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 plant reforestation, invasive species control, ungulate removal, stream rehabilitation, and coral reef restoration––to address habitat degradation in three watersheds of Maunalua Bay, including Kuli`ou`ou, and Maunalua Bay. This historic award will enable organizations, businesses, the public, and government to work together to address climate resilience, restore native habitat, and engage the community in a culturally sensitive manner. ATA was awarded $153k over three years through this grant. Work is slated to commence in fall 2023 or beyond. Read more about Chair Mallory’s visit and this historic grant in the Civil Beat article, “This is Gold: An Unprecedented Push to Restore Urban Honolulu’s Watersheds From Ridge to Reef.”
