Hawaii Plants Restore Watershed and Control Erosion

The Kaho’olawe Island Reserve Commission is working to restore 100 acres in the Hakioawa watershed through re-introducing native plants and constructing soil erosion control devices. The Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Water Security Advisory Group provided a one-year grant dedicated to restoring the Hakioawa watershed.

A roof catchment system, two storage tanks, a solar pump and a pre-existing irrigation system deliver water to the native plants. In addition, wattles, cylindrical rolls of geotextiles and gabions are being utilized to direct the water. The ultimate goal of the commission's work is to reduce surface water runoff, increase groundwater recharge rates and raise the water table to usable levels.