Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 39, Number 9, 1 September 2022 — Wao Kele o Puna [ARTICLE]

Wao Kele o Puna

The 25,856-acre lowlanel rainforest reserve of Wao Kele o Puna was acquired by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) in 2006 with grant funding from the Forest Legacy Program. It is OHA's largest legacy land holding. In 2017, a Comprehensive Management Plan (CMP) forforest management operations for Wao Kele o Puna was completed and approved by OHA's Board of Trustees. OHA's primary activities at Wao Kele o Puna includetrail and road mainīenanee, invasive species removal, and small-scale forest restoration. In addition, OHA provides access to the forest of Wao Kele o Puna as an outdoor classroom for schools and community groups. In keeping with OHA's Mana i Mauli Ola Strategic Plan, the foundations of 'ohana (family), mo'omeheu (culture) and 'āina (land and water) are emphasized at Wao Kele o Puna. Community-based stewardship opportunities are provided to loeal and private schools from wiīhin the state. Prior to the pandemic, OHA hosted monthly Hawai'i place-based learning and aloha 'āina stewardship events.