From Passive Concern to Active Commitment: Terraformation’s Public-Backed Reforestation Site in Hawaiʻi Sees Strong Early Momentum

Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi, 07 April 2026 — Terraformation, a global native, biodiverse reforestation company, announced today that its inaugural restoration site in North Kona on Hawai’i Island is gaining strong early momentum with more than 5,700 trees already committed for planting. This milestone comes just eight months after Terraformation launched its landmark subscription program that opens up reforestation financing to the general public for $25 per month.

‍

“This milestone shows that people want to be part of real, long-term forest restoration and not just passive observers,” said Yishan Wong, CEO of Terraformation. “People want action. But trees and forests don’t operate on human timelines. This program is designed to support work that unfolds over decades. Ultimately, our plans are measured in centuries.”

‍

Terraformation’s tree subscription program encourages individuals to sponsor the planting of a tree per month as a personal commitment to undo the effects of climate change. The model allows supporters to fund the full lifecycle of restoration, from seed banking and nursery management to planting and ongoing forest care, while receiving updates directly from the field.

‍

Local Partners Lead On-the-Ground Work

‍

The 2.8-acre North Kohala site is part of the larger ʻIole initiative — a nonprofit, place-based research center and living laboratory rooted in the Native Hawaiian concept of shared responsibility to care for land, people, and culture. ʻIole serves as a Global Resilience Hub dedicated to ʻāina-based learning, regenerative land stewardship, and the integration of Indigenous knowledge and modern science. ʻIole’s work is grounded in three core pillars: energy security, food security, and ʻāina- and culture-based learning.

‍

Through partnerships with Hawai’i Community Foundation, University of Hawai’i, Arizona State University, and Kohala public schools, ʻIole conducts ʻāina-based research and provides hands-on learning opportunities for students from K–12 through higher education, cultivating the next generation of environmental stewards and community leaders across the 2,400 acre ahupuaʻa of ʻIole. This model reflects a belief that environmental restoration thrives not through top-down expertise alone, but through collective action and deep community involvement that honors place and people.

‍

Terraformation’s Tree Subscription support builds on that foundation by providing planting expertise, operational capacity, and long-term funding that complements ʻIole’s leadership from within the North Kohala community.

‍

“ʻIole represents exactly the kind of leadership and care that successful forest restoration depends on,” said Johannes Siedel, Director of Hawaiʻi Forestry Operations at Terraformation. “Our role is to support that work through the planting of native trees, thoughtfully and transparently, for the long haul.”

‍

This initial 2.8-acre project marks the beginning of a long-term partnership between ʻIole and Terraformation to restore 200 acres of native forest and develop a data-informed model for understanding how land restoration shapes our relationship with nature.  

‍

The initial restoration area is currently dominated by invasive grasses and is void of any native plant species, a legacy of the historic sugar cane plantations that closed nearly 50 years ago. The first phase of work involves removing and mulching invasive vegetation to rebuild soil health and ecological function. The project will feature 10+ indigenous and native tree species, including milo (Thespesia populnea), kō (Cordia subcordata), and koa (Acacia koa). Seedlings are currently growing in a nearby nursery and are nearing readiness for planting.

‍

Terraformation’s work and partnerships in Hawaiʻi - though unique to the people and communities there - reflect ongoing commitment to local leadership and stewardship in its projects throughout the world.

‍

Act Now to Support Lasting Forests

‍

Building on strong early momentum, Terraformation invites supporters to join a growing global community helping to restore native forests on the Big Island. Restoring native forests in Hawaiʻi is critical to global climate action—helping remove carbon from the atmosphere while preserving biodiversity, protecting freshwater systems, and strengthening ecosystem resilience in vulnerable regions.

‍

In recognition of Earth Month, Terraformation is launching a global call to action, challenging its community to help fund the planting of an additional 5,000 native trees throughout April. This collective goal builds on the momentum of the first 5,700 trees already committed and represents a meaningful step toward restoring Hawaiʻi’s native ecosystems for generations to come.

‍

Planting at ʻIole will begin in the fall, marking the first step in what both organizations see as a multi-generational restoration effort. Together, they aim to pair long-term local stewardship with transparent, community-supported funding to grow forests that last for centuries.

‍

To learn more or contribute to the Earth Month community challenge, visit https://www.terraformation.com/earth.

‍

—

‍

About Terraformation‍

Terraformation supports large-scale native forest restoration to stabilize the climate, boost biodiversity, and create long-term economic opportunity for local communities. Through training, technology, and access to capital, Terraformation equips forestry teams to deliver high-integrity reforestation outcomes worldwide.

‍

About ʻIole

ʻIole is a 2,400-acre non-profit living laboratory and Global Resilience Hub in North Kohala, Hawaiʻi Island, focused on regenerative land stewardship and sustainability. Founded in 2022, it integrates indigenous knowledge with modern science to address food, energy, and environmental challenges.