On-the-Ground and Virtual Conservation on Oʻahu

During the 2020-2021 school year, students at Le Jardin Academy on Oʻahu were able to experience on-the-ground wetlands conservation within a State Wildlife Sanctuary, and the State Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) had a direct connection with future stewards of Hawaiʻi’s land and waters.

DOFAW worked with 483 Academy students and community volunteers over 21 days to do learn about, plan and design restoration activities at Kawainui Marsh State Wildlife Sanctuary which is adjacent to the school. With support from a Pacific Birds partnership grant, Strengthening Partnerships and Creating a Virtual Presence for Oahu Wetland Wildlife Sanctuaries, DOFAW was able to hire an intern to coordinate and lead the conservation activities, culminating in a one-acre educational garden populated with native lowland forest and wetland plants. The grant award also provided tools and supplies for ongoing site maintenance.

As a result of this project, DOFAW and Le Jardin Academy have formed a partnership that will continue to restore additional acres and be included in the school’s K-12 curriculum. Covid changed a second school’s plans to participate in field work, but Waipahu High School students were able to analyze water samples collected from the marsh.

Kawainui and other state sanctuaries are either closed or have restricted access since wildlife habitat and restoration are the key purpose for these state manged sites. This was a unique opportunity for young people to engage and learn about the value of wetland ecosystems to their communities–and the work it takes to keep them healthy. Another part of DOFAW’s partnership grant was to create virtual materials to connect to even more people to wetlands. DOFAW created Story Maps for three wetland-wildlife sanctuary on Oahu (Kawainui, Hāmākua and Pouhala), featuring the sites’ history, ecology and native waterbirds. They also created stunning virtual field trips for each of the sites. Betwen engaging students and community members on the ground and virtually, awareness about the incredible value of wetlands has been notched up in Hawaiʻi–thanks to the hard work of students, their teachers and mentors, and DOFAW.

See the Story Maps and Virtual tours here: Kawainui Marsh, Hāmākua Marsh, Pouhala Marsh