The Honolulu Board of Water Supply (BWS) is exploring the possibility of creating a place-based, hands-on learning area to promote the goals of forest restoration, watershed protection, water conservation, and sustainable agriculture.

The BWS Hālau Wai Mānoa would provide an alternative outdoor learning facility for members of the public to learn about watersheds, forest health and watershed protection, water conservation, and sustainable resource management practices. Also, from this location, BWS would provide community volunteer opportunities/workdays for watershed restoration and sustainable agriculture.

The proposed learning center is conceptualized as:

• An education center for place-based education programs for schools (e.g., a hale/open-air structure for gathering out of the elements);
• A place for hands-on opportunities to learn about watershed protection, sustainable agriculture/living (e.g., establishing and working on lo‘i, gardening/practicing regenerative agricultural methods to grow own food/materials); and
• A base for mauka restoration efforts in Mānoa (e.g., removal of invasive species including ungulate control, forest restoration with site appropriate native species, erosion control/soil stabilization to reduce polluted runoff and sediment loading of the streams).

PBR HAWAII completed an HRS 343 Final EA/FONSI to consider the impacts of the proposed action on the human and natural environment.