Hawaii County, HI
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OSCER Receives NOAA Grant for Puapuaʻa Iki Habitat and Heiau Restoration
Our office is excited to share that we’ve been awarded a $1.9 million grant from the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to launch a Habitat and Heiau Restoration Project at Puapuaʻa Iki. This funding, running through September 2029, will support major efforts to restore native coastal ecosystems, protect culturally significant places, including a heiau and several known burial sites, and enhance natural protections against erosion and flooding.
Working in partnership with the County’s Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Commission (PONC) Program, OSCER will be collaborating closely with community members who have been caring for this ʻāina for generations. A dedicated community advisory group will help guide planning, cultural protocols, and public access as the County moves forward with environmental assessments, shoreline stabilization, and restoration of approximately 11.5 acres of native lowland coastal dry/mesic forest in the North Kona area.
This project brings together traditional ecological knowledge and modern restoration practices to uplift Puapuaʻa Iki as both a cultural treasure and a resilient coastal landscape. Key efforts include invasive species removal, native plant restoration, protection of cultural sites, and long-term monitoring of water quality and endangered species. The first advisory group meeting is anticipated for early 2026.