Posted on: Monday, August 16, 2004
For the Environment
Advertiser Staff
Readers consistently tell us that Hawai'i's environment is a topic of great interest. Beginning today, we will provide a weekly list of ways you can help preserve the environment.
HE'EIA STATE PARK NEEDS FRIENDS
Volunteers are needed from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday for painting and electrical and other repairs, and to create signs and display material at He'eia State Park in Kane'ohe. The work will help the Friends of He'eia State Park prepare park grounds for fall education programs. Lunch and drinks provided. The Friends of He'eia State Park also holds stream restoration days from 9 to 11:30 a.m. on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month. To register for either program, call 247-3156. KIPAHULU SERVICE WEEKEND
Enjoy a weekend of camping at the Kipahulu District of Haleakala National Park Aug. 28-29 while planting native species, working on trails or doing other volunteer work from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to noon Sunday. Stay one day or camp overnight in a volunteer cabin or bring a tent. The park will provide tools; bring gloves, long pants and long-sleeved work shirt, water bottle, sun/rain protection, swimwear, bug repellent, food, flashlight and sleeping bag. Park entrance fee waived for volunteers. Contact Farley Jacob at (808) 248-7660 or farley@shaka.com. HARDY HALEAKALA VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT
Remove blackberry and other invasive plant species and prepare cabin for painting during a four-day service trip to Haleakala Crater. Hike into Paliku Sept. 16, work Sept. 17-18, hike out Sept. 19. Volunteers will sleep in cabins equipped with bunks, firewood, dishes and cooking utensils. Bring first day's water, sun/rain protection, work gloves, comfortable boots or walking shoes, sleeping bag, extra socks, meal contributions coordinated by leader, personal first-aid supplies, a weeding tool (if possible), flashlight, candles and warm clothing. Park entrance fee waived for volunteers. Contact Farley Jacob at (808) 248-7660 or farley@shaka.com. ALA WAI BOAT HARBOR CLEANUP
Help the Sierra Club make the harbor a point of pride and foster the return of sea life by cleaning up flotsam and jetsam. Volunteers should meet at 8 a.m. Sept. 11 at the harbor master's office. Wear sturdy shoes with gripping soles and bring a hat, thick rubber gloves, sunscreen and water. Contact Deborah Blair at 737-0168. POUHALA MARSH CLEANUP
The Hawai'i Nature Center is cleaning up and restoring the marsh, the largest remaining wetland habitat in Pearl Harbor. Volunteers are needed to pull pickleweed from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. on the following Saturdays: Sept. 25, Oct. 16, Nov. 13 and Dec. 4. Bring work gloves, water, hat, sunscreen, towel and change of clothes; covered footwear and long pants required. To sign up, contact Pauline Kawamata at 955-0100, ext. 18. MORNING TRAIL SWEEPERS GROUP
Lyon Arboretum in Manoa seeks early morning walkers to hike the arboretum trails, clearing fallen palm fronds and other debris from paths. Call volunteer coordinator Donna Schult at 988-0464. The arboretum also has volunteer work party days on the first, third and fourth Saturdays of each month. TO LEARN MORE COMPOSTING WORKSHOPS
Learn how to compost green waste and kitchen scraps for a healthier environment, better soil and free fish bait, while reducing what goes into the Hilo landfill. A basic composting workshop will be held 4-6 p.m. Thursday at the University of Hawai'i-Hilo Komohana Extension; the cost is $10. A worm composting workshop will be held 1-3 p.m. Aug. 21 at Laulima Puna Gardens, Pahoa; the cost is $35, which includes a fully loaded worm bin with native compost worms and instructions. Workshop space is limited; call (808) 959-7257 to reserve a spot. TOUR DE TRASH
Sign up for a Tour de Trash bus tour of O'ahu's trashier side, provided by the city's Refuse Division. Get an up-close look at the recycling and waste processing technology in operation on O'ahu and peek behind "Employees Only" doors at island businesses that have successful recycling programs. The Workplace Recycling I half-day tour, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, starts and finishes at the Sheraton Waikiki and visits the Hilton Hawaiian Village's integrated recycling system; Island Recycling, a multi-material recycling facility; and Gyotaku Japanese Restaurant's recycling operations. The Recycling and Waste Processors tour, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 16, starts and finishes at Kapolei Hale and visits the Ke'ehi Transfer Station on Middle Street, the H-POWER waste-to-energy plant, the Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill, Hawaiian Earth Products, Hawai'i Medical Vitrification, Honolulu Recovery Systems, Hawai'i Metal Recycling, and Lenox Metals. Participants must show up 15 minutes before departure time. Call 692-5410 to register; for tour schedules and details, visit www.opala.org/recycling_businesses/Tour_de_trash_2004.html. • • • Green Notes NATIVE HAWAIIAN PLANT SALE
Turn your yard into an authentic Polynesian landscape with plants from the Maui Nui Botanical Garden on Kanaloa Avenue in Kahului, featuring six varieties of native hibiscus, 'ohi'a lehua, alahe'e, 'awapuhi , 'ulu, kulu'i and collections of Hawaiian sugar cane. Holiday cards and gift items also for sale; 9 a.m. to noon, Aug. 21. FREE MULCH ON BIG ISLAND
Help yourself to free mulch from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily at a new public pick-up area adjacent to the Kealakehe Transfer Station, or from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily at the Hilo Transfer Station. The county Department of Environmental Management sponsors the free mulch program. Loading assistance is available only at the Hilo location at a cost of $10 to $40 depending on vehicle size. Deliveries of large truckloads of mulch to homes, businesses or farms can be arranged by calling the Big Island Recycling representative at (808) 306-1876. For a free listing of your event, submit details and contact information to For the Environment, P.O. Box 156, Wailuku, HI 96793, fax (808) 242-1520, or e-mail cwilson@honoluluadvertiser.com.
