KUPU Clears Area for Hawaiian Hardwoods Project
From July 8th – 12th, 10 Kupu Hawaiʻi Youth Conservation Corps (HYCC) members and two Kupu team leaders joined forces with ATA on the Kuliʻouʻou Ridge Trail to clear a new home for a future Native Hawaiian Hardwoods forest. The HYCC team cleared at least half an acre of Koa Haole, Strawberry Guava, and California […]
Sowing the Seeds for a New Nursery
An adventurous excursion along Kuliʻouʻou Ridge Trail with Winona Farias, DOFAWʻs Oʻahu outreach associate, and ATA staff members Laurie Chang and Eli Livezey resulted in the collection of 15,000 ʻAʻaliʻi seeds! These seeds will grow into resilient adult plants once propagated at ATA’s new nursery, scheduled to launch this summer. ATA’s native seed collection and […]
The Coconut Traveler: Re-imagining Tourism for a Sustainable & Abundant Future
Did you know that in the past three years, the Hawaiian Islands hosted an average of 10 million visitors per year (HTA, 2024)? Over-tourism degrades our islands’ natural resources, overcrowds local spots, and increases the cost of living. Debbie Misajon, founder of The Coconut Traveler (TCT), is committed to flipping the negative narrative on tourism […]
Don’t Let Your Intentions Fade in February!
The end of the year brings reflection and the new year brings resolutions. During this time, we commit to forming better habits and reaching personal goals for a fulfilling life. February is when we start to get caught up in the external environments around us and tend to push aside our goals. That’s because we […]
Native Lonomea Trees Return to Kuliʻouʻou Valley
The Lonomea tree, scientifically known as Sapindus oahuensis, is an endemic tree found only in mesic to dry forests in the Waiʻanae and Koʻolau region of Oʻahu and on northwest Kauaʻi. This native tree was historically found in the Kuliʻouʻou region where Aloha Tree Alliance conducts its restoration work; however, it has drastically been on […]
KUPU Americorps Members Hit the Trail
For one week in July, 12 KUPU Youth Conservation Corps interns and staff participated in diverse hands-on, place-based mentorship opportunities through ATA’s second annual Ridge-to-Reef eco summer program. The young adults’ experiences took them 1,800 feet above sea level to the Kuli`ou`ou Ridge Trail summit, down to the shores of Maunalua Bay. In between on […]
Foster-a-Plant Gives Seedlings a Home
ATA team leader Kanoa Nakamura knows that planting seeds takes time and patience. Newly planted seedlings need care like all young, and just the right amount of sunshine and water. What began as a plant propagation project in Kanoa’s back yard blossomed this past spring into ATA’s Foster-a-Plant program. Community members can foster native trees […]
White House Council Chair Tours Kuli’ou’ou Ridge Trail
A surprise visit in May by Chair of White House Council on Environmental Quality, Brenda Mallory, brought attention to a landmark grant that will foster traditional watershed management in modern-day Honolulu. ATA is one of eight groups, led by Malama Maunalua, that was awarded an $8 million NOAA grant to implement traditional, ridge-to-reef ahupua‘a management––native […]
Book Recommendations
We compiled a list of books to immerse yourself in the wisdom and wonder of forests on Earth. Happy reading!
Protect, Preserve, Plant
Protecting and preserving mature native trees is as important as planting new ones for restoration….
