Hawaiian Islands Land Trust
Coordinates: 20°53′12″N 156°30′27″W / 20.88677°N 156.507385°WThe Hawaiian Islands Land Trust (HILT) is a non-profit organization established in Hawaii to “protect the lands that sustain us for current and future generations".[1] The organization works with landowners to protect important areas by restricting commercial or other development. This protection is provided either by the landowner accepting a conservation easement on the land or by selling the land to HILT.
History
In January 2011, HILT was formed from the merger of the Kauai Public Land Trust, the Oahu Land Trust, the Maui Coastal Land Trust, and the Hawaii Island Land Trust.[2]
Properties
HILT protects multiple properties on O'ahu, Kauai, Maui and Hawaii Island, totalling more than 17,000 acres. Protected lands include coastal areas, farms, ranchlands, cultural sites and more.
Waiheʻe coastal dunes and wetlands refuge
The Waiheʻe coastal dunes and wetlands refuge protects over 277 acres of land on Maui. the refuge includes 24 acres (9.7 hectares) of coastal, spring-fed wetland, 103 acres (42 hectares) of sand dune ecosystem, over 7,000 feet (2,100 m) of shoreline and more than 8 acres (3.2 hectares) of riparian habitat, totaling 277 acres (112 hectares). It is located on the windward side of Maui, Hawaii.[3]
The Maui Coastal Land Trust took ownership of this site in 2004 with support from Maui County. The property passed to HILT with the merger.[3]
Active restoration programs have replaced invasive vegetation with native species, enhanced wildlife habitat and preserved archaeological and cultural resources. Restoration employs primarily volunteer labor, managed by professional staff.[3]
The refuge is an important historical site, once hosting kingly residences, battles and Hawaiian legends. The refuge once hosted two fishing Hawaiian villages, an extensive inland Hawaiian fish ponds and several heiau (Hawaiian temple).[3]
The refuge incorporates the last of Maui's large sand dunes that once stretched from Waihe'e to Makena, which once led to the island's nickname of "Sahara in the Pacific". The dunes are some 200 feet (61 m) high.[3]
Acquisition
The purchase was funded by Maui County (which provided $2,000,000), the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) (which contributed a further $2 million) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) (which provided $800,000). Management funding came from FWS, the National Resource Conservation Service Wetlands Reserve Program, NOAA, other grants and private funding from foundations, individuals and groups.[3]
Climate change
Expected rising sea levels could inundate the sand dunes with seawater or transform them into sandy beaches. A 10 feet (3.0 m) rise is expected to submerge 50-60% of the refuge. Adaptations that would preserve environmental and cultural values have yet to be developed/discovered. It is possible that the return to pre-development ecological status will provide sufficient resilience to provide protection.[3]
Agriculture
Restoration plans include restoration of the fishpond and production of historically farmed crops such as taro. Nine taro patches are undergoing restoration, occupying about 0.5 acres (0.20 hectares).[3]
Conservation
Six endangered taxa, two endangered plants, and two endangered insects were found on the site. Eight endangered species have repopulated the refuge, including aeʻo (stilt), alae keʻokeʻo (coot), koloa (duck) and nene (goose).[3]
When the property was first protected, 95% of the plants were invasive species. As of 2014, 70% of the flora in the wetland are native species.
Culture
Many of the important cultural and archaeological sites are located in sand dunes at or near the water. The dunes contains multiple burial sites. The dunes were fenced off to reduce foot traffic and exclude invasive predators. Thereafter endangered bird species began to nest on the dunes, acting as a natural vector and fertilizer for native plants.