Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative facts for kids
| Abbreviation | HLRI |
|---|---|
| Formation | 2014 |
| Founder | Jeffrey Dunster; Darrell Fox |
| Type | Nonprofit |
| Legal status | 501(c)(3) |
| Purpose | reforest endemic trees and restore native habitat for wildlife in Hawaii |
| Headquarters | Honolulu, Hawaii |
| Location | |
| Methods | sponsorships and partnerships |
|
Board Chair
|
Francis Wong |
|
Executive Director
|
Jeffrey Dunster |
| Website | https://legacyforest.org/ |
The Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative (HLRI) is a special group in Hawaii. It's a nonprofit organization that started in 2014. Their main goal is to plant many native trees. They also work to bring back natural homes for Hawaii's wildlife. This helps animals and plants that are only found in Hawaii.
They plant trees like koa, ‘ōhi‘a, māmane, naio, ko‘oko‘olau, kūkaenēnē and ‘iliahi. These trees are very important to Hawaii's environment.
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What is HLRI Doing?
The Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative wants to plant 1.3 million native trees. These trees will be planted all over Hawaii. As of August 2025, they have planted over 400,000 trees. These trees cover 1,200 acres along the Hamakua Coast of Hawaii Island.
Expanding Their Work
In April 2017, HLRI started planting trees in a second spot. This new area is at Kahua Ranch. It is on the western side of the Kohala Mountains. This project will cover 700 acres and include 250,000 trees. HLRI is also expanding its work to the North Shore of Oahu. They are planting trees at Gunstock Ranch in Malaekahana.
How Trees Are Planted
Trees are planted with help from sponsors and partners. Each tree gets a special tag. This tag uses RFID chip and GPS technology. These tools help HLRI track each tree. They can check its health and how much it grows. This way, they know the trees are doing well.
Awards and Recognition
In 2014, HLRI received a special award. They were one of four groups from around the world. The Society of American Travel Writers gave them the Phoenix Award. This award was for their work in protecting nature. It also recognized their efforts to keep places beautiful and clean.
Other Forest Activities
The forests planted by HLRI are used for more than just trees. They also grow Kona coffee. Farmers can harvest honey from the koa tree blossoms. This shows how the forest can help in many ways.
Who Leads HLRI?
The current Executive Director of HLRI is Jeffrey Dunster. The Board Chair is Francis Wong. These leaders help guide the organization. They make sure HLRI keeps working to protect Hawaii's forests.
