PONO Pacific

Inspiring The Next Generation

admin — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:54:13 +0000

Students from University of Hawai‘i at Hilo and Hawai‘i Community College, along with their professor Drew Kapp, visited Pu‘u Kali‘u on Hawai‘i Island to participate in hands-on conservation with Pono Pacific. Pu‘u Kali‘u includes one of the most intact lowland forests in the State. These students controlled invasive weeds around 180 native outplants and naturally occurring lama, kopiko, ‘ohe mauka, and mamaki.

Pono Pacific Receives 2011 HCC Conservation Innovation Award

admin — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 23:27:50 +0000

Pono Pacific was humbled to be the recipient of the 2011 Hawaii Conservation Conference’s Conservation Innovation Award. This award is given to instigators or champions of a procedure that leads to significant advances to the structure or nature of environmental conservation in Hawaii. Pono Pacific’s accomplishments through the Maunalua Bay Invasive Alien Algae Removal Project contributed to significant habitat restoration… Click here to read full article.

Governor Abercrombie Declares May 10, 2011 “Pono Pacific Day”

admin — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 23:22:30 +0000

On May 27, 2011, Pono Pacific employees, along with partners from The Nature Conservancy, Malama Maunalua, and the Paiko community gathered at the state capitol to receive a proclamation from Governor Neil Abercrombie. Governor Abercrombie recognized the successful natural resource services and community development efforts by Pono Pacific and concluded by declaring May 10, 2011 “Pono Pacific Day”… Click here to view video.

The Path of an Eco-Entrepreneur

admin — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 00:50:02 +0000

“…Leong is president and CEO of Pono Pacific Land Management and executive director of Kupu. Leong’s for-profit, Pono Pacific (“pono” means righteousness or harmony), and nonprofit organization, Kupu (which means to sprout or grow), both facilitate dozens of projects that improve Hawai’i's ecosystem and provide hundreds of jobs”… Click here to read full article.

Pono Pacific launches new website!

admin — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 19:34:39 +0000

Welcome to Pono Pacific’s new website! Please take a look around and learn more about who we are, what we do, and where we do it! We are committed to care for Hawai’i's and the Pacific region’s environment through our … Continue reading →

Pono Pacific completes initial 22 acres

admin — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 19:25:37 +0000

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – For the last 12 months workers have been pulling invasive algae known as leather mudweed by hand from the Paiko area of Maunalua Bay. Read more…

Kalalau Trail Restoration Project

admin — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 01:13:25 +0000

Pono Pacific was contracted by the Kauai Planning and Action Alliance to manage the construction, administration and volunteer efforts for the restoration of the Kalalau trail from Kee Beach Park to Hanakapiai. This 15 month project required Pono Pacific to oversee the daily activity of the crew, coordinate all State and County permitting issues, draft weekly and monthly progress reports, address community concerns and questions, serve as a liaison between KPAA and DLNR, State Parks Division, and coordinate the volunteer effort with the goal of establishing a citizens group to continue maintenance of the trail after the project ends. Pono Pacific has taken into consideration the multiple concerns, issues, and desires of the many users and community groups interested in this project and has successfully helped all parties to move forward.

Maunalua Bay Invasive Alien Algae Removal

admin — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 01:09:20 +0000

Pono Pacific was contracted by The Nature Conservancy Hawaii to remove 22 acres of invasive alien algae (primarily Avrainvillea amadelpha or “leather mudweed”) from Maunalua Bay in East Oahu. This ARRA funded project required a staff of 50 full and part time employees, daily hauling and disposal of the algae, monthly, quarterly and semi-annual reporting, establishment of a dedicated website for the public to track our progress, extensive GPS/GIS work, and significant community involvement. The project ended in April 2011 with crew clearing 26 acres and removing 3 million pounds of alien algae. In addition, Pono Pacific received a Certificate from the Hawaii State Legislature in recognition of the accomplishment, as well as our contribution to the community.

Army Environmental Predator Control

admin — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 01:04:42 +0000

Pono Pacific was hired by Army Environmental to help the recovery effort of the elepaio (Chasiempis sandwichensis ibidis), an endangered forest bird. Pono Pacific installed rodenticide boxes with diphacinone poison and snap traps to remove black rats (Ratus ratus), the elepaio’s biggest predator, at over 5 locations across Oahu. Pono Pacific also monitors the elepaio for nests. Once found these nests are monitored for elepaio fledges.

Puu Anahulu Endangered Species Exclosure

admin — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 01:03:12 +0000

Pono Pacific was contracted by the US Fish and Wildlife service to develop three ten acre endangered species exclosures in the Puu Anahulu district of the island of Hawaii. In each of these exclosures Pono Pacific constructed water catchments areas to catch water for native plants out-planted within the exclosure. As of November 2005, 750 native species have been planted in these exclosures. To insure that these exclosures continue to be a benefit to the environment, Pono Pacific helped create a partnership between both state and federal agencies to continue the work at these exclosures.