Pelekane Bay Restoration Project
Photo: Planners Carolyn Stewart and Jon Pipan of the Mauna Kea Soil and Water Conservation District walk the Waiakamali Stream corridor that is slated for invasive plant control and native species outplanting. Carolyn and Jon are responsible for the planning and monitoring that made this restoration project possible. Photo by Melora Purell.
This project has been in the planning stages for more than a decade, envisioned by folks at the Mauna Kea Soil and Water Conservation District. This stimulus grant makes it possible to actually implement these plans and make a difference by reducing the amount of soil that is being dumped into the bay every time there is a storm. The elders of Kawaihae tell stories of the bay when it was traditionally a sheltered place for young fish to grow and mature. By rehabilitating the mauka (upland) watershed through erosion control and planting native vegetation, the amount of soil being carried into the bay will be reduced. We expect that natural recovery can then occur, and coral recruitment will be possible. This project will also provide economic assistance to our local community through the creation of jobs. It includes the employment and training of 14 new field personnel, who will gain skills in conservation work that can be applied to future restoration projects. The communities surrounding the watershed will also benefit from improved coastal habitats, fisheries, cultural sites, and tourism. —Melora Purell, Coordinator of the Kohala Watershed Partnership
Photo: Barren areas like these in the lower Pelekane Bay watershed are the major source of sediments that are deposited in the bay. Photo by Carolyn Stewart.
Federal funding will be used to help restore 400 acres of native vegetation along six miles of stream corridors, to protect 100 critically-eroding sites by installing at least 50 sediment check dams, to plant 100,000 native plants, and to construct 20 miles of goat-proof fencing around 11,750 acres of land.
Work on the restoration project will begin on August 1, 2009, and will be completed by December 2010. Project personnel to be hired include field crew, field technicians, and an outreach coordinator. Detailed job information will be available shortly at http://hawp.org/kohala.asp or by contacting Purell at 808-333-0976, by e-mail at coordinator@kohalawatershed.org, or in person at The Kohala Center, 65-1291A Kawaihae Road, Kamuela.
Photo: Some native trees, like this sandalwood, have survived the ravages of feral goats and competition with fountain grass. Photo by Melora Purell.
The project area includes pastures, stream corridors, and remnant native dry forest owned by Queen Emma Land Company (6,600 acres) and by the State of Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources (390 acres), all of which is currently leased to Parker Ranch. These landowners and the lessee have been working together on watershed management projects for many years, and they are founding partners in the Kohala Watershed Partnership. The Kohala Watershed Partnership (KWP) is a voluntary coalition of private landowners and State land managers who joined together in 2003 to work across property boundaries to manage the forested watershed of Kohala Mountain and protect it from threats. Invasive alien plants, feral animals, and fire are the greatest threats to the watershed.
Photo: Fires in the watershed not only destroy native vegetation, but also change the character of the soil to make it hydrophobic, so that water cannot soak in. Photo by Carolyn Stewart.
KWP landowners include Parker Ranch, Ponoholo Ranch, Queen Emma Land Co., Kohala Preserve Conservation Trust, Hawai‘i State Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawai‘i State Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Laupahoehoe Nui LLC, Kahua Ranch, and Kamehameha Schools. Associate partners include The Nature Conservancy and the Hawai‘i County Department of Water Supply. The KWP works in partnership with The Kohala Center.
Creating a Framework for Sustainability
Photo: Sarah Brooks (left), Senior Advisor with the Natural Step Canada and workshop facilitator, having lunch with Roz Cohen (right) at Pahala Plantation Cottages.
Participants at The Natural Step (TNS) workshop identified key areas on the Island of Hawai‘i to analyze using the TNS framework. These areas were: community/social/cultural/native knowledge, economy/jobs, food/agriculture, energy, education, and transportation. For each key area, participants conducted a sustainability impact analysis, identified challenges to and opportunities for sustainability, and outlined their visions for the future. From these visions, participants practiced ‘backcasting.’ Backcasting is a methodology for planning that involves starting from a description of a successful outcome, then linking today with that successful outcome in a strategic way, i.e., asking what shall we do today to get to our identified goals?
Image: TNS participants practiced ‘backcasting’ to pinpoint strategic goals to support their visions of sustainability. See Image below, courtesy of TNS.
During the TNS workshop, many specific goals were identified. One goal for the island’s food/agriculture sector is to develop a well coordinated local food distribution network/infrastructure to serve residential, organizational (schools, food bank, hospitals, senior centers, etc.), and commercial consumers. An energy goal is to create a clean, reliable, efficient, renewable, and locally sourced electrical energy system on the island that can serve as a model for the world and maximize efficient use of electrical energy. A key education goal is to ensure that our high school graduates have a diverse knowledge base and are critical systems thinkers, innovative entrepreneurs, and change makers. From these and other goals, a number of action steps were identified.
The TNS workshop provided me with the insight necessary to align my own lifestyle with principles of sustainable behaviors and to meet an incredible array of people who are doing the same in their own lives and workplaces. —Guy Kaulukukui, The Kohala Center Food Systems Project Director
The workshop helped to foster common language and understanding of what sustainability means for the Island of Hawai‘i, and it provided excellent networking and sharing opportunities for participants. The information presented was supported by case studies from around the world—including examples of multimillion dollar businesses which have successfully integrated the TNS framework into their business plans.
Photo: Olani Lilly from Kanu o ka ‘Āina Learning Ohana talks to the group in a circle sharing session about how she will be using the framework within her school.
This was a great learning experience. Our Sustainability Project for students in grades 6–12 will use TNS to develop our Sustainable Vision and Action Plan…then they will facilitate the same process with other organizations, including the other Hawaiian culture focused charter schools on this and the other Hawaiian islands. Of course, our students will be integrating the ancient practices as the foundation for solutions…TODAY. —Olani Lilly, Kanu O ka ‘Aina Learning Ohana
The Kohala Center extends a warm mahalo to Mike Purcell and Sarah Brooks, senior advisors from The Natural Step Canada. During their visit, these individuals spoke about the TNS framework with the Hilo Business community, with members of the Kona community in attendance at the Kuleana Green Business Conference, and with 75 high school students at the HPA Student Congress on Sustainability.
The County of Hawai‘i and TKC will partner with TNS over the next several months to produce a Sustainability Primer for Hawai‘i, which will be adapted from the Canadian version of this book.
If you would like more information or access to workshop materials, please contact Samantha Birch via e-mail at sbirch@kohalacenter.org. For more information on The Natural Step Canada, visit http://www.thenaturalstep.org/en/canada/.
Building Skills, Extending Knowledge, Sharing Successes
Hawai‘i Island School Garden Network (HISGN) Summer Teacher’s Conference
By Nancy Redfeather, HISGN Program Director
Photo: Kawanui Farm is home to diverse varieties of food crops.
Our keynote speaker Dr. Norman Q. Arancon, professor at the University of Hawai‘i (UH) Hilo, assisted by his two graduate students Joe Santiago and Paul Flessner, presented the “Vermiculture 101” course on Saturday morning. Dr. Arancon patiently and with good humor took us step-by-step along the soil fertility road leading up to the vermiculture systems of building soil microorganisms (MO). The talk included all the basics plus “Principles of Vermiculture Composting,” “Vermicomposting Technologies” including tea-making for building soil MO, and “Results of Research” by Dr. Arancon. We looked at practical tea-making systems and worm boxes of all sizes and shapes, from industrial models to the simplest home/school garden boxes. Did you know that worms have 10 hearts and can live 50 years or more? We were riveted for the duration of this three-hour presentation, learning facts like this and more about the fascinating aspects of vermiculture. Mahalo to Dr. Arancon and his students for traveling to Kona to extend their knowledge of these incredible systems of building soil fertility. We are indeed fortunate to have Dr. Arancon at UH Hilo!
Our guest speaker, Dr. Norman Arancon, vermicomposting specialist, gave me renewed hope for our UH resources. He was a wealth of information on vermicomposting on both small and commercial scales. It was an excellent weekend! —Donna Mitts, Pa‘auilo School Parent Community Networking Center (PCNC) Facilitator/Garden Teacher
Saturday afternoon was dedicated to garden and agriculture curriculum models. Six teachers from elementary through high school levels presented highlights of their curricula. Each presentation touched on valuable knowledge that all garden teachers would like to incorporate into their school programs. Many thanks to Dash Kuhr of the Hawai‘i Youth Agriculture Project in Kohala; Amanda Rieux of the Mala‘ai Culinary Garden at Waimea Middle School; Koh Ming Wei of the Hawai‘i Sustainable Education Initiative in Honoka‘a; Janice Crowl, author and master gardener from Volcano; Donna Mitts, Pa‘auilo Elementary School Garden Teacher; and Pua Mendonca of the Ka ‘Umeke Ka‘eo School Garden in Keaukaha for their enlivening presentations.
Photo: One of the free food markets Mala‘ai Culinary Garden hosted this school year. Students harvested produce from the garden, made sample dishes out of the produce, and gave it away to the community - along with their recipes. Mala‘ai has given away over 1,500 pounds of produce this school year (mostly Kabocha pumpkin). (From left to right) Justin Sargeant, Amanda Rieux (Mala‘ai Garden Teacher), Matilda Tompson (Mala‘ai's Executive Director), James Hi‘ilei, Michael Rangasan, Isaiah Fernandez, Chastin Kekahuna, and Elijah Fernandez.
In the evenings we enjoyed each other’s company over long dinners on the candle-lit porch, followed by far-ranging discussions about the connections between youth and nature today and relevant movies.
The gathering reaffirmed the need for human beings to gather in community for spiritual, physical, emotional, and intellectual nourishment. Just as we know children need positive socialization, rhythm, and excellent role models, we too as adults continue to need all that mentioned for our inner sustainability. I was most touched and inspired by the number of teachers excited and eager to grow food and to teach others to grow food. These wonderful people realize that food is not only a physical necessity; it is also a cultural resource for our community - agriculture. I was also very honored and humbled to be able to share what I have learned and done. In return, I learned more about the other programs and have more successful models to emulate. —Koh Ming Wei, Director/Educator, Hawai‘i Sustainable Education Initiative, Kula o Mala Community School Garden
Sunday morning classes featured Nancy Redfeather’s hands-on class entitled, “Weeds, Guardians of the Soil” and Gerry Herbert’s, “Grow Your Garden’s Fertility” talk which featured the many locally available/sustainable soil building amendments available on Hawai‘i Island. The classes were followed by a discussion with all conference participants on challenges and opportunities for building their school garden programs in the coming year. This discussion was followed by an afternoon meeting with the Hawai‘i Community Foundation’s Josh Stanbro, Diane Chadwick, and Lydia Clements, who have graciously volunteered to help us expand our garden communication network statewide.
Photo: Nancy Redfeather’s weed class. Participants join in the “Guardians of the Soil Weed ID” activity. Photo by Erin Baldwin Brown.
I extend my deep appreciation to my apprentice Chelsea Haworth and her soon to be husband John Rosario for their tireless dedication to the production of high quality nutritious meals for us all. They incorporated as much of our farm food stores as possible, combining them with locally produced foods to create memorable menus for the three days.
It’s difficult to articulate the magic that happens when members of HISGN gather to learn and share. The weekend at Nancy’s farm was phenomenal! Everyone left enriched, with practical knowledge about worms, weeds, soil fertility, and the fabulous things happening at Hawai‘i Island school gardens. Being able to meet with garden teachers from all over Hawai‘i was an added bonus of this amazing workshop. O‘ahu, Maui, and Kaua‘i were all represented at Kawanui. For me, talking story with a host of new friends at every meal, while eating beautiful locally produced fresh food, modeled the necessity of creating a healthy food culture that extends from the garden to the table. Sharing similar concerns, exchanging ideas, problem solving together, making new connections, revitalizing one anotherʻs passion, and knowing that we are not alone are just a few of the things I will take back to my little patch of land in Keaukaha and continue to cultivate. Mahalo, mahalo, mahalo! —Pua Mendonca, Kahu Mala (Garden Teacher), Ka Umeke Kaeo Public Charter School, Keaukaha
I would like to thank Jeff Alvord and the Omidyar Family for their vision and belief that we can build a movement of school garden programs that will change the face of local agriculture and community food self-reliance. Mahalo, also, to the conference participants for each of your unique inspirations, without which we would not feel waiwai (wealthy) now.
Photo: Instructor Guy Toyama (left) and assistant Chester Lowry (right) set off a hydrogen powered pipette rocket that students made during the hydrogen power workshop.
Students departed HPA's second annual Student Congress on Sustainability with renewed energy and ideas for how to implement change back at their home schools and in their own lives. At least two students who attended The Kohala Center’s What is your Ecological Finprint and Coral Reef Management workshop and the excursion to Kahalu‘u Bay have now volunteered as ReefTeachers. Here’s what three student attendees told us about the Student Congress and how this event impacted them:
The things I want to take back to my home and school are biodegradable utensils, growing your own garden, and make things run on hydrogen. Bringing biodegradable utensils to my school will help us be more sustainable. I learned how to cut and plant sweet potato, and I have already planted them at home! I will encourage my school to grow our garden. I also want to try make a hydrogen fueled car.
—Micah Ramos, rising junior at Kea‘au High School
Photo: Students at the SEED exchange in Captain Cook where they collected seeds and participated in a sweet potato workshop. (From right to left) Micah Ramos, Megan Fujitake, Corrine Quinajon and Quitney Price.
After calculating my ecological finprint and having the opportunity to visit Kahalu‘u Bay, I was very interested in taking part in making a difference. I learned a lot of things I never knew before and because Kahalu‘u Bay is right down the street from where I live, I was anxious to start volunteering. Other ideas I’d like to take back to my school include: green tips in our morning broadcast, start a school garden, start a green team, and hopefully other ideas will come. —Quitney Price, rising junior at Kealakehe High School
Quitney and I are planning on starting a Green Team at our school. Since our school is so big (about 1,200 students), we think it will make a great difference. We're planning on not only educating the students on how to be more sustainable, but also on putting out more recycle bins for paper, cans, plastics, cardboard, etc. We have many other plans, including making a larger school garden and having school beach cleanups. The Sustainability Conference really affected my lifestyle so much. I now have a step-by-step plan on how to become more sustainable and how to affect the perspectives of others on this issue. —Roya Sabri, rising junior at Kealakehe High School
Student ReefTeachers
By Caroline Neary, The Kohala Center’s Assistant Outreach & Volunteer Coordinator
Thayer Academy, Massachusetts
Photo: Thayer Academy students wait at the water’s edge to educate snorkelers as they enter Kahalu‘u Bay.
Thanks for teaching my students about the reef and encouraging them to be more interested and aware of the amazing marine environment. They had a blast. It was a great hands-on experience for all involved. —Kendra King, Environmental Studies Teacher, Thayer Academy
As part of their senior research project, ten environmental studies students from Thayer Academy in Massachusetts joined their teacher, Kendra King, for a twelve-day adventure studying geology, ecology and marine biology on Hawai‘i Island. In addition to hiking in Volcano to study native vegetation and scuba diving with manta rays, these students dedicated one of their final days in Hawai‘i to volunteering as ReefTeachers at Kahalu‘u Bay.
Their ReefTeach adventure began bright and early with a training session. Having done quite a bit of scuba diving during their trip, the group was eager to learn more about current threats to coral reef ecosystems and to get involved in protecting coral reefs locally. At Kahalu‘u Bay the students split into groups to man the ReefTeach tent, to talk to visitors as they entered the water about the turtles at the bay, and to snorkel among the visitors and remind them to be careful of the coral. Each student had a chance to try all of these ReefTeach responsibilities.
ReefTeaching provided the students with the opportunity to share all they had learned about coral reefs and to experience firsthand the urgency of protecting this precious resource. It was clear how much the students enjoyed giving back to the island that had taught them so much over the few weeks they spent here.
New Turtle Display Boards from Cornell University Students
Photo: The new ReefTeach turtle display board designed and made by Salley Gould and Tiffany Walker.
ReefTeach gave me the opportunity to give back to the wonderful place that I called home for four months and to learn more about the corals and marine life that I love. I will always be grateful for the people I met while volunteering and for having the chance to help protect Kahalu‘u Bay. —Salley Gould, student in the 2009 Cornell Earth and Environmental Systems Field Program
At the conclusion of the semester-long Earth and Environmental Systems Field Program, Cornell students Salley Gould and Tiffany Walker had the opportunity to participate in a three-week internship with the ReefTeach program at Kahalu‘u Bay.
These two remarkable young women invested their hearts in their work. Each day they engaged with visitors, educating them about proper reef etiquette, the damaging effects of sunscreen on coral reefs, and why it is important to refrain from feeding fish. Visitors were particularly interested in the green sea turtles’ presence in the bay. Answering question after question about turtle basking behavior, eating habits, and life cycles, Tiffany and Salley became an important source of information for beachgoers during their three-week ReefTeach internship.
In their final days, the two Cornell students presented the ReefTeach Program with a new turtle display board. The idea of updating the turtle display board had been circulating amongst ReefTeachers for some time, but Tiffany and Salley brought this project to fruition. They transformed the ReefTeach display into an up-to-date turtle information center, including information about turtle behavior, threats, lifecycles, and safety information. The new turtle display board was unveiled in early June, just in time for the summer rush. Tiffany and Salley’s new sign is now on display every day at Kahalu‘u, and the response to the display by visitors has been tremendous.
Wilderness Ventures“Do what the turtles do - protect the reef! Thanks for everything! I learned a lot and had a blast!” —Ian, Wilderness Ventures
This summer, the ranks of ReefTeach volunteers have been bolstered by groups of young adults from Wilderness Ventures, an adventure travel program specializing in outdoor adventures and personal growth. As part of their twenty-one day trip filled with sea kayaking, hiking, sailing, snorkeling, and surfing, these eager young adults spent three days experiencing Hawaiian culture and giving back to the community at Kahalu‘u Beach Park.
Photo: Wilderness Ventures students on cultural tour with Cindi Punihaole (wearing sunglasses and black shorts).
For these three days, the Wilderness Ventures participants immersed themselves in life at Kahalu‘u. They toured the heiau (Hawaiian temple) restoration site at Kahalu‘u. They distributed ReefTeach outreach materials to visitors and stood watch over basking turtles, answering many questions from curious observers. These volunteers particularly enjoyed observing the behavior of snorkelers who had been ‘taught’ as compared to those who had not participated in the ReefTeach program. They recorded this information while snorkeling in the bay. The data recorded by the Wilderness Ventures volunteers is invaluable because it demonstrates how effective ReefTeaching is in changing the behavior of snorkelers. The Kohala Center is very grateful for their contribution to the health of the bay.
Two more Wilderness Ventures groups will participate as ReefTeach volunteers this summer. These youth will also serve the island community by helping to build a home in Hilo.
