Volunteers are needed on Sept. 26 to help the Department of Land and Natural Resources' Na Ala Hele Trails and Access O‘ahu program to maintain a two-acre forest area in Makiki Valley that has been replanted with native Hawaiian plants.

"We're looking for volunteers who enjoy being outdoors and making a difference to enhance our native forest project, ‘Makiki WAI’ in Makiki," said Aaron Lowe, trails and access specialist for DLNR-Forestry.
"We can use the public’s help, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., with watering and planting native Hawaiian plants, weeding or clearing, painting bridges, and laying gravel.”

The next work date this year is on Oct. 24. There will be no work dates in November and December because of the holidays.

Na Ala Hele will provide water, gloves and tools. Volunteers are told to come with long pants and long-sleeve shirt, good traction shoes or boots, insect repellent and motivation. They will also need to bring their own bag lunch.

To get to the forest work site, go up Makiki Street and take a left at the fork on to Makiki Heights Drive. Before the first hairpin turn, go straight into the Makiki Forest Recreation area. Volunteers should meet at 9 a.m. at the Makiki Forestry Baseyard just above the Hawai‘i Nature Center building.

For baseyard directions or more information, call 973-9782.