Park resource managers continue 10 a long tradition of restoration.

Twenty years ago, despite the removal of grazing animals, many parts of Kīpukapuaulu (approximately 1/4 of the kīpuka) remained a treeless grassland, choked by invasive blackberry (Rubis argutus) and alien pasture grasses. To encourage restoration, today’s resource specialists, like those that preceded them, continue to remove the invasive blackberry and grasses that litter the forest. This has allowed the native plants to recover naturally. Where native trees didn’t recover, even after repeated weed-removal efforts, fast-growing native trees and shrubs were planted. Once these faster growing plants matured and created shade, other shadetolerant native understory species were planted below them. Although the threats of volcanic activity or wildfire are always present, hard-working resource specialists continue to care for this flourishing native forest.