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Aloha ,
An exciting service project to help protect and restore Native Hawaiian plants has been announced for Saturday, May 14th. The project is a collaboration between Envision Laie, land manager Hawaii Reserves Inc., the Ko'olau Mountain Watershed Partnership, Sustain BYU-Hawaii and others. Please take a look below to see how you can get involved in this project of environmental and cultural significance.
We recently posted a new video about the creation and dedication of the Malaekahana Bike & Pedestrian Path on our website. To view it, go to www.envisionlaie.com.
The bike path continues to be very popular and many have expressed thanks for the combined efforts of various community groups and individuals who contributed. We've reprinted below for your enjoyment a couple of letters of appreciation.
As always, we thank you for your continuing support and involvement as we move forward.
Mahalo,
The Envision Lā'ie Team
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Restoration Service Project
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May 14th set as day to help restore Hawaiian plants
Volunteers will spend Saturday, May 14, helping restore the
Ko'olau mountains to native forest. A forest restoration day is planned by Envision Laie and groups in the Ko'olauloa area.
Volunteers will meet at Laie Park at 8 a.m., hike up the Laie mountains and work until mid-afternoon. They will spend the day removing invasive species, helping restore endangered plants unique to Hawaii, and planting Hawaiian koa and sandalwood. The hike is challenging and volunteers will be asked to sign a release.
 | | Group hiking to native forest site |
Invasive plants are overpowering the native rainforest near the Ko'olau summit. A fire two years ago made the problem worse.
The day of service -- co-sponsored by Envision Laie, land
manager Hawaii Reserves, Inc. (HRI), the Ko'olau Mountain Watershed Partnership (KMWP), Sustain BYU-Hawaii, and others -- supports ongoing efforts by Brigham Young University-Hawaii biology students who trek to a spot known as "the battlefront" in the hills above the campus once a semester. Heading the effort is David Bybee, assistant professor of biology at BYU-Hawaii.
"A war is raging between the native Hawaiian rainforest and invasive plants that have gained a foothold," said Dr. Bybee. "Although we've made good progress, it's going to take many hands and lots of sweat to counter the damage to this area. This is an opportunity to do something substantial to continue Earth Day celebrations in April."
Bybee has been in contact with other scientists at The Nature Conservancy, which leads efforts to control invasive species and protect native forests in Hawaii, for advice on best methodology.
 | | Volunteers working to protect native plants |
Other experts have also been involved. "This is a fantastic opportunity to bring together people to heal a scar resulting from human contact with a native dominated Hawaiian forest," said Scott Lynch, Natural Resource Manager for KMWP. "We have to think of the 'āina from mauka to makai - mountain to sea," said Dr. Kali Fermantez, professor of Hawaiian Studies at BYU-Hawaii. "And so while the Iosepa, our voyaging canoe, is scheduled to sail this spring, we will also be involved in this project on land, helping to restore and protect our native forest up mauka."
 | | Native forest area in the mountains above Laie |
Community groups and individual residents are invited to join the project. Some of the supplies and logistical support will be provided and dropped off by helicopter the day before with help from project supporters KMWP and the U.S. Army. Interested parties should contact David Bybee at (808) 675-3804 about the May 14 service project. Additional service days can be arranged if enough interest is cultivated.  | | Trail and forest restoration project area |
Approximate hiking time is 2 hours up (1,500 ft. elevation) and 1.5 hours down with 2-3 hours work time at the burn site. Volunteers must be in excellent health, wear good hiking shoes and bring their own lunch and drinking water. |
| Letters of Appreciation for Bike Path | |
Thanks expressed to everyone who helped . . .
In the past few years at times there has been passionate rhetoric in our community. Recently, the thought keeps coming to my mind that words, no matter how passionately spoken, are just words. It is in works that growth and improvement happen.
I wanted to take a minute and tell you how much our family uses and appreciates the Malaekahana Bike Path. I recognize that it was through the monies, time and efforts of HRI, the Laie Community Association, the Kahuku Association and the large number of student and community volunteers that we have such a wonderful addition. Every time I walk the path my heart is humbled as I think of the countless hours volunteers spent trying to ensure members of our communities have a healthier and safer lifestyle while reducing the carbon footprint of our communities.
When I see all the families on the path -- babies in strollers, little ones on trikes and skateboards, teenagers on bikes and even a young man in a wheelchair, who was so proud to make it half way to Kahuku before his arms gave out -- I have a hard time holding back the tears of thankfulness and appreciation. Many of us drink water from wells we did not dig and I hope we never forget this fact.
Thank you for giving us all a reason to smile. See you on the path.
Malama pono,
Lorraine Azain Matagi *****
To those responsible for the Envision Laie bike and walking path:
As medical director at Kahuku Medical Center, as well as one of its emergency room physicians, I truly am thankful for this project. Not only is the path a wonderful way for the people of our community to get much-needed exercise, but it will also greatly reduce the number of injuries that we commonly see in the emergency room from accidents along that stretch of road.
It is so nice to see children safely biking and walking to and from school and families out together getting exercise. Hopefully, we will see more projects like this in the Koolauloa area.
Kim Archbold
(Note: this letter from Dr. Archbold was printed in the Star Advertiser on Saturday, April 9, 2011) |
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