Protecting the Environment

The Island of O'ahu has a unique blend of volcanic soils, diverse rainfall patterns and a favorable climate. These factors support a wide range of agricultural products; from pineapple and sugar cane to seed corn, landscape nurseries, papayas and vegetables. In 2007, there were over 900 farms on O'ahu, comprising 92,000 acres of land.

O'ahu has 12,160 acres of inland waters. Because many of the streams start in steep mountain areas, erosion and flash flooding are significant concerns.

Through numerous partnerships, O'ahu RC&D improves the qualify of these natural resources. The pages listed in the menu at left highlight some of the recent projects related to conservation and watershed planning: on-farm conservation planning; adoption of cover crop technology; Bamboo as an alternative windbreak species; use of Vetiver grass as a commercial crop for conservation; Kapakahi Stream watershed and Waimanalo watershed restoration.