Posted on: Friday, April 22, 2005
Earth Day activities
Advertiser Staff
Here are some Earth Day activities taking place today through Sunday:
O'AHU
• "Malama 'Aina" University of Hawai'i at Manoa — 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. today. Commemorates the 35th anniversary of Earth Day and honors the traditional Hawaiian practice of caring for and sustaining the physical and cultural environment. Featuring Earth-friendly food and products, local entertainment, numerous participating organizations and a multitude of hands-on activities, highlighted by a series of action-oriented "teach-in" sessions in a 44-foot Earth Dome. Also, the state trails program will have a booth on O'ahu hiking, with maps and safety information, and the O'ahu Invasive Species Committee will have sample native and invasive plants. Events will take place in the courtyard of the Office of Sustainability, Hawai'i Energy House, at 2020 East-West Road.
• Earth Day Celebration — 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. today. Friends of He'eia State Park invite families to join them for a celebration of Earth Day by sharing food and fun, hands-on activities in the park overlooking Kane'ohe Bay. Take part in planting native Hawaiian plants and trees. For more information, call 247-3156. • Ala Wai Watershed Association's "Mother Earth, for You a Lei" — 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. tomorrow. Earth Day activities will be held in the greater Ala Wai watershed area sponsored by federal, state and city agencies, with help from other environmental groups and businesses. Featuring trolley rides around the watershed showing what the community is doing to improve the environment from various sites from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Two exhibit/ informational sites at the Hilton Hawaiian Village and the Army Corps of Engineers Pacific Regional Visitor Center at Fort DeRussy.
Volunteers are needed to help with cleanups at several locations:
Volunteers should wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt and closed-toed shoes and bring bug spray and bottled water.
For information, call Karen Ah Mai, Ala Wai Watershed Association, 955-7882, or the Army Corps of Engineers Pacific Regional Visitor Center, 429-4112.
• Navy Earth Day Fair — 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. tomorrow at the main rotunda of the Navy Exchange Mall at Pearl Harbor. Second year for the family fair educating children on Hawai'i's environment and ways to protect it. The state's boating program will have toss games for children, small prizes and coloring books.
• A children's fish restocking. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources will hold the event to release moi back into the ocean. The restocking will take place at 11 a.m. tomorrow between the natatorium and the Waikiki Aquarium.
• Millennium Peace Garden — 3 to 6 p.m. tomorrow. Community members will meet at the garden, corner of 18th Avenue and Diamond Head Road, to plant native Hawaiian plants and maintain the garden grounds. Volunteers of all ages are encouraged. All material will be provided, but volunteers should wear closed-toe shoes and clothes suitable for labor. For more information, call Sean Casey at 780-7326.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
• Kaua'i: Volunteer trail work at Koke'e Canyon State Park — tomorrow. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources and Hui O Laka-Koke'e Natural History Museum seek volunteers for trail work at Koke'e Canyon State Park. Trail improvements include installing log steps, and installation of "water bars," which redirect water off the trail to drain away downslope. For information, call the Koke'e Natural History Museum at 335-9975. • Maui: Earth Day Celebration — tomorrow. The state aquatics division will have an information and display table at Maui Nui Botanical Gardens. For more information, call DLNR-Aquatics Maui office at 243-5249. The Maui Wildlife section and Natural Area Reserve System staff will share an information table with a display of mounted sea birds, photographs and literature on impacts of feral cats on native sea birds. The Maui protection forester will join the Firewise Program representative to provide fire prevention and fire safety information to the public. For more information, call the state Forestry and Wildlife Maui office at 984-8100. Earth Day and the ocean. A celebration of Earth Day will be held Sunday, sponsored by the Pacific Whale Foundation, Maui Ocean Center, Ocean Science Discovery Center and The Harbor Shops at Ma'alaea. This popular annual event features free one-hour Ocean Discovery Cruises, live entertainment and hula, displays by island environmental groups, activities for kids and families, plus giveaways, discounts and promotions. The festivities begin at 9 a.m. and continue throughout the day at Maui Ocean Center, where you can get a $2 discount on admission by bringing a clean plastic milk jug for recycling. Entertainment from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Throughout the afternoon, Pacific Whale Foundation will offer free one-hour Ocean Discovery Cruises aboard their two eco-friendly catamarans, Ocean Spirit and Ocean Odyssey from Ma'alaea Harbor. Each party will receive a free color whale poster and a free guide to Maui's ocean environment. (Advance reservations are strongly recommended for these free cruises; call Pacific Whale Foundation at 249-8811.) Noon through 4:30 p.m., free live entertainment and hula, along with environmental displays at The Harbor Shops at Ma'alaea courtyard. Ocean Science Discovery Center open house will feature hands-on marine-themed activities for kids and families, plus free showings of movies about whales and the environment.
