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KIRC reports completion of Coastal Wetlands grant, launches Greens grant and continues propagation and restoration work
Summary
Staff reported that the National Coastal Wetlands Conservation grant is complete and closed out in practice, the new Maui County Greens grant began in January 2025, IMLS aerial surveys and other grants are underway or awaiting payment, and HTA-funded exhibit updates at the Maui Ocean Center increased donations.
Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission staff gave a consolidated update on grant-funded restoration and outreach programs, reporting that a completed Coastal Wetlands Conservation (CWC) grant exceeded planting expectations, a new Greens grant began in January and several other grants and partnerships continue to fuel restoration and outreach work.
Ocean-program staff reported the National Coastal Wetland Conservation grant expired in December 2024 and that the project spent the full award of $355,531; staff said they exceeded the planting target of 20,000 plants by installing more than 25,000 plants in the Honokanāʻia area and have billed for final payment awaiting closeout.
Staff said the new Maui County Greens grant (award $174,470) started in January 2025 and will fund an ORS-2 position, revegetation of 2.69 acres and 8,000 plants; in the first reporting month the program planted about 1,000 a'ki'aki in Honokanāʻia. Ocean staff also reported a $150,000 award from the Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands to support coastal restoration work; funds were used to buy a larger wood chipper, and staff are pursuing a helicopter contract to move heavy equipment to the island.
Staff reported progress on the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) grants that support virtual access and a database for aerial and coastal monitoring. One IMLS project is awaiting payments after a short portal shutdown; another (IMLS 6) supports aerial circumnavigation surveys in partnership with Protect Kaho'olawe Ohana and has scheduled surveys through July 2025, though a flight scheduled for the next day was postponed by the contractor and will be rescheduled.
An update on an HTA (Hawaii Tourism Authority) grant-funded exhibit at the Maui Ocean Center said staff completed the exhibit renovation and installed QR-code–linked donation prompts. The HTA presenter said the exhibit’s revamped graphics and a QR code drove a 220% increase in donations beginning in October and an 80% increase in subsequent months compared with the prior period.
Restoration staff reported on a NACA-funded coastal and upland wetland restoration project that planted roughly 6,000 plants in an upland wetland area and 2,000 plants at Kēnanakeiki (west coast); survival varied because some plants were installed before heavy January–February rains. The propagation partnership report said 16 propagated Kapalupolo/Kanalo plants are currently in cultivation with additional cuttings and seedlings staged at partner nurseries; staff are developing outplanting protocols with partners but said field outplanting will require further readiness checks.
Commissioners were told staff continue to bill for grant work and await reimbursements; no formal votes were taken on these program updates.
