Background

Kanahˉa Beach Park is a heavily-visited, publicly-owned 

coastal park on the north shore of the Hawaiian Island of Maui 

(Figure 1). A broad white sand beach with plenty of shade trees 

and breezes favorable for wind sports, Kanahˉa is a popular 

spot for swimming, windsurfing, canoeing, diving, kitesurfing, 

polefishing, and beach volleyball, among other recreational 

activities.

Traditionally, beach parks in Hawai‘i have been managed 

for recreational use, rather than ecosystem protection. Overuse, 

vehicle traffic, and litter had transformed Kanahˉa Beach into a 

degraded coastal zone with little value but great potential as a 

habitat for native plants and animals. In 2001, the USGS began 

providing scientific understanding of invasive species management and native ecosystem ecology to a collaborative, volunteer-driven effort to restore this ecosystem. 

Steps to Restoring a Coastal Ecosystem 

A walk-through botanical survey was done on the site prior 

to restoration activities. This survey, which was a helpful tool 

during the planning process, documented the plants known to 

occur on the site, and highlighted areas with high restoration 

potential. In addition, dozens of photo points were established 

prior to restoration activities, and have proved invaluable in 

documenting the area’s transformation. 

With the assistance of governmental agencies and private 

companies (see Collaborators), a dedicated volunteer force 

built a post-and-rail vehicle barricade that eliminated traffic on 

75 acres of coastal wetlands and sand dunes (Figure 2). This 

barrier also delineated parking areas and increased public safety 

at the site.

Once vehicle traffic was eliminated, trash and debris were 

cleaned up and non-native plants were gradually and systematically removed from 50 acres, avoiding the creation of large bare 

After

U.S. Department of the Interior USGS FS 2006-3010

U.S. Geological Survey February 2006

areas and enabling native 

species to fill in where aliens 

were removed. Alien species 

removed included: kiawe

(Prosopis pallida), pluchea 

(Pluchea spp.), and buffel 

grass (Cenchrus ciliaris), 

among others. To date, over 

25 acres of Kanahˉa Beach 

have been revegetated with 

native species collected from 

sites nearby. Native species 

planted included: pˉopolo

(Solanum nelsonii) (Fig 3), 

‘ohai (Sesbania tomentosa), 

ma‘o (Gossypium tomentosum), ‘aki‘aki (Sporobolus 

virginicus), and naio (Myoporum sandwicense) (Figure 

4). Native animals have also 

benefited from the restoration. Native insects such 

as the long-horned beetle 

aweoweo (Plagithmysus sp. novum) and moths (Omiodes spp.); 

and birds such as the endangered Hawaiian stilt or ae‘o (Himantopus mexicanus knudseni) and numerous species of shorebirds 

can be found at the site (Figure 4).

Community Partners with USGS to Restore Coastal Ecosystem on Maui 

 

Figure 2. A contractor (top right) 

constructs the vehicle barrier 

that was finished by volunteers 

(bottom right). Vegetation grows 

back after vehicle traffic is 

eliminated (below).

Figure 3. Presumably extinct 

on Maui, p ̄opolo plants for the 

Kanah ̄a Beach restoration project 

were cultivated from fruits collected from the Maui Nui island of 

Moloka‘i. 

Before

Kanah ̄a 

Beach Park

M A U I

Figure 1. Satellite 

photo of Maui 

showing location of 

Kanah ̄a Beach on 

the north shore

(courtesy of NASA). 
For more information, contact:

Lloyd L. Loope

USGS Pacific Island Ecosystems 

Research Center, Haleakal ̄a Field Station

Email: lloyd_loope@usgs.gov

Phone: 808-572-4470

Fact sheet written by:

Forest Starr, Hawaii Cooperative Studies Unit 

at the University of Hawaii at Hilo (HCSU), 

Kim Starr, HCSU, and 

Lloyd Loope, USGS Pacific Island 

Ecosystems Research Center. 

Photo credits:

All photos taken by Forest & Kim Starr, 

except where noted.

Maintenance of the restored site is minimal and includes 

such activities as controlling weeds after winter rains, picking up rubbish, and making occasional repairs to the vehicle 

barricade. Community volunteers have taken responsibility for 

these efforts.

A Model for Coastal Restoration in Hawai‘i

Coastal areas offer many advantages for restoration, including harsh growing conditions that favor native plants, ease of 

access, and a large group of frequent visitors who provide a 

potential volunteer pool. The Kanahˉa Beach restoration project 

uses a management approach that maximizes both conservation 

value and recreational opportunities. Kanahˉa Beach is within 

walking distance of Kahului Airport, thus habitat recovery offers great educational potential 

for residents and visitors alike. This unique 

project provides a model and inspiration for the 

restoration of other coastal Hawaiian habitats 

by community members under the guidance of 

regional scientists. 

Collaborators

• US Geological Survey – Pacific Island 

Ecosystems Research Center

• US Fish & Wildlife Service – Pacific 

Islands Coastal Program

• USDA Tri-Isle Resource Conservation and 

Development Program

• Corporation for National & Community 

Service Americorps Program

• Maui County Emergency Environmental 

Workforce 

Figure 4. Native species benefiting from the restoration of Kanah ̄a Beach, from left: ma‘o (Hawaiian cotton); ‘aki‘aki (Seashore rushgrass); ‘ohai ; 

aweoweo (long-horned beetle), and ae‘o (Hawaiian stilt: photo © Jack Jeffrey).

Figure 5. Prior to restoration efforts, Kanah ̄a 

Beach was a degraded coastal ecosystem 

inhospitable to native species (left). Since 2001, 

dedicated volunteers have restored native 

vegetation on 11⁄2 miles of coastline (below). 

Before

After