Posted on: Monday, May 2, 2005

For the Environment

Advertiser Staff

KA'ALA SERVICE TRIP — Reservations are required for Saturday's Sierra Club service trip to Ka'ala in the Wai'anae Mountains. Volunteers will remove non-native species and plant native plants in an area damaged by feral pigs. Be prepared for a moderate-to-strenuous two-mile hike and rainy, cold weather. Call Reese Liggett at 732-4489.

POUHALA MARSH RESTORATION — The Hawai'i Nature Center is cleaning and restoring the marsh, the largest remaining wetland habitat in Pearl Harbor. Volunteers are needed to pull pickleweed 8:30-11:30 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.

REEF CHECK TRAINING AND SURVEY — Volunteers will learn about coral reef ecology, fish identification and Reef Check survey methods during training 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pacific Regional Visitor Center, Fort DeRussy, Waikiki, with Reef Check survey to take place at 8:30 a.m. Sunday behind Fort DeRussy Park.

WAIKAMOI TRAIL WORK — A service trip will be held June 18-25 at Waikamoi, Maui, to maintain a hiking trail. Sponsored by Sierra Club's Hawai'i Service Trip Program and the state's Na Ala Hele Program. Limited to eight volunteers; barracks-style accommodations at Kaulanapueo Church in Huelo, with cots provided. Cost, which includes airfare, is $150 for students, $200 for others. Sign-up deadline is May 21. E-mail Jamie Tanino at monkey_gurl1008@yahoo.com.

DROP-IN VOLUNTEERS — The next Laulima O Haleakala work day is 9 a.m.-noon May 21. Projects include non-native species removal, weeding of planters and trash pick-up. No experience is required; the work is appropriate for people age 6 and older. Meet 9 a.m. at the summit maintenance yard; wear long pants and closed-toe shoes, and bring rain gear, sunscreen, hat, layered clothing, water and lunch. No reservations are required unless it's for a group of six or more people. The Laulima O Haleakala volunteer drop-in program takes place the third Saturday of every month. For more information, contact the Haleakala Volunteer Program office at (808) 572-4487 or HALE_VIP_Coordinator@nps.gov.

WAI'ANAE WEED FIGHT — Volunteers are needed May 21 to remove buddleia, blackberry and phytolacca (pokeberry) from the Wai'anae Kai burn site. Meet at 8 a.m. at the Wai'anae Kai gate at the end of Wai'anae Valley Road. Bring water, lunch, rain jacket, hiking shoes, sunscreen, hat, gloves and, if possible, hand saws, hand clippers and machetes. For information, e-mail hoala@hawaii.edu.

GREEN NOTES

COMPUTER DROP-OFF — CompUSA, in partnership with the City & County of Honolulu and Hawai'i Computers for Kids, will hold a computer drop-off event 9 a.m.-noon May 21 at CompUSA on Ala Moana. Computer equipment collected will be evaluated for reuse or recycling.

COMPOSTING WORKSHOPS — Piper Selden of Hawai'i Rainbow Worms will present three composting workshops this month. Intermediate/advance composting workshops will be held 1-3 p.m. Saturday at the University of Hawai'i Komohana Extension in Hilo, and 4-6 p.m. May 18 at the Volcano School of Art and Science in Volcano; the $10 fee includes composter. A worm composting workshop will be held 1-3 p.m. May 21 at the UH Komohana Extension; the fee is $35, which includes "worm condo" and compost worms. To register: (808) 969-2012 or www.hawaiirainbowworms.com/workshops.html.

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