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OSCER Receives NOAA Grant for Puapuaʻa Iki Habitat and Heiau Restoration
The County of Hawaiʻi has been awarded a $1.9 million grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to support a Habitat and Heiau Restoration Project at Puapuaʻa Iki. The Office of Sustainability, Climate, Equity, and Resilience (OSCER) will lead this effort, which runs through September 2029 and will support major work 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.
As of July 2026, the project is moving forward on schedule. Waiwai Collective has been contracted as our community facilitator and is actively working to establish the Core Hui, a dedicated community advisory group that will help guide planning, cultural protocols, and public engagement throughout the project. G-70 has also been contracted to develop the Landscape Plan and Environmental Assessment, which will inform site restoration work scheduled to begin in 2027.
Working in partnership with the County's Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Commission (PONC) Program, OSCER is collaborating closely with community members who have been caring for this ʻāina for generations. 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.
For questions about the project or to share your manaʻo, contact OSCER at OSCER@hawaiicounty.gov. Project updates will be shared here as the work progresses.
Last updated: July 2026