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Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative
AbbreviationHLRI
Formation2014; 10 years ago (2014)
FounderJeffrey Dunster; Darrell Fox
Type Nonprofit
46-5002476
Legal status 501(c)(3)
Purposereforest endemic trees and restore native habitat for wildlife in Hawaii
Headquarters Honolulu, Hawaii
Location
Methodssponsorships and partnerships
Board Chair
Francis Wong
Executive Director
Jeffrey Dunster
Website https://legacyforest.org/

The Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative (HLRI) is a Hawaii-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2014 that works to reforest endemic trees and restore native habitat for wildlife. [1] This includes koa, ‘ōhi‘a, māmane, naio, ko‘oko‘olau, kūkaenēnē and ‘iliahi trees. [2] [3]

History

HLRI is working to reforest 1.3 million endemic trees throughout Hawaii. [4] To date, it has reforested more than 400,000 trees [5] across 1,200 leased acres along the Hamakua Coast of Hawaii Island. [3] In April 2017, HLRI expanded its Hawaii Island operations to a second location, at Kahua Ranch on the western slope of the Kohala Mountains, that will encompass 700 acres with 250,000 trees. [6] [7] HLRI is expanding operations to the North Shore of Oahu at Gunstock Ranch at Malaekahana. [5]

Trees are planted through sponsorships and partnerships. Each tree is tagged with RFID chip and GPS technology, which track and verify health and growth characteristics. [8]

In 2014, HLRI was one of four international organizations recognized with the Phoenix Award by the Society of American Travel Writers for its work in conservation, preservation, beautification and anti-pollution campaigns. [8] [9]

Multi-use agriculture components of the forest include Kona coffee farming and the harvesting of honey from koa tree blossoms. [10] [11]

The current executive director is Jeff Dunster, and the current chairman is John Farias Jr. [12]

References

  1. ^ "HAWAIIAN LEGACY REFORESTATION INITIATIVE - GuideStar Profile". www.guidestar.org.
  2. ^ "Before the Forest, Dreams". Before the Forest, Dreams.
  3. ^ a b "Koa makes a Comeback". greenmagazinehawaii.com. Retrieved 2017-05-20.
  4. ^ Jay Jones (November 4, 2015). "On Hawaii Island, here's what's getting some buzz: A new alcoholic brew that uses honey". Los Angeles Times.
  5. ^ a b "Denby Fawcett: Restoring Oahu's Nearly Vanished Native Forests". 28 April 2017. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  6. ^ Duane Shimogawa (April 14, 2017). "Big Island ranch develops a legacy". Pacific Business News.
  7. ^ "Endemic trees will be planted on ranch's former pastureland". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. April 19, 2017.
  8. ^ a b Jeanne Cooper (October 24, 2014). "Koa reforestation a living legacy of trees on Big Island". San Francisco Chronicle.
  9. ^ "Hawaiian Reforestation–Saving the Earth One Tree at a Time". thomaswilmer.com.
  10. ^ Fawcett, Denby (6 December 2016). "Denby Fawcett: Alternative Gifts Include the Birds and the Bees". Honolulu Civil Beat.
  11. ^ "500 Kona coffee trees planted as part of reforestation efforts". Hawaii Tribune-Herald.
  12. ^ "Our Team". www.legacytrees.org. Retrieved 2017-05-21.

External links