Jaya Dupuis

About Jaya Dupuis

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June 20, 2022

June 18th Summer Solstice Work-party!

HER Summer Solstice volunteer event on Saturday June 18^th was attended by many bright spirits in celebration of the last longest days of the 2022. Between 12 of us, we accomplished 48 volunteer hours, clearing a large section in the lower East Volunteer loop. Clouds helped subdue the summer heat as we comingled in the forest, pulling out the many intruders. We even had a new volunteer chainsaw several large trees laying across the path, making it clear for our forest crew! And of course, our dear Masa contributed his usual breakdown and consolidation of nearby dead stems and limbs.

It was so heartwarming to see our dedicated Keau’ohana community members working alongside sparkling new supporters. We are thankful to each of you for your energetic interest. Hard work was made easy, and spirits elevated. Hawaiian hawks accompanied us to the end indicating happy ancestors looking upon us!

Mahalo Ka hele ana mai – Thank you for coming!

June 14, 2022

A Summer Agenda with Rustic Pathways

Jaya Dupuis Blog

This summer HER is booked with exciting volunteer forest restoration events for traveling students though Rustic Pathways. Since 1983 Rustic Pathways has been operating intentionally designed, transformative student-travel programs that empowers students through innovative and responsible travel experiences to positively impact lives and communities around the world.

With operations in 19 countries around the world, they work alongside local organizations in their mission to safeguard biodiversity, and preserve and honor the land, history, and culture of place. Student groups have a rich two week agenda to enjoy while being in Hawaii. Yesterday they gave four hours of their time to help out the Keau’ohana rainforest. They were dispersed among a crew of five in an area difficult to navigate; something to be proud of!

Rustic Pathways

May 10, 2022

Lake Champlain Waldorf Students of Vermont — May 9th

Jaya Dupuis Blog

This group of students travelled to Hawai’i from Vermont! Lake Champlain Waldorf is a small independent school that focuses on immersive, transdisciplinary learning. These seniors chose Hawai’i for their senior trip specifically for the opportunities to learn about the different natural environments present in the island, and how the environment might be reflected in the culture of Hawai’i.

They spend a full hardy day in the forest with the crew accumulating 24 volunteer hours and accomplishing a large section within a strenuous area. The nephrolepis fern which is a non-native prominent ground cover in the forest, here reaches heights of 5-6 feet, making it difficult to penetrate. These are selectively pulled as a daily measure in order to benefit nearby native seedlings.

It was a glorious sunny day in Keau’ohana! We walked out of the forest with a feeling of satisfaction knowing that the native composition on the upper west boarder is breathing easy for another cycle!

May 4, 2022

Land Blessings on Earth Day

Jaya Dupuis Blog

Land Clearing and Uniting

Earth Day was imbued with mana (power) and meaning as we performed a sacred ceremony for dear friends who recently acquired properties both in Puna area. Kanako and Ashley, as well as Desiree and Brandon, were two happy couples as we joined to cleanse the land, and confirm their spiritual ties and commitments as official guardians and stewards.

It is indeed a sacred kuleana (responsibility) to own land, especially on land that is not native to us. Part or HER intention in offering this rite of passage, is to give newcomers an opportunity to enter a sacred rapport with the earth here; one that honors and perpetuates the Hawaiian culture.

The chanting of “Kunihi” initiated an official and spiritual request for permission to enter the grounds; we then quietly walked to a modest central ahu/altar were the pu/conch welcomed in ancestors from the four directions; chants and pule/prayers were offered prior to the clearing; and then a small traditional-type ho’okupu/gift offering. The couples will plant ti on both sides of the entrance, and at the four corners of the property for endured protection.

The ritual was followed by discussion about questions of vegetation, in support of native plant species, Polynesian (and other beneficial) introductions, and invasive species’ control. This manner of entrance is for those wishing to show appropriate sensitivities as they endeavor to create a harmonious and sustainable existence with the land’s inherent ancestors, natural spirits and elementals.

April 19, 2022

Earth Week, National Volunteer Week and Native Hawaiian Plant Month

Jaya Dupuis Blog

Earth week, National Volunteer week, and Hawaiian Native Plant month were celebrated with zeal yesterday, the 18^th of April; and not a drop of rain after such a very wet period! Thirteen volunteers totaled 47 volunteer hours along with two paid crew workers, and my self.

We arrived at the forest parking entrance to find it weed wacked and attended by our Black Sand security volunteer, Gilbert Hauanio! Efforts began after protocol, with tending the east, central and west volunteer areas as three separate groups, in preparation for the planting of 44 seedlings.

Ann Kobsa, also present, donated a great variety of species including ‘ohe, loulu, lama, ohi’a, kopiko, kolea, alahe’e, and kolomona; and Linda Larish, our Sierra club volunteer contributed 24 mamaki seedlings.

We are so grateful to our community members and to those travelling from abroad for coming to make a difference in our beloved rainforest of Keau’ohana!

Mahalo Nui Loa to all!

April 14, 2022

HER at Revitalize Puna Event — April 11th

Jaya Dupuis Blog

Community members visibly appreciated connection around our shared resources at the April 11th Revitalized Puna Event in Kea’au. The occasion was alive with interest as Hawaii Environmental Restoration welcomed many new volunteers onboard!

Tabling at this event was fruitful in so many ways as we engaged with active community members regarding renewed educational possibilities in schools. Several enthusiastic teachers have voiced an interest in implementing an environmental program for kids to learn their plant species in creative and engaging ways. HER looks forward to expanding in its collaborations within the community in this way as well!

Many organizations contributed support to the community in so many forms during this event! Resilience commitments include park and road recovery, village developments, enhanced food systems, emergency preparedness, painting pahoa town and more. A big thank you to our Puna Representative, Ashley Kierkiewicz and her fabulous team, for bringing County and Community together once again!

March 21, 2022

Keau’ohana Spring Equinox Volunteer Party

Jaya Dupuis Blog

On Saturday March 19^th, HER first quarterly forest volunteer event of the year was indeed celebrated in honor of Spring Equinox for new beginnings!

Our good friend Pat Conant from up Volcano, with the help of a few other Volcano Volunteers, loaded his truck with over 70 hapu’u from his land, and generously delivered to us on the morning of the event! Though Pat continues to assist in the biological control of weeds, he is retired from the State Dept. of Agriculture where he was an Entomologist in the Plant Pest Control Branch for many years.

HER is grateful to all 23 volunteers who came through on a glorious day together for the health and well being of Keau’ohana. Hapu’u is an important addition to the shade bearing ‘ohe trees we have planted in the past. All hapu’u were planted in the volunteer swath in the near interior; some of them were taller than those of us planting them! We are hopeful that one day, the entry into the forest will offer the sweet shade of a restored Rainforest!

March 14, 2022

UH Hilo Vegetation Class — February 26th

Jaya Dupuis Blog

On February 26^th Professor Jonathan Price from the University of Hawai’i at Hilo brought 20 students into the forest for his yearly vegetation class. It was encouraging to hear many of the students well versed in Hawaiian Protocol. Together we discussed HER restoration project in light of the management challenges involved with confronting invasive plants, rapid ‘ohi’a death, and other threats. Other class objectives included learning the primary species and basic ecological characteristics of Lowland Wet Forest followed by an exercise in surveying tree size and abundance in managed vs. unmanaged plots.

Dr. Price was once upon a time my advisor when conducting my Master’s in Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science at UHH. In fact I have fond memories of completing that very class one decade ago! It is with great pleasure that I assist him in the Keau’ohana forest today!

July 1, 2021

HER July Newsletter — A Rich Month

Jaya Dupuis Blog

Have you had the pleasure of seeing the glorious ‘ie’ie in bloom? This fantastic vine has coexisted with the native ‘ohi’a for millions of years; it spirals up the tree in splendid symphony. Once part of the dominant vegetation composition in the Puna District along with an eloquent diversity of other species. Keau’ohana provides essential habitat to its survival.

‘ie’ie — Freycinetia arborea

If you follow us on Facebook you’ll see that we are adding posts with 3D photos of native plants on the Hawaii Environmental Resources Facebook page. There are a few lines of description about the history, biology, and/or mythology of each plant. We are doing this as part of our mandate to educate the public and to bring attention to Hawaiian native plant life and forest restoration that we do at Hawaii Environmental Restoration (HER).

Volunteers of the month, Will Stein and Rain Pacifico

Aside from our regular Monday crew days joined by forest volunteers, the month of June was filled with adventures in the forest with The Core Dance/Global Waters Dance Event on June 11th; HER Quarterly Summer Solstice Volunteer Work-party on June 20th; followed by the Liko Na Pilina special volunteer event on the 21st. Stay tuned for more to come in July! Already we have hosted an event with Connection’s Charter School from Hilo, and are scheduled with the Church of Latter-day Saints for later this month. HER welcomes a diversity of people to meet with a biodiversity of plant cousins!

June 9, 2021

Revitalize Puna

Jaya Dupuis Blog

The Revitalize Puna event held on June 9th at the Leilani Estates Community Center was a good step in the right direction, with more than 100 residents attending the first quarterly event. The County’s Disaster Recovery Division and County Council District 4 seek to involve community members in helping to plan and support us in becoming more empowered as a community on all fronts (social, cultural, economic, infrastructure, and last but not least (yet perhaps most importantly?) the environment, which we need for everything else to happen!

The event was well organized with discussion panels occurring at various booths depending on participant interest. It was a dynamic occasion for those present to bridge lives and build on future ideals. We hope that continued opportunities might invite more curiosity and engagement from the Puna public community over time.

Our environmental panels joined in discussions around restoration/reforestation, invasive species control, and climate change over three separate time periods throughout the afternoon. Several members of HER joined forces to greet the public with enthusiasm in support of developing a growing awareness of what it means to Malama O Ka ‘Aina!

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