Lo'i Workday

Saturday, February 9, 2013 the Tree Huggers and the MHS Hui Malama visited the Sales and Enos family Lo'i in Hale'iwa. It is a beautiful oasis tucked on the side of the bypass road. Historically, Emerson Road ran along the property and would take you all the way to Matsumoto shave ice. The asphalt remnants we stood on for rest and to put our bags were all that remained of that portion of the old Emerson Road on their property.

The Lo'i has a fresh spring that feeds the land and drains into the neighbor's property as well as the eventually into the Anahulu River and out into the Bay.

With lots of hands to make the work light we spent a couple hours cleaning out the weeds from the patch. The weeds had built up since the last time the family had worked in the lo'i. They mentioned that they usually work once a month in the lo'i but take the holiday months off.

After a couple hours of mud therapy, the family generously provided the workers with lunch and fellowship. Thank you! It was Mr. Horstman's favorite part of the day. He even ranked this as the best Tree Huggers trip because of the food.

See you next month Tree Huggers!

Palehua-Palikea Take Two

Saturday, January 26, 2013 the Tree Huggers revisited Palehua to hike. We were waiting for another group to join us we stopped at one of the cabins open to groups to utilize. If groups want to stay there, then they pay-back Palehua Ranch by assisting Ranger Anu in his work to restore the native landscape. The view from the cabin was spectacular. The panorama from Pu'uloa to up past Mililani was beautiful. While we were there Auntie Kehau and Ranger Anu spoke to the group about the history of the land they were standing on as well as the areas of O'ahu we could see from the vista.

After loading back into the cars, we headed for the trail head. Although it had gotten late and we were not able to hike the entire trail as planned, we did make it far enough to see Nanakuli and learn the mo'olelo of Pu'u Heleakala and talk about various native plants along the way.

It was a good thing we turned back when we did in terms of getting students back but also because the rain came in. We hiked the last 3/4 miles or so in clouds and rain. Someone must have picked an 'ohi'a blossom!

Good hike Tree Huggers. See you next month!

No Event in December!

Yellow Track will be off and there are lots of other competing events in December. So there will be no event in December. Have a great, happy, and healthy holiday season Tree Huggers! See you in the new year.

Mokauea Island - November 10, 2012

Saturday, Nov 10, 2012 the Tree Huggers went back to Mokauea Island to help restore the native plants. They were part of a larger group doing many projects on Mokauea Island that day from various organizations including HPU, New Hope, Farrington High School and UH.

After paddling over to the island, the Mililani Middle School Tree Huggers listened to Auntie Joni and Auntie Kehaulani discuss the history of Mokauea Island.

Then, they planted cuttings around the fishpond from seedlings grown by 7th graders back at the school campus.

The Tree Huggers used the Big Gulp technique, taught to us by Bruce Koebele, author of the book A Native Hawaiian Garden.

After finishing the planting, we took a walk around the island. We couldn't explore the reef because the tide had already come up.

It was a great day and a lot of great work was done by the Tree Huggers. We'll come back soon to take off the cups to look at survival rates of the plants. We hope for 100%!

Pouhala Marsh - October 20, 2012

Saturday October 20th, the Tree Huggers teamed up with Hui Malama o Mililani from MHS for a workday at Pouhala Marsh. The marsh is the largest remaining wetland habitat of Pearl Harbor and The Hawaii Nature Center is working with community groups and state organizations to restore the habitat.

Pouhala Marsh provides habitat for the endangered Hawaiian Stilt and other native waterbirds. On our field trip we saw stilts, coots, and ducks, among other organisms.

After a brief introduction about the history of the marsh and surrounding area, students worked very hard to remove invasive cattail and mangrove from the marsh. They all got very muddy in the process and not a single complaint was heard.

Good work everyone!

Next Field Trip October 20th!

On Oct 20, 2012 we will be doing habitat restoration at Pouhala Marsh. Please attend a brief meeting in G202 after school on October 4, 2012 to get permission forms.

This should be an exciting event! Thanks to Mililani High School Science Learning Center for providing us with bus transportation to the site. We'll be meeting at Mililani High School Gym parking lot for drop-off and pick-up.

Beach Clean-up Saturday September 15th -- Hui Malama o Mililani

Tree Huggers! The MMS-side of the International Coastal Clean-up is not going to be possible due to teacher availability. However, Mrs. Sandy Webb of Hui Malama o Mililani at the high school has invited any interested tree huggers to join their group at Ali'i beach on Saturday, September 15, 2012.
Mrs. Webb says: interested kids/parents can check in with us by our gathering to the west side of the two story brown building - we have a plan green pop-up shelter.

Please see below for details:

Join us for the annual “Get the Drift and Bag It”

BEACH CLEAN UP & Data Collection!

Saturday, Sept. 15th

8am-2:00pm

Ali`i Beach Park
Sponsored by The Ocean Conservancy and The Kokua Foundation

The Plan
. 8am SHARP – meet at the gym parking lot to
catch our buses
. 8:450am – 9:15 orientation/safety/get
organized
. 9:15am-11:00am clean the beach
. 11:00am-noon lunch, weigh in and prizes
. Noon-1:30pm – swim (by the lifeguard tower
only), relax, enjoy
. 1:30 return on buses to school

What to Bring/Wear
. Bring rubber or work gloves
. Wear MHS dress code shorts/t-shirts/tank tops
(swim suit underneath?)
. Bring sunscreen, hat, towel, dry clothes
. AT LEAST 1 liter of water
. Sack lunch
. Pencil
. Inhaler if you have asthma!


Transportation - If you are not riding the bus of have to leave early – read here:

. If you want your parents to pick you up from the beach clean up you must:


1) sign out at our lunch/first aid station with a parent and

2) work at the Ali`i Beach Park site

Our next official Tree Huggers event will be in October. Please be on the look out for meeting signs in the various school buildings.

Have a great break Yellow Track!