He‘eia National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR)

The goal of He‘eia NERR is to conduct and facilitate collaborative research to inform adaptive co-management with Indigenous non-profit organizations and agencies within the Reserve, which includes HIMB and the lands and waters surrounding it. We are guided by a fundamental question aimed at understanding the most effective ecosystem-based management strategies that contribute to the resilience and integrity of estuarine ecosystems. We answer this by assessing a holistic suite of ecosystem services that encompass the services that humans provide to ecosystems, as well as the existential benefits that humans receive from ecosystems.

In our research, we use a reciprocal collaboration model that has four components: (1) conducting culturally-appropriate research, (2) co-developing research with the Indigenous people and local community (IPLC) of the Kāne‘ohe Bay region, (3) co-producing new knowledge with the IPLC of place; and (4) informing policy through co-produced knowledge.

Programmatically, the NERR exists upon four pillars – stewardship, research, education, and community engagement – and was intentionally designed to serve Heʻeia and its people. Heʻeia NERR also engages in supporting teacher professional development, undergraduate and graduate education, and training and engagement with various partners.