Many landscape changes have occured around Pu’ukohola Heiau National Historic Site in the past 200 years
The Landscape of Pelekane watershed has gone through many changes since the days of King Kamehameha
The landscape around Pu’ukohola Heiau has undergone many, sometimes drastic, changes over the years. In the past 200 years, most of the harvestable trees have been cut down, and goats and cattle have eaten the vegetation which has sped mauka erosion and increased sedimentation on the reef. The harbor and roads have been added to the landscape causing different impacts to the environment. Many invasive plants have taken hold of the arid landscape, and some of these plants, like fountain grass, encourage intense fires thereby further changing the environment.
Take a look at the diagram above(or download it for a closer look) to visualize some of the changes the land has gone through since King Kamehameha’s time.
Be sure to come to the Pu’ukohola Heiau NHS cultural festival on August 14-15 to learn more.
For a promising look to the future, visit the Pelekane Bay Watershed Restoration Project.
