Pacific Flight at Kaupalaoa

Hawaiʻi, United States

Centuries of unsustainable logging and grazing destroyed the native ecosystem at Terraformation’s pilot site in North Kohala, Hawaiʻi. Without the native forest cover, the area has become extremely arid, and the unprotected soil has suffered from severe wind erosion, making this one of the most challenging ecosystems to restore.

But just two years after Terraformation’s team began restoration efforts, the site is now home to more than 6,000 native plants and counting. Many plantings are nearly three feet tall and growing rapidly, thanks to hydration from our solar-powered irrigation system. Our forestry team tags each sapling with Esri's geographic information system (GIS) tool that records its location, species, and a photo to monitor plant progress — and this newly restored ecosystem — in real time.

Interested in seeing our restoration site in person? Click here to join us on a tour of Pacific Flight at Kaupalaoa.

View of the ocean from Pacific Flight at Kaupalaoa

Despite the near desert-like conditions at the site, the plants are growing strong.

Hectares

18

COMMUNITY BENEFITS
Terraformation tools

Software
Solar-Powered Desalination
Nursery 
Seed Bank

JOBS CREATED

SEEDS COLLECTED

SEED BANK CAPACITY

PLANTS

7,200

Species

TOP SPECIES

Koaiʻa (Acacia koaia)
Alaheʻe (Psydrax odorata)
Wiliwili (Erythrina sandwicensis)

[...]

ʻIlima (Sida fallax)

[...]

Koaiʻa (Acacia koaia)

[...]

Reverse osmosis (RO) system

Learn more

Read about Terraformation’s work at Pacific Flight and our solar-powered desalination system.

Photos showing updates from our Pacific Flight at Kaupalaoa restoration project
updates
Update From Pacific Flight at Kaupalaoa: Fall 2021

A year after the project began, our forestry team has now planted more than 6,000 plants across 45 acres.

sustainable development goals
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Let us help you

Ready to plant a forest or help one grow? Whether you’re looking to design a native forest or want to make an impact through sponsoring a project, our team can help.

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