Posted on: Monday, October 11, 2004

For the Environment

Advertiser Staff

POUHALA MARSH RESTORATION 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. Saturday. 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.

SAVE THE WHALES A storm drain stenciling project will take place from 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday in Lahaina; meet at the Lahaina Civic Center. For more information, call the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary at (808) 879-2818.

RESTORING MAKIKI AHUPUA'A The O'ahu Na Ala Hele Trails and Access program, Hawai'i Nature Center and the Ko'olau Mountain Watershed Partnership need volunteers to help with the Makiki Watershed Awareness Initiative (Makiki WAI) by weeding and clearing, painting bridges, laying gravel, watering and planting native plants. The next workday is 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 23. Bring long-sleeved shirt, pants, bug repellent, water and good shoes. Meet at 9 a.m. at the Makiki Forestry Baseyard above the Hawai'i Nature Center. Call 973-9782 or check the Web site www.hawaiitrails.org.

ATTACK ALIEN ALGAE Join Iolani and Punahou students in their efforts to clean alien algae from reefs from 7 a.m. to noon Oct. 23 at the Waikiki Natatorium. Bring snorkeling gear, reef shoes or old sneakers, hat and sunscreen. To help, contact Signe Opheim at 779-2616 or opheim@hawaii.edu by Oct. 20.

KA IWI COAST CLEANUP The Sierra Club will celebrate Make a Difference Day on Oct. 23 with a cleanup of Kalaniana'ole Highway and the Ka Iwi coastline. Meet at 8 a.m. in the Sandy Beach parking lot; pau at noon. Reservations are required; volunteers will receive a free T-shirt and refreshments. Call Lisa Keala Carter at 722-8727 or Lin Black at 247-8845.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE AT GARDEN Celebrate Make a Difference Day by cleaning up Lili'uokalani Botanical Garden and Nu'uanu Stream from 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 23. Boots, garbage bags and gloves provided; bring insect repellent, long-sleeved shirt and pants. Reservations are required; call 522-7064.

NENE NEED YOUR HELP Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park is seeking volunteers to protect and manage Hawaiian geese during the October-to-March breeding season. A three-month minimum commitment is desired. Duties include monitoring of nene flocks, predator trapping and assisting with banding of adult birds and goslings. Requirements include familiarity with using computers, maps and compasses, ability to take detailed field notes and to hike up to five miles per day over rugged terrain, and a driver's license. Dorm-style housing and meal reimbursement provided. Send resum?, references and cover letter to: Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, Attn: Kathleen Sherry, Division of Resources Management, P.O. Box 52, Hawai'i National Park, HI 96718, or e-mail kathleen_sherry@nps.gov.

GREEN NOTES

REFUGE OPEN HOUSE Wednesday is the deadline for reservations to visit Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge during its annual open house on Saturday. Guided hikes will be offered between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. A four-wheel-drive vehicle is required to reach the refuge. Come prepared for wet, chilly weather and bring lunch, water and binoculars. For reservations, call the refuge office in Hilo at (808) 933-6915.

TOUR DE TRASH Sign up for a "Tour de Trash" bus tour of O'ahu's trashier side, provided by the City and County of Honolulu's Refuse Division. The "Workplace Recycling II" tour, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 21, starts and finishes at the Sheraton Waikiki, and whose owner saves $100,000 per year in disposal costs by recycling at its O'ahu properties. Other stops include Young Laundry & Dry Cleaning, which became the first O'ahu company to use an alternative fuel made from recycled cooking oil, saving about $1,000 per week in fuel costs; the Honolulu Municipal Building's paper recycling system; the Hard Rock Cafe, which established a comprehensive recycling center for food waste, glass and cardboard; Island Recycling, with its multimaterial processing facility on Sand Island; and Pacific Biodiesel, which converts cooking oil and grease from restaurants into biodiesel fuel. Participants must show up 15 minutes before departure time. Call 692-5410 to register; for tour schedules and details, check the Web at www.opala.org/recycling_businesses/Tour_de_trash_2004.html.

LIVE ENERGY LITE Energy conservation is the message behind the first "Live Energy Lite" celebration from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Ala Moana Center. The event will feature entertainment, exhibits and interactive displays. The event marking National Energy Awareness Month is sponsored by Hawaiian Electric Co., Ala Moana Center, Malama Hawai'i, the state Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism, and the U.S. Department of Energy.

For a free listing of your environmental event, send details to "For the Environment," P.O. Box 156, Wailuku, HI 96793; fax (808) 242-1520; or e-mail cwilson@honoluluadvertiser.com.