When Disaster Struck, Restoration Became Imperative.
Post-Wildfire Watershed Recovery & Community-Led Restoration in Kula
Kula, Maui | In Partnership with Kula Community Watershed Alliance
On August 8, 2023, Maui experienced devastating wildfires. The Kula fire burned more than 200 acres in the wildland–urban interface, destroying homes and destabilizing fragile slopes.
The fire advanced within three-quarters of a mile of the Pōhakuokalā restoration site, a forest restored over more than 20 years. In the aftermath, that restored forest became a model for recovery.
Wildfires Keep Destroying Long After the Flames Are Extinguished.
Wildfire leaves landscapes vulnerable to:
- Severe erosion
- Runoff and flooding
- Invasive species spread
- Long-term watershed degradation
Without rapid and coordinated action, ecological damage compounds for years.
Innovating Proven Best Management Practices
The Pōhakuokalā site served as a demonstration of proven Best Management Practices (BMPs), including:
- Large-scale invasive removal
- Log terracing and erosion control
- Mulching and soil stabilization
- Native forest restoration
- Long-term monitoring
Federal and state agencies evaluated these methods and recognized them as effective recovery strategies for steep, erosive post-fire landscapes.
Skyline Conservation now supports the community-led efforts of the Kula Community Watershed Alliance to scale these proven practices across the burn scar.
Long-Term Stewardship Became an Emergency Recovery Asset.
30,000+ native plants at Pōhakuokalā now serve as seed sources
- Mature forest providing genetically appropriate restoration material
- State-of-the-art propagation facilities growing locally adapted plants
- Best practices replicated across fire-affected landscapes
Connecting Ecological Resilience with Community Resilience.
Restoration done before disaster reduces vulnerability after disaster. Healthy upland forests reduce wildfire intensity, slow runoff and erosion, strengthen watershed resilience, and support faster ecological recovery.
Wildfire Recovery Requires Years of Care.
Skyline Conservation continues to work with KWCA to:
- Support erosion control and reforestation at scale
- Expand native plant propagation
- Strengthen watershed stability
- Build long-term climate resilience
