Ko'olau Mountains Watershed Partnership

The Ko'olau Mountains Watershed Partnership (KMWP) is a voluntary alliance of major public and private landowners working since 1999 to protect the forested mauka or mountainous areas of the Ko'olau Mountains on O'ahu. Spanning over 100,000 acres, with an estimated sustained yield of over 133 billion gallons of water each year, the Ko'olau mountains watershed is integral to the island’s present and future water supply. KMWP performs a critical mission in coordinating management across the large partnership area to protect the watershed against incipient invasive weeds and feral animals. Preserving what remains of our native watershed forests is critical for maintaining the usefulness and value of the watershed in perpetuity.

KMWP's work in the Ko'olau mountains falls into three main areas, Protection, Restoration, and Education.

Our field team actively takes part in protecting our forests from invasive species through fencing and invasive removal projects. They also help us to actively reforest our mountains with native species and clear invasive plants that threaten the ecosystems of the Ko'olau mountains.

The outreach team is focused on education to give everyone a chance to learn about and connect with the Ko'olaus. They do presentations for schools and other institutions, they have hands-on workshops to make native seed balls, they attend fairs and events to share knowledge and connect with people and they lead volunteer activities in the various native reforestation sites.

Volunteers are given the chance to directly and positively impact the watershed by removing invasive weeds that fracture the native forest and to help restore them by planting native plants. Our volunteer program gives participants a chance to connect with and appreciate our native forests. Developing their sense of Aloha 'aina because that love for the land equals out to a drive to care for it. Since 2013 our worksites have been providing opportunities for volunteers of different activity levels and ages to engage in hands-on conservation.

E Ala! E Alu! E Kuilima!

Up! Together! Join Hands!