First $22,000 received!
The Pūʻā Foundation gifted $20,000 at its board meeting today to help start the Punahoa Heritage Forest initiative. This creates a great start to kicking off the fund raising program which has an initial goal in 2022 of reaching $100,000.
The board donation joins $2,000 already received from Hawaii private donors and supporters, bringing the total received to date of $22,000.
“We’re excited to see such early interest in the Punahoa Heritage Forest initiative, especially coming from our local community.”
Toni Bissen is the person overseeing kick-off of the fundraising efforts for the Punahoa Heritage Forest. She was delighted with the early progress.
“This first funding is critical to getting a land survey completed that will inform what forestry management measures we need to take to preserve and protect the forest - a key part of our phase 1 strategic objective for Punahoa Heritage Forest.”
There are events and activities planned ahead to help raise the profile of the Punahoa Heritage Forest - nearly 2,000 acres of Hawaii Island land, complete with kipuka forests, that is just 20-mins drive from Hilo. The Pu’a Foundation has partnered with the United Churches of Christ. Together the two land stewards have committed adjoining parcels of native land as part of a strategic initiative focussing on preserving Hawaiian heritage - both environmental and cultural.
More information about Punahoa Heritage Forest can be found at https://www.punahoaheritageforest.org