Helemano Wilderness
Recreation Area
Helemano, O‘ahu
Dole Food Company’s sale of its Central O‘ahu
land holdings presents a unique opportunity to
provide recreation while fostering sustainability
for O’ahu. The Helemano Wilderness
Recreation Area acquisition has secured high
priority watersheds, native forest, and habitat
for the endangered official state mammal – the
Hawaiian Hoary Bat – and many other native
species. It also adds significant access and
acreage for hunters, hikers, campers, and
other outdoor recreationists to explore the
Ko‘olau Mountains, as well as providing
opportunities for reforestation that will create a
hub for forestry products that will supply
woodworkers with locally sourced materials.
Helemano Wilderness Recreation Area
Currently, there are only two public designated
camping areas in O‘ahu’s mountains despite
substantial demand. Access for hunters is often
blocked by private ownership of lands and
mountain bikes are prohibited on many official
trails because of erosion and safety issues. The
Trust for Public Land and Hawai‘i Department of
Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry
and Wildlife, have acquired nearly 2,900 acres of
Central O‘ahu watershed and fallow land once
forested in koa for hiking, public recreation,
hunting, camping, and educational opportunities.
These newly acquired parcels will increase access
to another 4,300 acres – the Poamoho section of the
‘Ewa Forest Reserve and the premier trail to
summit the Ko‘olau Mountains.
Safeguards a Critical Priority Watershed location will make finished products accessible to
The Helemano Wilderness Recreation Area the greatest number of users as well as a
extends through high priority watershed which distribution network. Cultural practitioners will
serves as a recharge area for the Central O‘ahu also benefit through newly created access to
aquifer that supplies communities from Pearl forested areas and new planting of Hawaiian and
Harbor to the North Shore – a third of O‘ahu’s Polynesian forest products that can be used for
residents. Conserving this land for recreational leis, garlands, medicinal uses, and other cultural
and restorative uses will in turn help secure clean practices.
drinking water for generations to come.
Conservation Funding Sources
Protects Native Species and Forests Hawaii State Legacy Land
On April 22, 2015, Governor David Ige signed Conservation Fund $1,513,800
into law a bill making the Hawaiian Hoary Bat
Hawai‘i’s official state land mammal. This US Dept. of Agriculture Forest
elusive, solitary creature is federally listed as an $5,000,000
Legacy Program
endangered species. Encroachment on its habitat
US Fish & Wildlife Habitat $2,000,000
by development has led to the need for safe
Conservation Plan
havens in which the bats can survive and
reproduce. This acquisition preserves quality Pittman-Robertson Fund $400,000
habitat for the Hawaiian Hoary Bat as well as for
Kawailoa Wind, LLC $2,750,000
endangered bird species and over 20 federally
listed plant and invertebrate species living in U.S. Navy REPI Program $3,500,000
native forested areas. Reforestation will
substantially increase that habitat. Under Total Funding $15,163,800
management of Hawai‘i’s foresters, and with the
aid of Hawai‘i’s hunters to control feral animal
populations, these native forested areas and their
inhabitants can thrive into the future.

Benefits of Local Forestry Products

O‘ahu lacks commercial timber areas, despite
demand for local source materials by
woodworkers and artisans, and a demand for
finished local wood products. Helemano, which
was once all forest, is ideally suited for timber
production because of its fertile soils, gentle
slopes, and optimal rainfall for tropical timber Hikers enjoying the trail and scenery
species. In addition, the convenience of an O‘ahu

The Trust for Public Land FOR MORE INFORMATION:

creates parks and protects land Stephen Rafferty

Project Manager
for people, ensuring healthy,
808.524.8564
livable communities for stephen.rafferty@tpl.org
generations to come.

tpl.org PHOTOS: Hawai‘i DOFAW

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Helemano Wilderness Area

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as well as access to the Poamoho Trail. Access to the Poamoho Trail; help
The state will develop native forest products preserve endangered species including the
on the parcel. The increased access Hawaiian Hoary Bat and numerous plant
will allow for educational opportunities and invertebrate species. It is an important
relating to the outdoor activities.

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7-1-02-11 (59 acres)
7-2-01-03 (448 acres)
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VILLAGE No am will add and provide increased access
will add and provide increased access
to the 'Ewa Forest Reserve near the
to the 'Ewa Forest Reserve near the
Schofield
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Barracks East
East Range.
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East Range
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Helemano Wilderness Area

ISLAND OF O'AHU, HAWAI'I

February 23, 2017. Copyright © The Trust for Public Land. The Trust for Public Land and The Trust for Public Land logo are federally registered marks of The Trust for Public Land.
Information on this map is provided for purposes of discussion and visualization only. www.tpl.org