| Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative | |
| Abbreviation: | HLRI |
| Founder: | Jeffrey Dunster; Darrell Fox |
| Type: | Nonprofit |
| Tax Id: | 46-5002476 |
| Status: | 501(c)(3) |
| Purpose: | reforest endemic trees and restore native habitat for wildlife in Hawaii |
| Headquarters: | Honolulu, Hawaii |
| Location Country: | United States |
| Methods: | sponsorships and partnerships |
| Leader Title: | Board Chair |
| Leader Name: | Francis Wong |
| Leader Title2: | Executive Director |
| Leader Name2: | Jeffrey Dunster |
| Website: | https://legacyforest.org/ |
The Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative (HLRI) is a Hawaii-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2014 that works to reforest endemic trees and restore native habitat for wildlife.[1] This includes koa, ‘ōhi‘a, māmane, naio, ko‘oko‘olau, kūkaenēnē and ‘iliahi trees.[2] [3]
HLRI is working to reforest 1.3 million endemic trees throughout Hawaii.[4] To date, it has reforested more than 400,000 trees [5] across 1,200 leased acres along the Hamakua Coast of Hawaii Island.[3] In April 2017, HLRI expanded its Hawaii Island operations to a second location, at Kahua Ranch on the western slope of the Kohala Mountains, that will encompass 700 acres with 250,000 trees.[6] [7] HLRI is expanding operations to the North Shore of Oahu at Gunstock Ranch at Malaekahana.[5]
Trees are planted through sponsorships and partnerships. Each tree is tagged with RFID chip and GPS technology, which track and verify health and growth characteristics.[8]
In 2014, HLRI was one of four international organizations recognized with the Phoenix Award by the Society of American Travel Writers for its work in conservation, preservation, beautification and anti-pollution campaigns.[9]
Multi-use agriculture components of the forest include Kona coffee farming and the harvesting of honey from koa tree blossoms.[10] [11]
The current executive director is Jeff Dunster, and the current chairman is John Farias Jr.[12]