Wai'anae Kai Forest Reserve - Trip #2

On August 17, 2013 the Tree Huggers returned to Wai'anae Kai Forest Reserve. This year we again partnered up with Hui Malama from Mililani High School.

On this year's trip we continued to work on removing the invasive strawberry guava (Psidium cattleianum) in the cultural restoration site. 
 

After lunch, we transplanted some Palapalai (Microlepia strigosa var. strigosa) that is an important plant in hula and in la'au lapa'au. It is used to treat hehena [insanity] illness.
 

 

We collected seed from Papala kepau (Pisonia brunoniana). Papala kepau seeds are sticky and were used to catch birds for their feathers. The plant also has other uses including medicinal uses. The milky sap can be used for cuts, the cooked leaves for pāʻaoʻao (childhood disease with physical weakening) and for lepo paʻa (constipation).

Sources:
http://nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Pisonia_brunoniana
http://nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Microlepia_strigosa_strigosa
http://www.worldhula.com/plants.aspx
http://data.bishopmuseum.org/ethnobotanydb/ethnobotany.php?b=d&ID=palapalai

Mt Ka'ala - March 9, 2013

Many months ago, the final Tree Huggers outing for the 2012-2013 school year, the dedicated Tree Hugger members attended a field trip to highest elevation on the Wai'anae range and all of O'ahu, Mount Ka'ala. This lucky bunch was driven up to Mt. Ka'ala by the Wai'anae Mountains Watershed Partnership coordinator and crew.

Along the way they stopped on the side of the road to teach the kids about the plants as well as so the students could see the views and experience the change in climate as the elevation increased.
On the way up we saw ranch land, erosion issues caused by non-native species,  a transition from highly non-native forest to very native.

I even had a Tree Hugger moment with some 'ape, Gunnera petaloidea,which I had never met alive and in person prior to that day.

While in the bog the clouds rolled in and we hiked along the boardwalk talking about and learning about the many native species in the bog. It was a great experience for all Tree Huggers.

On the way down the hill some huggers almost caught baby feral pigs that were on the road but they were too quick. Hopefully someone caught them and they did not add to the population of feral undulates in the forest.
It was a great trip and I can't wait for the dedicated huggers to be able to experience Mt. Ka'ala this school year.

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!