O‘ahu Forest Users

Oʻahu is the third largest island in the Hawaiian Archipelago and is composed of two parallel mountain ranges, the Waiʻanae on the west and Koʻolau to the east, both separated by the Wahiawā plains in between. Mt. Kaʻala (4,040 ft/1,231 m) is the island’s highest peak and Oʻahu’s only high-elevation bog. It is surrounded by miles of coastline and several off-shore islets found mostly on its windward side.

 

Nicknamed “the Gathering Place”, Oʻahu holds the majority of Hawaiʻi’s population and Honolulu, the state capital and economic center on it’s highly urbanized southern coast. The health and growth of it’s population is linked to the availability of fresh water pulled from groundwater resources stored in its mountains. Rain clouds are gathered by forests on the top of these mountains where water is collected, then absorbed into its large aquifers. All the excess makes its way through the watershed down waterfalls, streams and out to the ocean.

 

 

Our education pages have a number of ways for you to explore Oʻahu from home, as well as ideas and information to help you get outside and experience it in person. You can also learn about Oʻahu by visiting our pages for DOFAW-managed lands on Oʻahu, and you can find more educational resources by visiting our Education Homepage.