A forest restoration experiment in Hilo, Hawaiʻi is testing a new management strategy aimed at addressing the decline of lowland wet forests, which are one of the most threatened native ecosystems because of development and the spread of invasive species. Though some native plants persist in the forest canopy, they struggle to regenerate due to the dense accumulation of invasive weeds and leaves on the forest floor.  

Aiming to create a forest that supports the natural regeneration of native plants and improves nutrient cycling to resist invasive species, the restoration project Liko Nā Pilina, or “budding new relationships,” reflects a fresh approach to managing interactions between native and introduced species. The name also reflects the highly collaborative nature of the effort. The project was founded by Pacific Islands CASC funded researchers who brought together researchers from the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo and the U.S. Forest Service to support the wider efforts of the Lowland Wet Forest Working Group, a network that connects land managers across Hawaiʻi, including from the Hawaiʻi Army National Guard.  

Fully removing invasive species from the forests requires too much time and labor to be sustainable, especially since these species grow back quickly. Instead, the Liko Nā Pilina project takes a “hybrid” restoration approach by acknowledging that some non-native species are beneficial within the plant community. Rather than completely removing them, the team focuses on maintaining specific plant functional traits – such as those that improve soil conditions – to help the forests become more resilient and self-sustaining.  

Data from this project can guide future plantings and help land managers across Hawaiʻi restore forests, support native species, and adapt to climate change.