part of the grant development process. Their connections span decades and generations.

This collaboration will continue, as the grant includes funds to convene a community advisory group starting in 2026 to guide planning and implementation throughout the project, ensuring restoration efforts reflect traditional knowledge and cultural values. 

Key project activities include:

• Establishment of the community advisory group.
• Landscape planning and environmental assessment to ensure environmental compliance.
• Cultural site restoration.
• Ecological site restoration efforts focused on replanting native vegetation and stabilizing the shoreline.

About 11.5 acres of lowland coastal dry/mesic forest are covered by the restoration project, which will include careful work around the heiau and burial sites to protect these culturally important areas. 

The project aims to provide long-term benefits such as enhanced shoreline stability, protection of historic and cultural resources, biodiversity restoration and greater community engagement in land stewardship.

First meeting of the community advisory group is anticipated for January 2026, following the acceptance of funds. 

Funding runs through September 2029 and was awarded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration through the Coastal Zone Management Habitat Protection and Restoration Competition.

Community members interested in participating in future engagement opportunities or sharing their manaʻo about Puapuaʻa Iki can complete the project interest form online.

Email to OSCER@hawaiicounty.gov, call 808-854-3129 or follow @hicountyoscer on Instagram for additional information.