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The Rain Follows The Forest
Short film
Department of Land and Natural Resources
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HLH invites you to support Governor Abercrombie and his administration in their critical efforts to protect Hawaii's delicate ecosystem and preserve Hawaii's watershed for future generations. There is a short film with Jason Scott Lee that promotes the preservation, conservation and restoration of Hawaii supported by the Department of Land and Natural Resources.This film will air on Thursday 1/26 KHNL at 6:30pm and on Saturday 1/28 KHNL at 6pm or you can click on the link below to watch on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0oHdMPYSq8&feature=player_detailpage
Jason Scott Lee |
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Take Action Now
Wai
Fresh Water
DLNR Publication
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Hawaii's forest provide water for human use.
In November 2011, Gov. Neil Abercrombie unveiled a new plan, "The Rain Follows the Forest: A Plan to Replenish Hawaii's Source of Water." The governor shares his thoughts on what he has tagged as a priority for his administration - protecting the state's watershed areas.
The best time to start protecting our mauka watersheds was decades ago. The second best time is now.
Sustaining our water is not a new issue. I first got elected back in 1974 to the state House of Representatives on ideas from what was then the beginnings of the environmental movement-a message I believe resonated with voters. At that time, it was assumed we had an endless supply of water. We did not take into account invasive species, human activity and other threats that we know now to our forests, the producers of our water.
Our watersheds are in trouble. Only a tenth of priority watershed is protected and that has taken us 40 years to accomplish. Protecting our watershed forests is the most cost-effective and cost-efficient way to produce water. Harsher, drier times are ahead of us. Let us operate on the conservative side and take action now for the long term future for water.
Water is key to planning and policy-making.
Energy independence, environmental sustainability, food sustainability-they all come back to water. We as a state need to know where we're going on food production, biofuels, urbanization and more. Water is key in our decision making.
We also cannot keep pouring money into marketing Hawaii's natural beauty while neglecting to make improvements to the "product"-public facilities, greener buildings, vibrant culture and arts, and our natural environment. The economic benefits created, such as jobs, will ripple through our economy for current and future generations. Visitors to Hawaii do observe and tell others about the effects of policies that show we respect the environment. We have an opportunity through our decisions to educate visitors and ourselves about the cultural, economic and environmental importance of our native forests.
New Day in Hawaii Comprehensive Plan emphasizes stewardship of government on natural resource management.
The governor's office has the overall authority on natural resource management. I take this role seriously for watershed protection. We must enable the Department of Land and Natural Resources to be able to fully steward watershed protection. Taking care of invasive species and other threats are immediate concerns. We must also monitor on-the-ground actions, educate residents and visitors about conserving native forests, and we must promote consistent and informed land use decision-making that protects watersheds.
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How We Get Our Water
Wai
Fresh Water
DLNR Publication |
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Water production from ancient times to today is the result of our islands' unique volcanic origins and indigenous vegetation. Hawaii's fresh water cycle depends on the life giving rain captured and absorbed by healthy native forests to sustain all of life on our islands:
1. CLOUDS FORM as trade winds push moist air, created by evaporation of ocean water, over high cool mountain ranges.
2. RAIN RESULTS when saturated cloud vapor condenses to water.
3. Ua (rain) beloved by native Hawaiians as the preserver of the land (Kahiko o ke akua), falls on native forest tree leaves and branches, and low spongy growth that thrives on the forest floor. Also, mist passes through the forest condenses on the leaves, providing additional water.
4. RAINWATER SEEPS through soil and rock to each island's natural underground reservoirs formed by lava flows called aquifers- for storage. Rainwater also nourishes roots in the ground and flows into surface streams.
5. THE WATER in underground aquifers pools in large lens-shaped bodies to be tapped by wells and tunnels to supply almost all of our vital drinking water. |
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Allies United
Wai
Fresh Water
DLNR Publication
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Successful alliances of more than 71 public and private landowners united statewide to protect Hawaii's watersheds. Three of these partnerships share highlights of their unique work.
Watershed partnerships-among them the state of Hawaii, the largest public landowner, and Kamehameha Schools, the largest private landowner-lead the way in protecting 2.2 million acres of watersheds that cross property boundaries on the main Hawaiian Islands. The alliances began in 1991 on East Maui. Today, 11 partnerships on six islands form the Hawaii Association of Watershed Partnerships with 7,000 volunteers statewide. And since 2006 they have leveraged $12 million in private and federal funding to support local jobs and businesses.
Lisa Ferentinos, who oversees the Watershed Partnership Program on behalf of the Division of Forestry and Wildlife of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, says not all "green" is good at producing water. For example, native ohia captures rainwater in its flowers and leaves to fall gently to the ground vegetation to be absorbed. Not so with strawberry guava, an invasive species which lets rainwater "through-fall" to its roots worth less going into the ground to feed the aquifers. Protecting watersheds from hoofed animals is the first priority. Fencing is the most feasible way to prevent feral pigs, goats, sheep, deer and wild cattle from trampling and devouring native vegetation. Animals also spread destructive weeds and plant diseases. Eliminating invasive plants and reforestation efforts can then follow successfully. "Because of human activity, we have to intervene to remove invasive weeds, monitor fires, predators and diseases, as well as replant native species," Ferentinos says. "Without active protection, we lose our native forests, we lose our water." |
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From the Field
Darrell Fox, COO |
Probably the biggest news is the weather. Most of our staff doesn't remember what a real Mauna Kea winter is like. In the month of December we had over 18 inches of rain with nighttime temperatures in the 40's. The year before we only received 3.5 inches of rain in December. To put it in perspective we received more rain in the last month than we did in all of the other months of 2011 combined. The National Weather Service projection is for a wetter than normal first quarter for 2012. This has already allowed our field crews to replant any underperforming trees in field 16B1 and they are currently working on 16B2.
We are preparing 16B3 for planting of 2011-2012 vintage trees. Planting will begin over a month earlier this year and a second nursery rotation is likely. The seedlings in the nursery are on track for the beginning of outplanting in the next few weeks. Clearing of invasive plants, mowing and row preparation are well ahead of schedule. Fertilization of existing trees is at about the half-way point and should be completed in about 1 week. The combination of good soil moisture levels and balanced soil nutrients will give the timber and legacy trees a strong start on the new year.
A prototype of a Field Utility Support building is under construction in the HLH shop. This building has a number of innovative features that will support our planting crews. Firstly it provides dry storage of power tools and equipment. It has a 275 gallon elevated water storage chamber that will allow gravity feed of water for spray equipment and watering of seedlings as they are planted. The water storage tank is replenished from catchment basins deployed at the site using 12 VDC pumps that are activated when the catchment basin has water and the storage tank isn't full. There is a 400 watt wind turbine with battery storage that can provide up to 3000 watts of AC on demand for power tools, lights and battery charging. These units should provide a great deal of independence to our field crews and can be duplicated as needed. Nursery building construction is complete with only final wiring and plumbing of building #3 left to be completed. This gives us the capacity for 185,472 seedlings in each rotation. Catchment ponds remain full and the roofs of HLH buildings are being plumbed into the catchment to insure that water levels are adequate into the summer months. 2012 is shaping up to be the best year yet for HLH. I would like to offer a special thanks to all of our supporters, tree owners and legacy partners. By working together we are make a real difference. |
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American Lung Association
Presents the Fourth Annual
Breathe Concert
Friday, February 10, 2012
The Hawaii Theater
1130 Bethel Street
Concert starts at 7:30pm
Come join our newest legacy partner as they celebrate their fourth annual Breathe Concert. Special guests include Mark Yamanaka, Johnson Enos, Kupa'ao, Al Waterson, Milani, Ka Hale l o Kahala Halau and Danny Couch with Ballet Hawaii. Danny Kaleikini to Emcee.
For Tickets Call: Hawaii Theater Center (808) 528-0506
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Did you know?
A watershed is not a building, it is an area of land that contributes run off to a given lake, stream, river or other body of water. It's purpose is to supply water to the water body.
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One raindrop takes about 25 years to pass from a mountain top native forest to an aquifer.
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PRICE INCREASE
Effective March 1, 2012 our 100 tree units increased to $8,092 per unit due to increase in cost of fuel and fertilizer.
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Sponsor the planting of a Koa Legacy Tree and make a difference. Visit www.LegacyTrees.org to learn how.
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HLH LEGACY PARTNERS
Acceptable Solutions
Bikram Yoga
Big Brothers Big Sisters
Boy Scouts of America
Crime Stoppers
Feathers & Fur Animal Hospital
Four Seasons Resort
Habitat for Humanity
Hagadone Printing
Hawaii Aloha Academy
Hawaii Brain Aneurysm
Hawaii Funeral Services
Hawaii Healing Hearts
Kalihi Education Coalition
Ken Po Hawaii
Lanakila Pacific
Nat'l Kidney Foundation
Nature Conservancy of Hawaii
Nurture Her
HLH NEW LEGACY PARTNERS
American Lung Assoc.
Certified Hawaii
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You can even find us on Twitter.
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