Lessee updates HCDA on wetland restoration, food production and education at Kāneʻohe property

Kanekoa Schultz, executive director of Kako'oiwi, updated the Hawaiʻi Community Development Authority on Dec. 4 about restoration, farming and education work at the lessee's property on Windward Oʻahu, saying recent grants and partnerships will expand active management across hundreds of acres.

In a roughly 30-minute presentation at the authority's meeting at the American Brewery Building and on Zoom, Schultz described grant funding, habitat restoration plans, on-site food production and school outreach. He said Kako'oiwi expects several million dollars in federal and private grants over the next three years and described steps needed to maintain and expand production, protect native species and increase educational access for Hawaiʻi schools.

Schultz told the board, “we're looking at about $10,300,000 in federal, funding and private grants over the next 3 years,” and described individual awards and partnerships that support pond restoration, wetland work and agricultural production. He described a Department of Defense-related REPI grant the presentation identified as roughly $5,300,000 aimed at fishpond restoration, and said other Department of Interior and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation…