Loʻi Infrastructure improvement and restoration

The nature of many loʻi operations being connected with multiple operations within watersheds and tied to streams and ditches allow for challenges that require watershed level management and planning. Some have created hui that are able to work together to ensure management of water resources, but not everyone is able to participate in those efforts. Additionally, work in the past to improve water quality and access have reduced the efficacy of those efforts without the resources for long term management of infrastructure and resources. With climate change, increase in users of water systems, breakdown of past infrastructure, increase in pests, the strength of our taro industry has remained stagnant and even reduced with these challenges. This project would be an ahupuaʻa level approach for both rehabilitating existing operations and restoration of fallow lo’i. All with long term management in mind.