July 6: Restoring Hakipuʻu stream with Hui o Koʻolaupoko
On July 5th, crew members conducted the fifth and final community work project on the Koʻolau (East) side of Oʻahu. This work project was special, because it gave crew members, especially to those who are not from this valley, an opportunity to give back to the Hakipuʻu ahupuaʻa (land division), an area that has given so much to Hōkūleʻa and her crew.
This work project was also special, because it was the first day of a two (2) year project, lead by Hui o Koʻolaupoko, on restoring Hakipuʻu stream. A couple dozen third and forth grade students from Punahou Summer school, in the Environmental Science class, joined us for the dayʻs work project. It was great to see the diversity of the multigenerational volunteers and that they all shared the same enthusiasm for helping the land and the same surprise for how much was accomplished with so many hands.
A quick hike through Hakipuʻu valley.
Crossing Hakipuʻu stream on the way to the work site.
Crew members beginning to clear out the invasive plants.
Crew members Heidi Guth (left) and Liz Kashinsky (right), hand pulling the non-native ferns.
Crew member Kai Hudgins, cutting down an Ink Berry Tree sp. Ardisia elliptica, with a hand saw. This species accounted for most of the plants that we removed that day.
Crew member Kaiwi Hamakua-Makuʻe, adding to the removal pile.
Crew member Waimea McKeague, bringing another Ardisia (Ink Berry) tree to its end.
This pile was created in only a few hours (crew member Sam Kapoi, in the blue tank top, is 6ʻ4″):
The Hui (group):
