Overview
Kahuku Point or Kalaeokaunaʻoa, the northern most point on Oʻahu, is composed of rare coastal habitat that is disappearing throughout the state of Hawaiʻi. North Shore Community Land Trust (NSCLT) in partnership with Turtle Bay Resort (TBR), US Fish and Wildlife’s (USFW) Coastal Program, Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), and the community seek to advance conservation efforts at Kahuku Point. Kahuku Point is one of the few remaining coastal dune ecosystems on the northeast coast of Oʻahu that has not been significantly diminished by invasive plant and animals and recreational human activity.
However, due to the introduction and spread of invasive plant and animal species and unguided recreational use in the past, restoration planning and efforts are needed to begin the process of ecosystem recovery, which will return the area to a more natural state. Goals to achieve this vision include the following:
- Protect and preserve all cultural and natural resources
- Install a predator-proof fence and traps to remove predatory, invasive animals on the makai side of the approximately 39-acre area
- Continue plant restoration to facilitate increases in the population and abundance of native biota
- Create suitable habitat for nesting and foraging seabirds including Wedge-tailed Shearwaters (Puffinus pacificus), Red-footed Boobies (Sula sula), Laysan Albatrosss (Phoebastria immutabilis), and Great Frigatebirds (Fregata minor) which frequent the area.
Quick Facts
Project Location:
Kahuku Point, O'ahu, 21.7155555, -157.98694439999997
Geographic Region:
Pacific Ocean
Country or Territory:
Hawaii
Biome:
Coastal/Marine
Ecosystem:
Coastal, Dune & Upland
Area being restored:
39 acres
Project Lead:
North Shore Community Land Trust
Organization Type:
NGO / Nonprofit Organization
Project Partners:
US Fish and Wildlife Coastal Program, NOAA Humpback Whale Marine Sanctuary, State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Turtle Bay Resort (Land Owner)
Location
Project Stage:
Implementation
Start Date:
2015-02
End Date:
2021-01
Planning \ Design:
12
Implementation:
29
Post-Implementation Maintenance:
0
Monitoring & Evaluation:
0
Primary Causes of Degradation
Invasive Species (native or non-native pests, pathogens or plants), OtherDefining the Reference Ecosystem
The reference ecosystem is based on diverse sources of information (e.g. multiple extant reference sites, field indicators, historical records, predictive data).Project Goals
Goals to achieve this vision include the following:
- Protect and preserve all cultural and natural resources
- Install a predator-proof fence and traps to remove predatory, invasive animals on the makai side of the approximately 39-acre area
- Continue plant restoration efforts organized by NSCLT to facilitate increases the population and abundance of native biota
- Create suitable habitat for nesting and foraging seabirds including Wedge-tailed Shearwaters (Puffinus pacificus), Red-footed Boobies (Sula sula), Laysan Albatrosss (Phoebastria immutabilis), and Great Frigatebirds (Fregata minor) which frequent the area.
- Work closely with TBR and other partners to develop educational signage and defined trails that integrates with TBR’s proposed Comprehensive Cultural, Historic, and Natural Resources Management Plan (CP)
Implementation of this strategic plan will result in the protection and restoration of a large portion of the sand dune ecosystem for the benefit of residents, visitors and guests that frequent the area. Efforts to minimize human impacts on sand dunes, such as developing and designating pathways for visitors, will allow human visitation and ecosystem recovery to occur together. . Introduced mammalian predators such as cats, mongooses, rats, mice and dogs, will be excluded from the area by a predator-proof fence. This will allow seabirds, including the Laysan Albatross that is a frequent visitor) and plants (whose seeds are eaten by introduced rats and mice) to flourish. In addition to being a healthy coastal ecosystem for native biota, Kahuku Point is an ideal area for local community members and visitors to responsibly enjoy recreational activities such as fishing, hiking, and bird watching while also providing a place for traditional Hawaiian practices to continue in a space that is important to Native Hawaiian culture.
Monitoring
The project does not have a monitoring plan.
Ecological Outcomes Achieved
Socio-Economic & Community Outcomes Achieved
Primary Contact
Name:
TIm Tybuszewski
Affiliation:
Director of Conservation
City:
Haleiwa
State:
HI