Posted on: Thursday, October 7, 2004
Partial opening of Lyon planned
By Beverly Creamer
Advertiser Education Writer
Lyon Arboretum could reopen in 10 days to hundreds of volunteers, to allow critical research to continue on endangered Hawai'i plants, some of which are already jeopardized.
"It's getting to a point where I can't keep up with my work," said Nellie Sugii, manager of the state's only micropropagation laboratory that reproduces and nurtures rare and endangered Native Hawaiian plants for return to the wild.
"They're starting to deteriorate," she said of about 2,000 tiny plants that need to be moved to new sterile test tubes.
Six weeks ago, the University of Hawai'i closed the 194-acre arboretum in Manoa Valley, citing safety and health concerns. Administrators have tried to solve immediate safety concerns and reopen the facility for critical research work, including Sugii's lab.
But there still is no timetable to reopen the forested acreage to school groups and the public. Jill Laughlin, coordinator for adult and children's education, is tentatively scheduling school field trips in the new year — not before — although a few education programs continue at other sites.
"There are specified areas that definitely need work," said Chuck Hayes, dean of the College of Natural Sciences, under which the arboretum falls. Hayes pointed to indigenous and endangered species throughout the acreage, ethnobotanical areas and research labs that all need help.
"It will be open to people that keep the Lyon Arboretum functioning," Hayes said of the new timetable that will allow entry to volunteers, along with students from the charter school Halau Ku Mana at nearby Paradise Park, who are working to restore a lo'i on the grounds.
"I imagine most of them will be able to come in, but in limited numbers at a time," Hayes said
of the volunteers. "It will be what the staff needs, so the staff will be choosing who will be coming."
Hayes said access would depend on how quickly two trees are removed that are about to topple. Some trees have been cut; the last two are scheduled to come down Oct. 12.
"We predict (reopening) around the 16th," Hayes said. "That assumes the weather is good (for removal). If the weather is not good, it will be the 23rd."
Three arboretum buildings have been closed because of safety concerns; five remain open, though they need repairs.
The university is asking the governor to include $3 million in the coming budget for repairs.
Sugii's micropropagation laboratory remains open. Her work has been a crucial link in propagating more than half of the 100 plants in the state's Genetic Safety Net program.
With the arboretum officially closed Aug. 27, Sugii has been able to transplant only about 70 plants a day, although a quarter of the 7,500 plants she's cultivating are ready to be moved.
"The research is still continuing, but it's going to get bad," said Sugii, who depends on help from several volunteers each week. The plants must go into sterile test tubes with nutrients within three to six months. "You have to constantly move them, some every week," she said.
Manoa chancellor Peter Englert has appointed a task group headed by Waikiki Aquarium director Andrew Rossiter to review the arboretum's mission. Membership is being solicited from community and conservation groups.
Reach Beverly Creamer at bcreamer@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8013.
