Protect & Preserve Hawaiʻi

Protect & Preserve Hawaiʻi (PPH) integrates Indigenous Hawaiian culture and community support to restore and sustain healthy native ecosystems across 330 acres in Pia Valley. Pia Valley is in the southern Koʻolau Mountains on the island of Oʻahu and is home to some of the last remaining lowland mesic and dry forests on the island. This restoration project is critical to improve drought resilience and watershed efficiency, while fostering community connection to place through community-led restoration activities, outreach, and education.

Protect & Preserve Hawai‘i: Restoring Land, Revitalizing Community

Protect & Preserve Hawai’i (PPH) was founded in 2019 and launched volunteer programs in 2020, bringing community together around land stewardship and community-based conservation. Community includes all the people, organizations, and resources, taking shared accountability (kuleana) for our lands. This collective approach, grounded in the Hawaiian value of kuleana, allows us to leverage diverse strengths and resources. Volunteers contribute thousands of hours of labor and deep local knowledge. State agencies provide critical technical expertise and regulatory support. Federal organizations offer funding, research partnerships, and access to broader conservation networks. By combining these resources and sharing the kuleana for Pia Valley, we achieve far more than any single entity could alone, ensuring the land is restored and stewarded for generations.

PPH has completed invasive species removal projects and planted over 12,000 native Hawaiian plants and trees, bringing biodiversity back to the valley. They conduct approximately seven community-based events per month, including guided nature hikes, cultural workshops, ecosystem restoration efforts, and hands-on conservation training. PPH established a volunteer exchange program connecting people to restoration efforts across the island, including underserved communities. PPH’s mission is rooted in accessibility and inclusivity—all activities are free of charge, requiring no prior experience, and provide hands-on mentorship in conservation and Native Hawaiian cultural practices. In 2024 alone, PPH engaged with 1,200 volunteers, restored two acres of dryland forest, installed a 25-acre protective fence to shield vulnerable native species from invasive threats, and secured $450,000 in revenue, fueling our mission to restore and protect Hawai‘i’s landscapes.

Vision for the Future

Looking ahead to the next 1-3 years, PPH has bold and actionable goals. Plans include the restoration of three additional acres of biodiverse dryland forest and growth of the volunteer base to 4,000 people annually. A focus will be on youth from historically marginalized communities, deepening cultural education, and integrating Native Hawaiian knowledge into our restoration work through monthly events led by cultural practitioners. Another major goal will be to build an on-site education center, shade house, and workshop, creating a dedicated space for learning, seed propagation, and hands-on conservation training. Through initiatives like the Native Seed Network, in partnership with Bishop Museum, we are not just restoring forests—we are ensuring the future of restoration itself. By producing and distributing native seeds, we are empowering conservation groups across Hawai‘i to rebuild ecosystems that are vital to our island’s resilience.

Why This Matters

PPH is more than a conservation project—it is a movement. It is about restoring what was lost, uplifting communities, and inspiring the next generation of land stewards. It is about proving that even the most unexpected paths can lead to profound change. With the right support, we can continue this vital work—healing the land, empowering people, and preserving Hawai‘i’s natural and cultural heritage for generations to come.