Final report for FW24-007

FW24-007 (project overview)

Project Type: Farmer/Rancher

Funds awarded in 2024: $24,950.00

Projected End Date: 03/31/2025

Host Institution Award ID: G252-24-WA507

Grant Recipient: Wailea Spring Farm

Region: Western

State: Hawaii

Principal Investigator:

Shari Tresky

Wailea Spring Farm

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Project Information

Summary:

Research Question

This project addresses the question – Can the hybrid ecosystem model of forest restoration be adapted to create a functional forest that provides salable commodities while also providing a balanced ecosystem for protection and propagation of native species?

Problem

Historically, agricultural production and ecosystem restoration have had conflicting goals. In the State of Hawaii, agricultural practices degraded the ecosystems of rural areas, particularly in lower elevations. On Hawaii Island, the Hamakua coast was denuded of native forest by the sugar cane industry, which contaminated soil and waterways all along the coast. Much of this land is now privately owned, with over 1 million acres of fallow farmland in the State. Wildfires in Hawaii, such as the recent disaster on Maui, are greatly exacerbated by undeveloped acreage covered with dry, invasive shrubs and grasses.

Solution

This project demonstrates a practical way to integrate agricultural production and ecosystem restoration where native plants are supported by non-native species that provide food, fiber and other useful products, including plants important to Native Hawaiian cultural practitioners.

The project is based on prior research, in which forest ecologists successfully created functional forests using a hybrid ecosystem approach. The Pono ACRES project shows farmers how they can adapt this research to establish productive forests that protect biodiversity, provide wildlife habitat, sequester carbon, create a buffer from wildfires, and simultaneously produce food, fiber, cultural plant products and nursery plants that provide farmers with diversified income sources.

Information about this system will be disseminated through on-site tours, workshops, and a website promoted through local farming organizations and farming related social media groups. A new Hawaii Island tax incentive significantly reduces property taxes for farmers dedicating land to a functional forest and this will serve as an additional incentive for farmers to adopt these practices.

Project Objectives:

Research Objectives

Identify and measure the presence of specific invasive species on the project site and monitor their reduction over the course of the project.
Monitor functional forest functioning by measuring growth, health and propagation of key species, including natives and crop-producing trees and plants.

Educational Objectives

Document the process of establishing the system, using photography, video, and writing.
Conduct 4 participatory workshops, involving UHH students and members of the community.
Conduct 4 educational tours for farmers presenting information on how to establish a similar system.
Provide a website with resources for farmers and landowners and anyone else interested in creating functional forests on their own properties.
Promote the events and the website through social media groups specific to Hawaii, such as Homesteading Hawaii, Small Farm Hawaii and more.

Timeline:

DATE	MILESTONES	TEAM MEMBERS
4/1/24 – 4/15/24	Species Selection	PI, TA
4/15/24	Plant Collection/Purchase	PI, Permaculture Consultant, Site Manager
4/15/24 – 4/30/24	Site Design	PI, TA, Permaculture Consultant
4/1/24 – 5/15/24	Initial clearing of invasive trees and plants	PI, Site Manager
4/1/24	Soil testing	PI
5/15/24	Soil Amendment	PI, Site Manager
5/15/24 – 6/1/24	Planting	PI, Site manager, Permaculture Consultant
6/1/24 – 3/31/25	Ongoing Monthly Monitoring	PI, TA
6/1/24 – 3/31/25	Ongoing Monthly Maintenance	PI, Design Consultant, Site Manager
6/30/24	Creation of brochure	PI, TA, Permaculture Consultant
6/15/24 - 10/5/24	Promotion of hands-on workshops
7/7/24	First hands-on workshop	PI, TA, Permaculture Consultant, Site Manager
8/4/24	Second hands-on workshop	PI, TA, Permaculture Consultant, Site Manager
9/8/24	Third hands-on workshop	PI, TA, Permaculture Consultant, Site Manager
10/6/24	Fourth hands-on workshop	PI, TA, Permaculture Consultant, Site Manager
10-1/24 -11/30/24	Creation of website	PI, TA, Permaculture Consultant
11-1-24 -ongoing	Website management	PI
11/15/24 - 3/1/25	Promotion of tour presentations
12/8/24	1^st tour presentation	PI, TA, Permaculture Consultant
1/5/25	2nd tour presentation	PI, TA, Permaculture Consultant
2/2/25	3rd tour presentation	PI, TA, Permaculture Consultant
3/2/25	4th tour presentation	PI, TA, Permaculture Consultant

Cooperators

Click linked name(s) to expand/collapse or show everyone's info

Kalanikahaleiluakeumahana Ah Quin - Producer
kalaniahquin1974@gmail.com
Site Labor Manager
Wailea Spring Farm LLC
29-238 Kulaiwi Rd
Hakalau, HI 96710
United States
Ashton 🌼 Coombs
ash@seedofthesoul.org
Site Designer
Seed of the Soul LLC (Commercial (farm/ranch/business))
HI
Dr. Susan Cordell - Technical Advisor
susan.cordell@usda.gov
Technical Advisor
Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry (Government agency)
60 Nowelo Street
Hilo, HI 96720
(808) 933-8121 (office)

Research

Materials and methods:

The PONO ACRES functional forest demonstration site is an adaptation of the hybrid ecosystem model developed by researchers Dr. Rebecca Ostertag, a forest ecologist and professor at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, Dr. Susan Cordell, Director of the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry, and others. The hybrid approach combines native and non-native (but non-invasive) species together to create a functional forest – a balanced ecosystem that provides its members with everything they need to thrive (Ostertag et al. 2015). In all their trial forests, weed invasion decreased and led to nutrient cycling levels similar to native Hawaiian forests (DiManno et al. 2023). The economic and social benefits were also clear because they provided more species for potential market use (Jennison et al. 2022). The mix of species included Polynesian introduced plants and tropical fruit trees. The variety of productive plants can be expanded to better serve a sustainable agriculture context.

Non-native, agriculturally significant species identified for the Pono ACRES project included avocado, ʻawa, banana, coconut, macadamia, mango, pia (arrowroot), noni, taro and ulu (breadfruit), as well as non-native trees and plants of cultural significance, such as kukui, kamani and milo. All of these can be grown by farmers selling produce and/or plant products used in various cultural arts. Cuttings and seeds of all species, including natives, may also be used in nursery enterprises.

This project shows farmers how to create a functional forest on their properties, for the dual purposes of agricultural production and environmental protection. The first phase focused on creating a demonstration site that:

Reduces presence of invasive species and;
Establishes a newly planted healthy and thriving functional forest containing both native and agriculturally productive species, serving the dual functions of conservation and income generation for the farmer.

The project site is located along a spring-fed stream comprising approximately one acre. The area was inundated with invasive species typical of lowland agricultural zones in Hawaii, particularly those previously controlled by sugar plantations. These species include African Tulip – a tree containing toxic nectar that can harm native insects, Albezia – a tree that ignites quickly and breaks easily in windy conditions, invasive guinea grass that forms ignitable, eight–foot clumps that choke out native seedlings and encourage wildfires, and widelia – a vine that climbs and smothers its neighbors, growing in dense mats that steal nutrients and prevent germination of other plants.

The functional forest design introduces a new agroforestry practice that offers a potential solution for managing sites with similar characteristics, and it may also be adapted for use on the mainland as compatible species are identified according to site characteristics and farmer preferences.

Specific objectives for this project were as follows:

Clearing of invasive species.
- Rent land clearing equipment for one month to remove trees, terrace banks, and clear vegetation.
- Use tiller to remove regrowth of vines
- Plant vetiver as an erosion barrier along steep edges
- Hand weed using picks, shovels and other hand weeding tools.
- Cover with cardboard and mulch to smother weeds and add organic matter.
- Plant perennial peanut to fix nitrogen and suppress weeds.
- Continue to weed as needed.
Preparing soil for planting
- Get soil tested for nutrients.
- Add specific nutrients based on test results.
Creating planting design using landscape design software.
Planting trees and plants according to site design.
- Grow out and/or order seeds and plants using recommendations of the technical advisor.
- Plant perennial peanut as a nitrogen fixer and weed suppressant around each larger tree and shrub.
Monitoring plant growth and health

We picked at least three samples from each species in the forest and made note of variables such as distance from water source, steepness of bank where planted and presence of weeds. We monitored the growth of each species by measuring height (growth rate), noted color and structure of leaves compared to healthy versions of these plants (nutrient status, presence of disease), noted presence or absence of insect species and weeds (pest control, pollination, beneficial insects). A monthly record was kept for each plant containing all relevant observations. summary of this monitoring process are contained in Table 2 below in the research results section. A photo of each species was taken at the end of the project and can be found on the website at https://ponoacres.org.

6. Monitoring weed invasion

We monitored weed emergence using the permanent photo point method – staking spots around the designated species and taking a photo to evaluate weed regrowth. We made note of possible factors influencing weed persistence, such as growth and health of nearby trees and plants, insect and disease factors, shade level in understory and the spread of perennial peanut as a weed suppressant. The results of the weed monitoring process is described in the results section below.

Defining Success

This is the first phase of a longer–term project – trees need time to mature before the area can be considered a true "forest" and before we can harvest commodities for sale. Later phases will analyze economic factors, such as gross sales, maintenance costs, and net profits. For the purposes of Phase 1, success was defined as:

Completing the clearing and planting process
Observing a reduction in invasive species of at least 50% over the course of the year
Observing normal growth and health of at least 60% of the plants chosen for sampling
Identifying and describing any limitations and/or problems to address in the next phase of the project

The project offers an innovative solution to several problems. With an integrated functional forest, the farmer no longer has to choose between conservation and economic goals. On a larger level, if adopted more widely this model addresses biodiversity preservation, climate change mitigation and wildfire prevention, providing more trees for carbon sequestration and a buffer zone for slowing down the spread of wildfires.

The project builds on innovations already proven successful by research ecologists working for the USDA and University of Hawaii at Hilo, who agree that their model should be adapted for use by farmers interested in sustainable agriculture.

Research results and discussion:

Objective 1; Clearing the site: An excavator was rented and the project site was successfully cleared of invasive species, including African tulip trees, albizia trees, guinea grass, widelia, and other less destructive annual weeds and grasses. The banks of the site were terraced to allow for easier planting.

Objective 2; Preparing the soil: The technical advisor recommended that we add organic matter (mulch and compost) to the entire site before planting, but to wait on adding any other amendments, as each native plant had differing requirements and the foundational tree species - ʻOhia Lehua - thrivse best without adding fertilizer as it is adapted to growing in harsh conditions. We incorporated several loads of mulch and compost using the excavator, then we observed plants and added amendments as needed. Documentation of the clearing and soil preparation process appear on the website http://ponoacres.org.

Objective 3; Creating landscape design: We found that the landscape design apps we tried were not as efficient as hand drawn sketches, which were continually modified as the planting process continued. We worked with the landscape designer to visualize the site and plan out locations for each species. The technical advisor approved a design plan in which many of the the productive trees - avocado, banana, macadamia, mango, mountain apple and ulu - were on the outside borders of the site to make harvesting easier, and to provide a protective barrier from invasive species. Since the width of the site was no more than 100 feet at its widest point, existing border trees provided canopy for the shade-loving natives planted in the inner areas. Both the inner and outer areas also included some mature Polynesian introduced trees including kamani, kukui and milo, and these also helped create some shade and protection. Generally, shorter species and ground covers were planted on the terraces and sloping hillsides and along the stream banks, and a mix of taller species were planted in the flat area in between. When deciding where to plant each species we considered shade preferences, drainage and proximity to the stream.

Objective 4; Planting: Fifty ʻOhia lehua trees were planted as the foundational tree of all Hawaiʻian forests. Twenty-Nine different native (endemic or indigenous) species were also planted and monitored, as well as ten additional species that were introduced by Polynesian voyagers, and have been present in the ecosystem for centuries. Three types of fruit trees that were introduced more recently were also included in the design. Vetiver was planted as an erosion control along the steepest areas along the stream banks. The perennial peanut and vetiver were planted as part of the participatory workshops after the main planting had been done. All species planted/incorporated are listed and described below in Table 1: Pono Acres Plant list. The table includes information about each plant, including scientific name, origin, light and water needs, size, habit and uses. A pdf copy of the Pona Acres Plant List was given out as an educational fact sheet and is attached to this report. A recent photo of each species planted appears on the website at https://ponoacres.org.

Table 1: Pono Acres Plant List

Common	Scientific	Family	Range	Sun	Water	Size/Appearance/Features	Traditional/Current Use
ʻAʻaliʻi	Dodonaea viscosa	Sapindaceae	Indigenous	Sun/Partial Sun	Low-Moderate	Shrub to small tree to 12' with attractive burgundy flowers	Plant: ornamental; Seed: red dye; Wood: tools, building
ʻAeʻae	Bacopa monnieri	Scrophulariaceae	Indigenous	Sun/Partial Sun	High	Succulent groundcover with small, light purple flowers, salt tolerant	Plant: ornamental, erosion control by waterways
ʻĀhinahina (Hawaiʻi Wormwood)	Artemisa australis	Asteraceae	Endemic	Sun/Partial Sun	Low	Bushy shrub to 10' tall/5' wide, fragrant lacy silver leaves	Plant: ornamental; Leaf: repels insect, medicinal for lung ailments, fever
ʻĀkia	Wikstroemia sandwicensis	Thymelaeaceae	Endemic	Sun-Partial Sun	Low	Sprawling shrub 2-4', ground cover, attractive yellow flowers	Plant: ornamental, erosion control; Flower: fish toxin; Fruit: lei
ʻAkiohala	Hibicus furcellatus	Malvaceae	Indigenous	Sun/Partial Sun	Low-High	Shrub to 12', beautiful purple flowers	Plant: ornamental; Flower: medicinal for laxative; Bark: Cordage
ʻĀkulikuli (Seaside Purslane)	Sesuvium portulacastrum	Azioaceae	Indigenous	Sun	Moderate-High	Crawling ground cover, salt tolerant	Plant: ornamental; Leaf: edible, medicinal for antibacterial/anti-fungal
Alaheʻe	Psydrax odorata	Rubiaceae	Indigenous	Sun	Low-Moderate	Shrub/Tree 10-30', white clusters of fragrant flowers	Plant: ornamental; Leaf: dark dye, Flower: fragrance; Wood: tools
Avocado	Persea americana	Lauraceae	Introduced	Sun	Moderate	Tree to 80', many sizes/habits, pruned to manage in cultivation	Fruit: food - healthy fat; Oil: cooking/cosmetics
ʻAwa	Piper methysticum	Piperaceae	Poly Introduced	Partial Shade	Moderate	Shrub to 12'	Root: traditional ceremonies, medicinal for anxiety, depression, sleep
Hala	Pandanus tectorius	Pandanaceae	Indigenous	Sun	Low	Tree to 20' with orange fruit	Leaves: woven into mats, baskets, thatching; Fruit: lei, paint brush, edible
Hāpuʻu	Cibotium glaucum	Cibotiaceae	Endemic	Partial Sun/Shade	High	Tree fern 6-20', important understory forest plant	Fronds: hairs used to stuff bedding, medical for wounds; Root: edible
Hōʻawa	Pittosporum hosmeri	Pittosporaceae	Endemic	Sun-Partial Sun	Moderate	Tree 15-30', fragrant flowers, fruit with orange pulp, black seeds	Fruit: food of ʻAlala (Hawaiʻian crow), pulp for sores; Wood: canoe, fuel
ʻIlima	Sida fallax	Malvaceae	Indigenous	Sun-Partial Sun	Low-Moderate	Shrub to 4', also has crawling prostrate version	Plant: ornamental; erosion control; Flower: lei; Bud: laxative
Kalo (Taro)	Colocasia esculenta	Araceae	Poly Introduced	Partial Sun-Shade	High	Plant to 3', heart shaped leaves, underground corms	Corms/leaves: edible staple, must be cooked to remove oxalic acid crystals
Kamanamana	Adenostemma lavenia	Asteraceae	Indigenous	Shade	High	Shrub 1-2'	Leaf: inflammation, congestion, liver, wounds
Kamani	Calophyllum inophyllum	Clusiaceae	Poly Introduced	Sun	Moderate	Tree to 80' with fragrant flowers	Wood: canoes, bowls; Flower: fragrance; Oil: massage, waterproofing
Kokiʻo keʻokeʻo	Hibiscus arnottianus	Malvaceae	Endemic	Sun/Partial Sun	Moderate	Shrub to 20', beautiful white flowers with red pistils	Plant: ornamental; Flower: hair decor, medical for laxative; Bark: cordage
Kokiʻo ʻula	Hibiscus kokio	Malvaceae	Endemic	Sun/Partial Sun	Moderate-High	Shrub to 20', beautiful red flowers	Plant: ornamental; Leaf/Flower: laxative; Wood: charcoal; Bark: cordage
Koʻokoʻolau	Bidens hawaiensis	Asteraceae	Endemic	Sun/Partial Sun	Moderate	Shrub to 4', covered with bright yellow flowers	Plant: ornamental; Leaf/Flower: medicinal for blood pressure, arthritis
Kōpiko	Psychotria hawaiensis	Rubiaceae	Endemic	Sun/Partial Shade	Moderate	Tree to 20-45', white flowers, orange fruit	Fruit: eaten by omaʻo (Hawaiʻian thrush) and others; Wood: tools, fuel
Kukui	Aleurites Moluccans	Euphorbiaceae	Poly Introduced	Sun	Moderate	Tree to 80', silvery maple-like leaves	Nut: edible roasted, lei; Oil: lighting, medicinal for skin; Wood: canoes
Lama	Diospyros sandwicensis	Ebenaceae	Endemic	Sun/Partial Sun	Low-Moderate	Tree 6-35', sacred tree, means light in Hawaiʻian	Fruit: edible persimmon-like fruit; Wood: construction, spiritual objects
Macadamia	Macadamia integrifolia	Proteaaceae	Introduced	Sun	Moderate	Tree to 50', pruned to manage in cultivation	Flower: honeybee nectar; Fruit: edible nut, oil for cooking/cosmetics
Maiʻa (Banana)	Musa acuminata/balbisiana	Musaceae	Poly Introduced	Sun	Moderate-High	Tree-like grass to 10-25', dwarf varieties commonly grown	Fruit: eaten fresh/cooked; Leaf: food wrap, building material, container
Maile	Alexia stellata	Apocynacynaceae	Endemic	Partial Shade	Moderate	Vine the can sometimes have a shrubby growth habit	Leaf: fragrant lei used in ceremonies, medicinal for infection
Māmaki	Pipturis albidus	Urticaceae	Endemic	Partial Sun/Shade	Moderate-High	Shrub/Small Tree 6-20'	Leaf: medicinal tea for inflammation, infection, mood, energy, metabolism
Mango	Mangifera indica	Anacardiaceae	Introduced	Sun	Low	Tree to 100', pruned to manage in cultivation	Fruit: sweet popular fruit; Wood: furniture, musical instruments
Maʻo hau hele	Hibiscus brackenridgei	Malvaceae	Endemic	Sun	Low	Shrub to 10', beautiful yellow flowers, endangered in wild	Plant: ornamental; Bark: Cordage; Flower: green dye
Milo	Thespesia populnea	Malvaceae	Indigenous	Sun	Low	Tree 15-40', wood does not affect flavor of food	Wood: bowls, calabashes, plates, cooking implements
Nanea	Vigna marina	Fabaceae	Indigenous	Sun	Low	Crawling vine ground cover, can become invasive	Pod: edible; Leaf/Stem: medicinal for wounds; Root: fixes nitrogen
Naʻu (Hawaiʻi Gardenia)	Gardenia brighamii	Rubiaceae	Endemic	Sun	Moderate	Shrub/small tree to 16' with fragrant flowers	Plant: Ornamental; Flower: fragrance, lei; Fruit: yellow dye; Wood: tools
Naupaka kahakai	Scaevola taccada	Goodeniaceae	Indigenous	Sun	Low	Shrub to 8', salt tolerant	Plant: erosion control; Leaf/Flower: medicinal for cut/rash/stings, sunblock
Niʻu (Coconut)	Cocos nucifera	Arecaceae	Poly Introduced	Sun	Moderate	Up to 100' palm, dwarf varieties bear fruit when short	Fruit: edible flesh/juice; Wood/fronds: tools, utensils, construction, weaving
Noni	Morinda citrifolia	Rubiaceae	Poly Introduced	Sun/Partial Sun	Low-Moderate	Tree up to 30', strong-smelling, fruit, unpleasant to some	Fruit: strong tasting edible juice, medicinal as a general tonic
ʻŌhiʻa Lehua	Metrosideros polymorpha	Myrtaceae	Endemic	Sun/Partial Shade	Low-High	Shrub/Tree 15-80', considered sacred, fungal disease crisis	Plant: pioneer species, foundation of native forest, Flower/Leaf: lei/haku
ʻŌhiʻa ʻAi (Mountain Apple)	Syzygium malaccense	Myrtaceae	Poly Introduced	Sun	Moderate	Tree to 40' with showy pink flowers	Fruit: sweet; Leaf/Bark: medicinal for throat/lungs; Bark: red dye
Pia (Hawaiʻi Arrowroot)	Tacca leontopetaloides	Taccaceae	Poly Introduced	Sun/Partial Shade	Moderate	Clumping ground cover to 4'	Root/Tuber: Processed starch - thickening flour, medicinal for nausea
Pōhinahina (Hawaiʻi Sage)	Vitex rotundifolia	Verbenaceae	Indigenous	Sun	Low	Spreading ground cover to 3' with attractive purple flowers	Plant: ornamental, erosion control; Leaf: medicinal for stomach, headache
ʻUhaloa	Waltheria indica	Sterculiaceae	Indigenous	Sun	Low	Shrub to 4'	Root/Stem/Leaf/Flower: medicinal for inflammation, fungal, lung/throat
Ukiʻuki	Dianella sandwicensis	Asphodelacae	Indigenous	Sun/Partial Sun	Moderate	Clumping lily-like ground cover to 1', purple flowers and berries	Plant: ornamental; Fruit: purple dye; Leaf: cordage, thatching
ʻŪlei	Osteomeles anthyllidifolia	Rosaceae	Endemic	Sun-Partial Shade	Low-Moderate	Shrub/ground cover 4-10', flexible wood, fragrant flowers	Plant: ornamental, erosion control; Wood: nets, spears, instruments
Ulu	Artocarpus altilis	Moraceae	Poly Introduced	Sun	Moderate	Tree to 80', pruned to manage in cultivation	Fruit: edible starchy fruit high in nutrients

Objective 5; Monitoring:

Forest Plant Monitoring: We planted a variety of ʻOhia lehua subspecies, which grow in a variety of heights, habits and varying flower colors including shades of red, orange and yellow. We found that the taller, red flowering varieties were the most vigorous but have not yet flowered, while the orange and yellow varieties are growing more slowly but several of them flowered during the short time of this project. All but one ʻOhia survived, and most are thriving. The one that did not survive started very small and did not look vigorous from the beginning. So far, none of the ʻOhias show signs of the fungi that have been attacking these trees and causing ROD (rapid ʻOhia death).

Plant monitoring observations are described below in Table 2: Plant Monitoring Results, which gives a summary of the growth and health for each species planted or incorporated.

Table 2: Plant Monitoring Results Summary

ʻAʻali'i	Dodonaea viscosa	3 planted 5/17/24 at 10” to 1ʻ tall; all 3 thriving; 18-20” as of 3/31/25; added fertilizer/minerals 8/15/24; blossomed 2/2025.
ʻAeʻae	Bacopa monnieri	6 planted 5/17/24 by stream making ground cover test patch of about 1 sqʻ, thriving well, tripled in size by 3/21/25.
ʻĀhinahina (Hawaiʻian Wormwood)	Artemisa australis	3 planted 5/31/24 - round plants 6” wide/tall; all thriving; 18” wide/tall by 3/31/25.
ʻĀkia	Wikstroemia sandwicensis	3 planted 5/17/24; about 6” across, added fertilizer/minerals 8/15/24; survived/ slow growth of 2” by 3/31/25, not yet flowered.
ʻAkiohala	Hibicus furcellatus	3 planted 5/17/24 at 18”; leaves eaten by rose beetle, month, 2 died, 1 grew to 3ʻ by 3/31/25, constant blossoms.
ʻĀkulikuli (Seaside Purslane)	Sesuvium portulacastrum	6 planted 5/17/24 by stream making ground cover test patch of about 1 sqʻ, not sure why, patch did not survive, will try again.
Alaheʻe	Psydrax odorata	3 planted 5/17/24 at 8”; 1 thriving at 2ʻ, 2 growing slowly at 1ʻ, added fertilizer to 2 8/15/24, improved growth, no flowers yet.
Avocado	Persea americana	4 pre-existing trees currently fruiting, providing shade for hapuʻu, hoʻawa, Kopek seedlings.
ʻAwa	Piper methysticum	2 planted 5/31/24; healthy, growing rapidly, more than doubled in size by 3/31/25.
Hala	Pandanus tectorius	3 existing trees growing about 2ʻ higher and wider per year; planted 3 more trees 5/31/24 at 2ʻ; grown to 3ʻ by 3/31/25
Hāpuʻu	Cibotium glaucum	2 existing and thriving; 4 planted 5/31/24 all under 1ʻ; slow growth of 3-4” by 3/31/24.
Hōʻawa	Pittosporum hosmeri	3 planted 5/17/31 all 18”; all thriving; m; grown 6-12” by 3/31/25; no flowers yet.
ʻIlima	Sida fallax	3 shrub version planted 5/17/24 at 8-12”; any yellow flowers by 8/15/25; 1 tripled in size, 2 doubled by 3/31/25.
Kalo	Colocasia esculenta	Planted 3 Hawaiian, 1 Chinese variety; struggling with too much sun, moved to shad 8/15/25, now thriving.
Kamanamana	Adenostemma lavenia	Planted 3, none survived. Possibly not enough shade, will try again in shadier spot.
Kamani	Calophyllum inophyllum	2 existing trees, providing shade for Mamaki, thriving and growing about 2ʻ per year tall/wide.
Kokiʻo keʻokeʻo	Hibiscus arnottianus	3 existing shrubs flower all year round, provide shade for Hapuʻu.
Kokiʻo ʻula	Hibiscus kokio	6 planted 5/17/24; all thriving, flowered by 8/15/25; now off and on flowering.
Ko'oko'olau	Bidens hawaiensis	3 planted 5/17/24 at 10” to 1ʻ tall; 2 died, 1 struggling, may need shadier spot. Some flowering but leaves very burnt looking.
Kōpiko	Psychotria hawaiensis	3 planted 5/17/24 at 8”; 1 died, 2 thriving at 16” on 3/31/25, no flowering yet.
Kukui	Aleurites Moluccans	mother tree at least 100ʻ, 2 trees at 10ʻ, 3 varying heights. All provide shade for kava, hapuʻu, taro, mamaki, maile.
Lama	Diospyros sandwicensis	Postponed planting, trees were hard to get and are slow growing; needd need to grow more before planting out.
Maiʻa (Banana)	Musa acuminata/balbisiana	6 existing matts, tuʻu gia, namwah, mahoi. All doing well, fruiting and adding shade for taro.
Macadamia	Macadamia integrifolia	4 existing trees currently flowering and fruiting, providing shade for ʻahinahina and ulei as they mature.
Maile	Alexia stellata	Planted 6 on 5/31/24 under several kukui, Milo, Kanani. Planted at 6”, grown and branched off about triple in size by 3/31/25.
Māmaki	Pipturis albidus	Planted 3 on 5/31/24; fertilized 8/15/24; one thriving and tripled in size, 2 doubled by 3/31/25.
Mango	Mangifera indica	1 existing tree, still a young tree but thriving, will provide canopy shade as it continues to grow.
Maʻo hau hele	Hibiscus brackenridgei	Existing clump is 10ʻ tall, flowers all year long and provides shade for Hapuʻu.
Milo	Thespesia populnea	1 existing tree 20ʻ, has maile and taro underneath, 3 more existing trees planted in various stages of growth, all doing well.
Nanea	Vigna marina	Planted 50 5/17/24 as native ground cover. Started climbing and smothering other plants, pulled it out except for 1 hillside.
Naʻu (Hawaiʻian Gardenia)	Gardenia brighamii	3 planted 5/31/24 at 8”, not yet flowering, thriving at 18” as of 3/31/25.
Naupaka Kahakai	Scaevola taccada	3 planted by stream 5/17/24; all driving and flowering, each grew at least 2ʻ tall/wide by 3/31/25.
Ni’u (Coconut)	Cocos nucifera	2 existing trees planted by stream; both thriving, no fruit yet.
Noni	Morinda citrifolia	1 planted 5/31/24 at 4 inches; thriving and 14” by 3/31/25.
ʻŌhiʻa Lehua	Metrosideros polymorpha	50 planted 5/17/24 from 4” - 1ʻ. 49 thriving, 3 -minor rose beetle damage. Growth variable from 4” - 16” added by 3/31/25.
ʻŌhiʻa ʻAi (Mountain Apple)	Syzygium malaccense	1 existing planted at 2ʻ, rose beetle damage but thriving at 50ʻʻ by 3/31/25.
Pia (Hawaiʻian Arrowroot)	Tacca leontopetaloides	3 planted 5/31/24 at 3”, all died back and waiting to see if they re-sprout from tubers.
Pōhinahina	Vitex rotundifolia	8 planted 5/31/24 at 6-12”, 5 thriving, 3 died back, 6” growth and starting to flower by 3/31/25.
ʻUhaloa	Waltheria indica	3 planted 5/31/25 at 1 foot tall/wide; flowering and tripled in size by 3/31/25.
Ukiʻuki	Dianella sandwicensis	6 planted 5/31/25 at full size; all thriving and spreading long stream by 3/31/25.
ʻŪlei	Osteomeles anthyllidifolia	3 planted 5/17/24 at 4” tall, thriving with growth of 2-6” by 3/31/25.
Ulu (Breadfruit)	Artocarpus altilis	2 existing trees growing and thriving, started fruiting this year, will be providing shade for lama seedings.

Invasive Plant Monitoring: Over the course of the project, the incidence of invasive plants decreased steadily, due to several factors. After clearing and planting, weeding occurred on a monthly basis, and seeds existing in the soil were depleted as they germinated and were pulled out before spreading or producing seed. The perennial peanut was planted 6-8" apart, and it filled in within 4-6 months after planting, depending on rainfall. As the peanut filled in, it blocked windblown seed from reaching the ground and germinating, and it shaded out new sprouts from seeds that persisted in the soil. Overall, the incidence of invasive plants is over 70% reduced from where it was at the beginning of the project.

When choosing observation areas, we considered factors that might influence the types of weeds that would grow, such as proximity to stream, flat or sloped terrain and the predominance of the species in that section before the land was cleared. The site was divided into eight sections, and a stake was placed in the approximate center of each area. The sections were labeled as:

Front left flat: Previously invaded by guinea grass, widelia, a lot of annual weeds, with a few tulip and albeiza trees. Planted with larger shrubs and trees, including ʻohia. Section stays moist due to run-off from the hillside on the left.
Back left flat: An area similar to the front but wetter, due to run-off from hillsides on the left and from the back going up to a farm road.
Front left hillside: Previously full of widelia vines. Cleared and planted with shorter shrubs and ground covers. More shade than flat area.
Back left hillside: An area similar to the front with a steeper incline.
Rear hillside: Gradual hillside area previously overgrown with tulip and albizia trees, guinea grass and widelia. Cleared and planted with ʻOhia lower down and shorter native shrubs as it gets higher.
Along stream: A rocky area that was mostly annual weeds with some widelia. Stays very moist from water spray and absorption from the sides after rains.
Front right flat: Previously covered with widelia, annual weeds. More shade than the flat area on the left. Planted with poly introduced plants, including maiʻa (banana), niʻu (coconut), ʻohia ai (mountain apple), ulu, kale (taro), noni, kukui, milo and kamani.
Back right flat: Similar to the front.

Observations were made monthly inside a nine square foot area surrounding the stake, and we recorded the number of tulip and albizia tree seedlings and guinea grass plants. When measuring widelia emergence, we started with measuring the size of the area covered by vines because it was not possible to distinguish individual plants. By the end of the timeline we were able to count individual widelia plants because we dug them out before they had a chance to spread.

Generally speaking, as the perennial peanut covered more area of ground, fewer weeds were able to sprout. Trees and grasses did not re-sprout on the steeper hillsides because fresh soil without many seeds was used when reshaping and terracing those areas. However, widelia had previously covered those hillsides and was buried close to the surface. Widelia spreads from any piece of root that is left in the soil, and there were cycles of regrowth on the hillsides that required multiple sessions of digging out plants before it subsided.

As we monitored invasives, we also made note of annual weed species that sprouted from existing seeds in the ground, but we did not distinguish each variety in our data. Currently, we continue to dig out widelia as it appears, and pull annual weeds as their seeds still sprout between the spreading peanut. It is rare to see Albezia or African tulip seedlings on the hillsides, and very few coming up in the flat areas. Guinea grass appears sporadically in the flats, but is easy to pull when small and has been steadily decreasing.

A summary of specific observations are as follows:

African Tulip Tree: This tree is considered invasive because it tends to take over areas where it is growing, and crowds out other species. After cutting, it easily re-sprouts, and is difficult to eradicate. The flowers contain a toxin which has been found to be harmful to native bees and insects. Cutting the trees, and then excavating the trunks was the best way to permanently remove these trees. The remains had to be buried or chipped; if left alone they would sprout, even after cutting into logs. Roots left in the ground can also sprout, so care was taken to dig out the roots. Once removed, some seeds left in the flat areas - particularly those near the stream - did sprout. However, no seeds sprouted in the steeper hillside areas after clearing. Throughout the project timeline, the number of tulip tree seedlings decreased significantly in all staked areas. By the end of the project timeline, only the flat areas had any tulip tree seedlings, and in those areas the average number was less than one seedling per flat staked area and almost none on the hillsides. When we do our monthly weeding, we still see a few seedlings that randomly emerge, but it is not difficult to pull as they come up, and keep an infestation from occurring.

Albezia Tree: This tree is considered invasive because it spreads quickly through seeds, crowding out native species, breaking easily in storms creating a hazard, and igniting quickly during a wildfire. Seeds tend to linger in the ground, and spout for a long while after removing the trees. In the beginning of the project there were an average of 7 plants per flat section/gradual hillside, but no trees on the steeper hillsides. By the end of the project timeline, the average had gone down to 3 in the flat areas, more than a 50% drop.

Guinea Grass: Tall guinea grass covered the site all along the stream and up the banks to the top of the hillsides. Any free ground space, where there were no trees, there were thick, overgrown areas with guinea grass. After this was removed with the excavator, plants reemerged from seeds in the soil, coming up every few feet in the flat areas, and scattered on the back hillside. Side hillsides did not have a recurrence of guinea grass after removal, because the reshaping and terracing included the addition of soil that did not contain many seeds. By the end of the project, the incidence of guinea grass in the flat staked areas had got from an average of 8 plants to and average of 3 plants, more than a 50% drop.

Widelia: This is by far, the most persistent invasive plant on the site, with new plants sprouting easily from any leftover rhizomes or pieces of the vine. The only way we found to remove it is to dig very deep to get all parts of the plant and roots and put them in trash bags for disposal. Slowly but surely, each time we weed, fewer and fewer widelia plants are emerging. Up until December, 2024, thick regrowth was occurring on the hillsides and on the flat areas. However, we did some deep digging in the following months, and have observed a 62% reduction in occurrence of widelia. It will be important to keep up with regrowth, before the vine spreads into the peanut, and is harder to remove. We have plans to continue with removal, until we have eradicated widelia from the site.

In addition to the identified weed species, we discovered that a native plant - nanea - could also become invasive in the forest context. We had hoped to use nanea as a nitrogen-fixing ground cover, similar to perennial peanut. However, soon after planting, the nanea spread rapidly and began climbing and covering the small seedlings we had planted. When it got close to the stream - a constant water source - its growth exploded even more. In the end, we had to pull it out from most areas of the site. It did act as a good temporary cover, while the perennial peanut was spreading, helping to prevent further weed growth. It may do well as a ground cover in locations with more mature trees, although it may still climb trunks when give the chance. Its natural habitat is shoreline, where plants are much more sparse, and it may serve well as a cover in sandy areas near the ocean.

Participation Summary

1 Producers participating in research

Research Outcomes

3 New working collaborations

Education and Outreach

3 Curricula, factsheets or educational tools

4 Tours

4 Workshop field days

Participation Summary:

22 Farmers participated

8 Ag professionals participated

Education and outreach methods and analyses:

Outreach Events

Participatory Learning

The hybrid ecosystem concept originated in an academic context, with contributions from professors such as Dr. Rebecca Ostertag, who teaches graduate students in the University of Hawaii at Hilo Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science program. Students in this program, as well as students in other relevant programs at UHH, such as agricultural majors, were invited to participate in the planting and monitoring activities as an experiential element in their education.

Community members and local farmers were invited to four hands-on learning events that will take place on the first Sunday of the month beginning in July, 2024. See below for more details on how these events were publicized and managed in order to benefit the greatest number of farmers.

Participants were asked to reserve a spot, and a limit of ten people participated in each event. Each participant was asked to assist in publicizing the project, creating a multiplier effect for project outreach. See details below for the multiplier outreach plan. All events were organized and led by the principal investigator, Shari Tresky who was assisted by her farm manager, Kalani Ah Quin.

On-Site Presentations and Tours

There were four on-site tours given on the first Sunday of the month beginning in December, 2024 through March 2025. These dates were chosen because time was needed to clear and plant before inviting people to see the results from the initial phase. A covered carport was set up as a gathering place for a concise presentation on the basic concept of a functional forest. The tour included a walk through and free seedling giveaway as an incentive to attend. Printed materials were provided with a simple explanation of the project idea, and a list of resources for more specific instructions. See below for more details on materials, outreach and target audience for these events.

Materials

The project was documented from beginning to end, using photography and written notes. The following materials and resources were created and made available for event participants and the general public:

A Pono Acres brochure was created describing the program and listing resources. This is attached to the report and can be downloaded for free from the website. .
A Pona Acres Plant List was also created and provided to all event participants. This is also attached to the report and can be downloaded free from the website.
All documentation is available on a dedicated project website, with downloadable resources for farmers and land owners interested in creating a functional forest on their own properties. The website includes a sign-up for regular email updates on the project.

Outreach

The events and resources were publicized in the following ways:

Posters on bulletin boards in key locations, such as feed stores, nurseries and garden centers, and given out at local farmers markets.The poster is attached as media here.
Local Facebook groups were invited to participate. Key Facebook groups include:
- Homesteading Hawaii
- Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers
- Small Farm Hawaii
- Big Island Gardening
- Hawaii Island Seed Stewards
- Big Island Farm and Ranch
- Hawaii Tropical Landscape Gardening
- Big Island Free Plants Only
- Hawaii Permaculture
- Kalo Cultivars of Hawaii
- Hawaii Edible Gardening and Sustainable Living
- Big Island Sustainability Swap

Multiplier Effect: Each event participant was asked to take brochures with them to give out to other farmers they know, explaining the project and resources such as the website where they can get more information. An incentive of one free plant was offered to anyone who attended an event or signed up for more information on the website. In this way, the idea can spread, and an email list will be maintained for all interested parties.

Target Audience

The primary target audience for education was local farmers, homesteaders and students. There are rural areas of the Big Island where some of our lowest income residents reside, often in substandard conditions on homesteads and small family farms. These districts include the Puna district on the East side, and Oceanview subdivision in the South. This is also where a large percentage of Native Hawaiʻians live, along with newcomers struggling to create homesteads and trying to live sustainably in a subsistence lifestyle. Special efforts were made to reach low income farmers, small family homesteaders, and Native Hawaiian farmers in the following ways:

Attending farmers markets in the Puna and Oceanview areas, with an information booth handing out promotional materials.
Working with our Hawaiʻian cultural practitioner, Kalanikahaleluakeumahana Pelekane Ah Quin, to publicize the events in the Hawaiian community through local Hawaiian churches and nonprofits such as Alu Like, as well as at Hawaiʻian cultural events.
Students were advised of this learning opportunity through partnering with UHH professor of forest ecology, Becky Ostertag, and linking with other relevant UHH and community college education programs.
In addition to farmers and students, relevant agricultural organizations were contacted and given opportunities to cooperate in any way that benefits their members or the clients they serve. Cooperative relationships were sought with professionals working for the University, extension offices, Volcano National Park and Master Gardeners. This effort will continue in future phases of the project, once the basics have been covered and the project is ready to expand.

Education and outreach results:

Outreach Results:

We created a FLYER that we put up on bulletin boards in the all towns within 30 miles from the project site. We also promoted the event through Facebook general events and through specific relevant Facebook groups. There was very little response to the posters, partly because bulletin boards are few and far between in our rural areas, and the ones in the closest town are inundated with flyers, so they were quickly covered over by other posters.
The general Facebook event also received a low response rate - only a few people attended because of this.
The most successful response came from the relevant Facebook groups, especially Homesteadinʻ Hawaii, Small Farm Hawaii and Big Island Farm and Ranch. The response was so overwhelming that we are planning to continue having site tours monthly, and will combine that with sales of our nursery plants and other farm products. Note: Nothing was sold during our SARE sponsored tours, but we gave away numerous free plants as an incentive for attendees.

Participatory Workshops

As described in the original timeline, we held four hands-on workshops in July 2024 through October 2024. The workshops targeted people interested in learning about native plants and helping with planting and maintenance aspects of the project. In each of these workshops, participants were given an opportunity to learn about the native plants and contribute to the progress of the project. We established a collaborative relationship with UHH Hilo, and added professor Becky Ostertag as an important cooperator. Students from the UHH environmental science program participated in the first hands-on event, and participants in the Hawaii Community College two year applied agricultural program participated in the fourth event. We also established a collaborative relationship with the Hawaii Master Gardeners program, and some of their volunteer members participated in the second and third workshops. Other participants included community members as well. However, it was not easy to recruit hands-on learners for these events. A total of 16 people participated in these events. Far more popular were the tours, where participants only had to attend and learn, and did not have to do any work!
In December 2024 through March 2025, we held four presentations/tours of the project. The first two only had a few attendees, 10 people total, but the last two were very well attended with 20 people attending for a total of 30 people. We were aiming for 40 total, but as we continued, the number of attendees kept increasing, partly due to word of mouth, and partly due to learning how to promote better on Facebook. (We realized that you can actually create a group specific event and invite people from the group, rather than merely posting something on the group page.) As mentioned in the outreach section, the response to the last two tours was so overwhelming that we are planning to do the tours monthly into the future. We already have a waiting list of people who want to come to the next tour. Everyone who attended the tours received an educational brochure with information about resources related to implementing a functional forest on their own property. They were encourage to take multiple brochures to share with friends. All in all, we gave out a total of 125 brochures, fewer than our goal of 10 per participant, but more realistic, as people do not necessarily want to take a pile of brochures to give out.

All in all, we found that the most successful educational event was the tours, and the best way to promote these was through special events invitations on relevant Facebook groups. Eventually, word of mouth will also be a factor, and we can combine tours with plant sales for our nursery, which also attracts people who want to purchase native plants, learn more and incorporate a functional forest on their own property.

We will also continue to update the dedicated Pono Acres website with new information as we add new species, discover additional resources, and offer more learning and instruction.

15 Farmers intend/plan to change their practice(s)

Education and Outreach Outcomes

Recommendations for education and outreach:

When I asked the participants what would make the information most accessible to them, most replied that the website would be best. I plan to regularly update the website with species information, resources, and relevant assistance they can receive, such as tax incentives, and grant opportunities. In addition, ongoing tours to see the demonstration project will also be available twice a month, for the foreseeable future.

30 Producers reported gaining knowledge, attitude, skills and/or awareness as a result of the project

Non-producer stakeholders reported changes in knowledge, attitudes, skills and/or awareness as a result of project outreach

30 General public

8 Students

4 Ag Service Providers

Key changes:

Knowledge about native plants and their uses
Knowledge about new potential income sources
Skills regarding integrating them into a functioning agroforestry system
Attitude change about importance of environmental preservation and habitat restoration for native bird and insect species for human quality of life
Awareness of replacing invasive species to help with wildfire prevention

Information Products

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Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and should not be construed to represent any official USDA or U.S. Government determination or policy.