About Us

In 2015, community members of Kailua, Oahʻu kicked off this project out of a desire to do something positive about Climate Change.  They wanted to combine climate education with action by providing hands-on access to resources that were meaningful and sustainable. The Hawaiʻi State Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) had recently purchased the 60 acre watershed of Hāmākua Marsh, called Puʻu o Ehu. With the support of DLNR biologist Katie Doyle, Executive Director Lisa Marten, along with her friends and their families, planted the first  9 seedlings.

The project began hosting school groups and their families to learn about climate change and to help restore a native forest. After the success of one single school the first year, it quickly grew to include over a dozen. The all-volunteer project relied on community members, organizations as well as local experts donating their expertise. With years of trial and error, climate-related educational materials and a new planting system was developed which Healthy Climate Communities currently implements.  

Today, Healthy Climate Communities land managers and educators work in collaboration with DLNR and their biologists. Thanks to many local school and community groups, Pu’u o Ehu is home to thousands of endemic plants, including some that are rare and endangered such as ko’oloa’ula, loulu, ewa hinahina, ʻohai, and the Hawaiʻi state flower, mao hau hele.  This incredible labor of love is made possible by generous donations from foundations, individuals and thousands of volunteer hours.