|
In This Issue:
KAUPA Kalihi Stream Cleanup July 11
Non-Point Source Pollution Tip #22
What Lives at Kalihi Waena Stream?
Volunteer of the Month
Kalihi (Not-So) Quick Fact
Grant Opportunity
KAUPA Weed & Seed Re-usable Bags Are Here!
A Message from KAUPA's Original and Recently Past-President
More Kalihi Happenings
KAUPA KALIHI STREAM CLEANUP ON JULY 11
Aloha! For our August 2009 newsletter, we at KAUPA are delighted to announce that our July 11 cleanup was another success, and perhaps one of our most exciting. Hawai'i's three Miss Teen America's were on hand to help out with the cleanup and restoration of Kalihi Stream: Robynn Corneau - Miss Hawaii Teen America 2009, Jazlyn Baptista - Miss Hawaii Jr. Teen America 2009, and Hannah Skaggs - Miss Aloha Jr. Teen America 2009. These charming young ladies weren't afraid to get their hands dirty and were happy to become a part of efforts to preserve the stream. Nice work, ladies! Thank you for your efforts! This cleanup saw a record number of parent/child groups coming to participate as well. We love it when the whole 'ohana comes!
Also, the number of community groups and corporate organizations that are involved with KAUPA has grown considerably. July's cleanup saw volunteers from Boy Scouts of America, Camp Plumeria, Claremont McKenna College, Fern Elementary, Hana Hou, Mililani and Moanalua high schools, Punahou School, Saint Elizabeth School, the Ingenius Medical Center, the University of Hawai'i, the US Fish & Wildlife Service, as well as a healthy showing of area residents and individual volunteers. As always, a large amount of rubbish, bulky items and greenwaste was removed and more native species were planted. Overall, it was one of our most successful cleanups ever. Thanks to all who participated.
WHAT LIVES AT KALIHI WAENA STREAM?
 
Ma'o, or Gossypium tomentosum
(Photo credit: Forest & Kim Starr)
Ma'o is also known as Hawaiian Cotton, or Huluhulu. This plant is used in landscaping, and the flowers and seeds are used for lei. Ma'o blossoms are also used to make a beautiful yellow-green dye, and the leaves produce a rich red-brown dye. The seed hairs (lint) are short and reddish brown, unsuitable for spinning or twisting into thread. Genetic studies indicate that Hawaiian cotton is intermediate between the two major native American species, Gossypium hirsutum and Gossypium barbadense. Its ancestor may have come to the islands from the North and South Americas approximately 500 years ago, as a seed on the wind or in the droppings of a bird, or as part of floating debris. It grows in dry, rocky, or clay coastal plains, and is found on all the main islands except Hawai'i. Gossypium tomentosum is an endemic shrub (found only in Hawai'i, and nowhere else in the world!) that was previously considered vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, but is not currently listed on the IUCN Red List. It is threatened by coastal development and is already extinct in the wild on Kaua'i.
Ma‛o pua o ka lā
He mōhalu ko ka pi‛i o ka lā ma Ha‛ehae‛e
He mae ko ka ‛aui o ka lā ma ka Hālāwai
Hemoleie wale kona nani ke kau I ka lolo ia lā
The ma‛o blossom is good for a day
A blooming awaits the sun climbing in the east
A wilting awaits the sun setting in the west
Pureness is its beauty when the sun alights on high
- P.K.K.
KAUPA / WEED & SEED RE-USABLE BAGS ARE HERE!
KAUPA would like to thank Kalihi Weed & Seed for funding that allowed us to purchase re-usable shopping bags to promote the concept of Neighborhood Restoration and involvement by the larger community! Use of these bags can help reduce the amount of plastic bags that blow or wash into the stream. Now, no excuses for forgetting your bag at an unexpected trip to the store - you can easily roll them up and secure with the velcro tab, then throw in your purse or backpack! Bags come in green with brown printing, or dark blue with white printing, and will be available at our monthly stream cleanups. Volunteers who have given their time at three or more cleanups will be receiving a free bag!
 Weed & Seed has been instrumental in funding KAUPA's stream cleanups. Tools, irrigation supplies, graffiti removal supplies, streambank restoration supplies, as well as supplies for volunteer support have been granted through Weed & Seed. Current Weed & Seed funding will help us to further our mission by translating and printing 'Non-Point Source Pollution in Kalihi Stream' brochures, and providing folders for packets that will contain these brochures and other information for use in presenting the Neighborhood Restoration strategy to potential partners. Mahalo Kalihi Weed & Seed!
A MESSAGE FROM KAUPA'S ORIGINAL AND RECENTLY PAST-PRESIDENT
 KAUPA began as an idea among six people, four of whom lived in Kalihi and two good friends (Lisa, Ben, Charmaine, Mark, David and me). We wanted to expand existing cleanup work along Kalihi Stream by creating an organization and engaging more people in environmental stewardship: malama 'aina. After a number of years, countless hours of effort, the addition of more energetic and caring people, and support and money from government, we have a vibrant organization that regularly attracts hundreds to education and stewardship activities that are reported in our monthly e-newsletter. It's been extremely gratifying to be involved in building and sustaining KAUPA, and even though I've moved from Kalihi and from Hawaii, I will continue to support KAUPA and the good friends I've made while helping to build this organization.
The KAUPA board and staff continue to create innovative programs that engage the Kalihi community and others in caring for the ahupua'a, and we hope will serve as a model for other environmental stewardship efforts in Hawaii.
Mahalo,
Jane Dewell
Past President, KAUPA Board
MORE KALIHI HAPPENINGS
Sun-Sat, Aug 2-8 - Samoa Heritage Week at Ke‛ehi Lagoon.
Sat, Aug 8 - Kalihi Waena Streambank Restoration with KAUPA at Kalihi Waena Elementary
School, 8:30am-11:30am. For more info: 381-3643 or kaupa4kalihi@hawaii.rr.com.
Sat, Aug 8 - Mokauea Island Cleanup with Kai Makana, 8am-1pm. For more info: 282-8012 or
kaimakana@gmail.com.
Sat/Sun, Aug 8-9 - Hawaiian Hall Grand Re-opening Weekend at Bishop Museum. For more info:
847-3511.
Sat, Aug 15 - Kokua Kalihi Valley Nature Preserve with Hoʻoulu ʻAina, 8:30am-noon. For more
info: 384-1789 or puni@kkv.net.
Fri, Aug 21 - HOLIDAY - Admissions Day
Fri, Aug 21 - The Sky Tonight - Planetarium Show at Bishop Museum. For more info: 848-1468
Sat, Aug 22 - Kalihi Stream Cleanup at Kuhio Park Terrace, 8:30am-noon. For more info:
372-8365 or louise_cayetano@yahoo.com.
Thurs, Aug 27 - Bishop Museum Moonlight Mele - Riatea Helm. For more info: 847-3511
Every Saturday - Farmer's Market
Banyan Court Mall
800 North King Street
6:15am - 7:30am
Kaumualii Street
700 Kalihi Street
8:15 AM to 9:30 AM
Kalihi Valley District Park
1911 Kam IV Road
10:00 AM to 10:45 AM
Volunteers Needed
Hawai'i Literacy is looking for dedicated volunteers to help in Family Libraries at Kuhio Park Terrace and/or Mayor Wright Homes. For more info, contact Tamara at 721-4303 or tamara.martinez@hawaiiliteracy.org.
Volunteers are needed at Hawaiiian Hope to help inventory an overwheliming number of donated computers to see if they simply work or need tuned up. No previous computer experience needed! Volunteers are also needed to help in teaching classes, tutoring and in helping with other areas of the organization. For more info, contact Curtis at 352-8800 or Curtis@HawaiianHope.org.
|
SECOND SATURDAYS FOR SUSTAINABILITY
Saturday, August 8
8:30-11:30am
Kalihi Waena Elementary
1240 Gulick Ave.
KAUPA is looking for 20 or more volunteers to pick up and bag rubbish within and along the banks of Kalihi Stream, eradicate invasive species, transplant native plants, and do some graffiti removal. Gloves, trash bags, snacks and water will be provided. Please wear covered shoes, clothes you don’t mind getting dirty in, and a hat (suggested).
Please bring your recyclables for a KAUPA mini-fundraiser!
You are welcome to bring extra fruit from your or your neighbor’s yard to share with the community, if you’d like! To sign up, please call
Barbara Natale at
(808) 381-3643 or email kaupa4kalihi@hawaii.rr.com _______________
Non-Point Source Pollution Tip #22
Properly dispose of household hazardous wastes. Many common household products, (paint thinners, moth balls, drain and oven cleaners, etc.) contain toxic ingredients. When improperly used or discarded, these products are a threat to public health and the environment. Do not pour hazardous products down any drain or toilet. Do not discard with regular household trash. Learn about natural and less toxic alternatives and use them whenever possible. Click this link for information regarding hazardous waste collection on Oahu.
_______________
Volunteer of the Month!
KAUPA would like to recognize Joseph Domanguera for his contribution to the restoration at Kalihi Waena stream, volunteering his time at 4 stream cleanups!
Joseph attends Mililani High, and will be using his streambank activities as part of a project at school. We are honored to have you as a part of our 'ohana, Joseph!
________________
"We have to shift our emphasis from economic efficiency and materialism towards a sustainable quality of life and to healing of our society, of our people and our ecological systems."
– Janet Holmes
________________
KALIHI (NOT-SO)-QUICK FACT
The most common rain of Kalihi Valley is called Kōmomona, meaning "to sweeten; sweet sugar cane." But another type of rain in Kalihi is called
Ua po‛olipilipi,
meaning "sharp-headed, adze-like rain." Ua po‛olipilipi, like other natural wonders in Hawai'i, has a
legend behind it.
The story of the magic bread-fruit tree says that Papa sailed from Kahiki (a far-off land) with her husband Wakea, landing on O'ahu and finding a home in the mountain upland near the precipice Kilohana. Down the Kalihi stream below Papa's home were two stones to which the Hawaiians gave eepa, or gnomelike, power. If any traveller passes these stones on his way up to Papa's resting-place, that wayfarer stops by these stones, gathers leaves and makes leis, or garlands, and places them on these stones, that there may be no trouble in all that day's wanderings. Sometimes mischievous people dip branches from lehua-trees in water and sprinkle the eepa rocks; then woe to the traveller, for piercing rains are supposed to fall. From this comes the proverb belonging to the residents of Kalihi Valley, "Here is the sharp-headed rain of Kalihi" ("Ka ua po'o lipilipi o Kalihi").
________________
Grant Opportunity
A Be the Change workshop is coming August 29th for teachers who want to apply for a grant to help them with a service learning project. It
is sponsored by Youth Service Hawaii and Starbucks Foundation. There is no charge to attend this workshop. The grants can help with the cost of charter buses and supplies for your projects. You may bring a student to the workshop if you wish. Sign up early - space is limited. Sign up on the Youth Service Hawaii website -
www.youthservicehawaii.org and look under programs.
________________
KAUPA would like to thank the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Hawai'i Department of Health, City and County of Honolulu Department of Environmental Services, City and County of Honolulu Adopt-a-Stream Program, Kalihi Waena School, Department of Education, Kalihi Weed & Seed, and James Richards, et. al. for helping us make this all possible.
________________
KAUPA (Kalihi Ahupua'a Ulu Pono Ahahui) is dedicated to restoring the natural and cultural resources within the Kalihi ahupua'a through education, outreach and action.
|
