Kūkulu
ʻōpua
Knowledge exchange
Supporting natural resource professionals in the exchange, refinement, and expansion of ecosystem restoration knowledge, methods and practice.
What we do
- 01
Collate existing knowledge
ʻAohe pau ka ʻike i ka hālau hoʻokāhi (ʻŌlelo noʻeau #203, Pukuʻi)
All knowledge is not taught in the same school, or One can learn from many sources. The sources we draw on here include peer reviewed publications, “grey literature” (technical documents, theses, dissertations), oral presentations, and both formal and informal knowledge exchanges. We built this system to show what we know about Hawaiian ecosystems, and how to take care of them– across knowledge sources.
Explore resources → - 02
Facilitate Knowledge Exchanges
We provide opportunities for in-person gatherings and site visits to build connections across this community of work. Exchanges are valued for providing a sense of what other programs are working on and support the communication of Lessons Learned. They can also result in articulated needs and opportunities for collaborative problem solving.
Past Exchanges → - 03
Ecosystems Training Program
Effective management is implemented through standardized practices, by staff who feel valued for their skills. Our training program addresses foundational concepts that provide context for the “why and how” of our work. Assessments are determined by practitioners–managers and supervisors. Learning is reinforced by daily activities with advanced topics providing an opportunity for staff to grow their skills matching the interest of their professional trajectories.
While currently in the development phase, this scaffolded approach also provides the opportunity to support pre-professional learning at multiple levels, and non-professional continued education to increase the skill of volunteers with our partner programs.
Training Program ↗
Ecosystems
(accessing information by ecosystem type) Understanding native Hawaiian ecosystems is fundamental to their management. Ecosystems vary in the native species that they encompass, and the details of what threats they face. For students, community members and practitioners, we invite you to explore through the lens of ecosystem type most interesting to you.
Management
(accessing information by management topic) Regardless of the entity doing the work–individual, community, program, agency–management will detail threat control and restoration. Find protocols and information related to specific threats and restoration best practices–to the species level.
People and Place
-accessing information about people; land and people podcast; potentially the HI-FRS interviews/outputs; what a person needs to do this job–gear, hiking safety, navigation; and place-specific information (need narrative)
What you’re fighting.
What you’re building.
Threat control and restoration, topic by topic. Some of this is fireshed work and some is seed work — the colour bar on each topic says which. Topics still in development are marked rather than linked, so nothing here opens an empty page.
Threats
What we manage against.
Invasive plants
In developmentIdentifying and controlling weeds — mechanical, chemical, and biological.
Predators
In developmentRats, mongoose, and cats — trapping, monitoring, and protecting nesting sites.
Ungulates
In developmentPigs, goats, deer, and sheep — fencing, removal, and exclosure monitoring.
Wildfire
Fuels, fire behaviour, and landscape-scale mitigation across the fireshed.
Climate change
In developmentShifting rainfall and temperature, and what it means for restoration planning.
Pests
In developmentInvertebrate pests of native plants — detection and control.
Disease and pathogens
In developmentRapid ʻŌhiʻa Death and other pathogens — sanitation and reporting.
Restoration
What we put back.
Seed collection
When and how to collect — with a fruiting calendar built from real observations.
Nursery
In developmentPropagation, seed storage, and growing out for outplanting.
Species selection
In developmentMatching species to site — moisture zone, elevation, and provenance.
Site prep
In developmentClearing, weed knockdown, and preparing ground before planting.
Outplanting
In developmentPlanting technique, timing, aftercare, and survival monitoring.