Initiatives
Kuli‘ou‘ou Ridge Trail Restoration
About the Project
As one of Oʻahu’s most popular and accessible hiking trails, the Kuliʻouʻou Ridge Trail is in urgent need of restoration. The Kuliʻouʻou watershed was once a thriving ecosystem and a place of deep cultural significance. It served as a cherished retreat for Hawaiian royalty, one of the earliest known human settlement sites in Hawaiʻi, and a sanctuary for some of the last intact freshwater springs on the island of Oʻahu.
Decades of overuse, erosion, and the spread of invasive species have severely degraded this land. Aloha Tree Alliance is mobilizing community members, school groups, and businesses to restore this precious watershed.
What We Are Doing
Volunteer Opportunities
A`ohe hua o ka mai`a i ka lā ho’okaāhi
When working together, no task is too big.
-‘Ōlelo No’eau
Aloha Tree Alliance hosts weekly and monthly events to restore the Kuli‘ou‘ou watershed. All ages are welcome, from keiki to kūpuna. Find information, dates, and registration by clicking here!
Community Work Days
- Monthly, on third Saturdays from 8:00 - 11:30 AM
- Tree planting occurs from October - May. From June to September, volunteers work on clearing new planting areas and maintaining keiki plants.
Aloha Friday Watering
- Every Friday from 8:00-11:00 AM
- Water and pull weeds around keiki native trees and shrubs
- Move gallons of water between restoration sites
Adopt-a-Kīpuka
A kīpuka is an “island” or area of land that is surrounded by lava flows. The kīpuka restoration method involves clearing invasive species and planting native species within small, isolated patches of land. These “islands” of native plants establish stable relationships and spread naturally over time.
Eventually, the kīpuka connect to form larger, more fire-resilient habitats for important native species.
Send an email to info@alohatreealliance.org if you are interested in donating time or funding to maintain a kīpuka.
Mahalo nui loa to Architects Hawaii LLC and to the Sole Sisters for being ATA’s first adoptees!
Native Hawaiian Plant Nursery
Aloha Tree Alliance’s Native Hawaiian Plant Nursery in Kamilo Nui Valley will propagate and supply thousands more native plants for restoration efforts on the Kuliʻouʻou Ridge Trail.
The nursery will stabilize ATA’s supply of native plants while preserving the natural genetic diversity of Kuliʻouʻou. By sourcing seeds and cuttings from existing populations in the Koʻolau Mountains, ATA will help safeguard this unique ecosystem for generations to come.
Mahalo nui to The Garden Club of Honolulu and the Kaulunani Urban and Community Forestry Program for providing the funding that made this nursery dream into a reality!
Educational Opportunities
“If you plan for one year, plant kalo. If you plan for ten years plant koa. If you plan for one hundred years, teach the children.” – Puanani Burgess
Aloha Tree Alliance brings youth out of the classroom and into the forest to mālama i ka ʻāina.
Educating the next generation of forest stewards through field trips and in-class experiences is crucial to a lasting environmental impact. Lessons include proper planting methods, restoration strategies, native plant identification, stewardship values, and place-based knowledge–all of which are vital to protecting this precious watershed.
ATA’s ʻĀina Allies volunteer internship program invites high school students to get their first experiences in conservation. More information can be found here.
Interested in planning an educational excursion or on-campus presentation with your class? Or having ATA run an outreach booth at your community or school event? Contact info@alohatreealliance.org with inquiries.
Since 2021, Aloha Tree Alliance has partnered with 20+ school and education groups, including:
– Elementary Schools: Hahaʻione, Hanahauʻoli, Koko Head, Moʻo School
– Middle Schools: Hālau Kū Māna, Hawaii Technology Academy, Kaimuki, Niu Valley, SEEQS
– High Schools: ʻIolani, Kapolei, Henry J. Kaiser, Punahou
– Student-led organizations: Green Horizons, Finding Aloha, Punahou Hiking Club, Wipeout Crew
– Community-based youth organizations: Scouting America, BioJam teens, KUPU Hawaii Youth Conservation Corps
Aloha Tree Alliance is grateful to its partners Mālama Maunalua, Maunalua Fishpond Heritage Center, Lyon Arboretum, and ATA team volunteers for enriching ATA’s educational program’s with mo‘olelo (stories), science experiments and art projects, and lastly sharing their invaluable mana‘o with Hawaii’s youth.
Special thanks to The Coconut Traveler and Xylem for sponsoring ATA’s educational activities in 2023, 2024, and 2025. We look forward to our continued partnerships with these wonderful allies in the future!
