Priority Wetland Sites

NFWF Priority Wetland Sites

Punalau Pond (Kahanui)

Punalau Pond is a 45-acre wetland on the south shore of Molokaʻi. It has been identified as a candidate for wetland restoration as part of the Pacific Island Climate Adaptation Science Center (PICASC) restoration planning project. Historically, this site was directly connected to the ocean and has deep cultural importance, due to a buried 600-year-old loko ʻumeʻiki (shoreline-bound fishpond). Due to erosion and sedimentation of the fishpond system, and encroachment by introduced mangrove over the past 150 years, ocean connectivity is now limited to the most extreme high tide events. Punalau is currently invaded by mangrove, which is not native to Hawaiʻi. Mangrove has severe negative impacts on the coastal area, reducing wetland habitat available for endemic waterbirds, and encroaching onto the reef, beaches (which are no longer accessible to locals), and fishponds, which are particularly vulnerable, as they provide root support within their rock walls. The Molokaʻi Land Trust (MLT) is currently in the process of acquiring this wetland and has obtained funding from the National Fish & Wildlife Federation National Coastal Resilience Fund to restore the functionality of the wetland, with the overall goal of buffering communities and infrastructure from climate-change impacts, while increasing abundance of native species.

ʻOhiʻapilo Pond

ʻŌhiʻapilo Wetland is a 60-acre wetland that is located in the ahupuaʻa of Kalamaʻula and is under DHHL jurisdiction. The DHHL Land Use Designation is Special District due to the presence of unique cultural and natural resources and sensitive environments. The Molokai Wetland Partnership, DHHL, and the Molokaʻi Land Trust (MLT) have collaborated to obtain funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to review current & existing hydrological and management information and assess mangroves in ʻŌhiʻapilo. Hydrological baseline assessments & mangrove assessments are being funded for two other wetlands on Molokaʻi: Punalau and Kakahaiʻa. The aim is to assess existing conditions and gather baseline data that will help Kalamaʻula Homestead Association, beneficiaries, and DHHL conduct additional planning and make informed decisions for future restoration and use of the site.
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This current baseline data work includes:
1) An assessment of existing hydrological information for ʻŌhiʻapilo (by Hydrologist Matt Rosener, based on Maui)
2) An assessment of the current extent of mangrove at the site (by DAR Mangrove Specialist Anthony Oligario)

This current funding does not include any other work at ʻŌhiʻapilo beyond assessment and beneficiary engagement.

Kakahaiʻa National Wildlife Refuge

Kakahaiʻa National Wildlife Refuge is a 45-acre wetland located 5 miles east of Kaunakakai on the south shore of Molokaʻi. From roughly 1800- 1950, the main pond was used for the cultivation of rice and, therefore, called the "Rice Patch" by some locals. After 1950, the pond was used for fish production prior to Refuge establishment. The refuge has been closed to public access to protect endangered waterbirds; in recent years, maintenance and management has been curtailed for budgetary reasons. Current National Wildlife Refuge System leadership would like to re-initiate resource management of the Refuge, and then consider opportunities for public wildlife viewing and interpretation. Two endangered waterbirds, the Hawaiian Stilt (Aeʻo) and Hawaiian Coot ('Alae Ke'oke'o), have been known to use the ponds on the refuge and they are focal management species.