Spread across mountains and fields in Central Oahu are nearly 2,900 acres that are now known as the Helemano Wilderness Project. Hawaii News Now reports that the land was purchased for $15 million from Dole Food Company by half a dozen entities, from state and federal government agencies to private organizations in an effort to preserve its natural resources and improve recreational opportunities. Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) aims to work with the surrounding community on a management plan. It also plans to work to control invasive species that can be found on the mountains located within the property. Said DLNR chairwoman Suzanne Case, “These areas of Helemano and upper Wahiawā, sitting at the foothills of the Koolau mountains, combine native forest, watersheds, and good soils in an accessible central location to create an ideal setting to support our communities’ physical and spiritual sustenance.”

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