You probably drive by it often, but not many people know about the serene slice of land that sits below Kalanianaʻole just past the Makai Research Pier.
Back in 2018, a volunteer who frequented this section of Waimanālo Beach contacted 808 Cleanups to see if we could work together to clear up the forested area above the shore which had become severely overgrown. The area belongs to the city and state, but it's not actively managed by them, making this is a prime location for our organization to steward.
The team started first by helping to clean up leftover rubbish dumped by campsites. Over time with a consistent presence in the area, they were able to move to a more proactive state. They wondered what it would look like if they could completely restore the hillside which was especially important given the number of culture sites nearby.
After years of cultivating the land, the team has cleared an entire section of invasive forest area to make way for Native Hawaiian plants. Depending on how much rain the area receives, there is always a good amount of new invasive grasses and plants to tackle. Once you get through a patch there is usually some ʻilima to be found. If you look closer to the beach, you'll notice a Milo grove that is also being reestablished.
Join us here every other Monday to maintain and restore this beautiful site!
