June 28 – Wai’ele Beach Clean-up and Tree Planting

 

Sixteen people from the Hawaiʻi Environmental Restoration and the 

Koaʻe Community Association joined together on Saturday, June 28, for a full day of mālama i ka ʻaina along the Government Beach Road at Waiʻele. Waiʻele is a 156 acre cultural forest and ancient village site with some of the most majestic remaining canoe plant canopies in Puna, including extensive kukui, niu, ʻohiʻa ʻai, ulu, and noni representation.  These are intermingled with significant hala groves, and exotic stands of mango, avocado, monkeypod, and ocean almond. 

 

One team collected roadside debris from Papaya Farms Road to Kalaemanu, then embarked on a difficult remote 1/2 mile coastal stretch, gathering marine debris as they went.  The second team entered the forest to transplant 20 ohiʻa ʻai keiki and 18 native trees of 5 different species. Everyone met at Waiʻele to comb the beach, enjoy refreshments, and load out 300 pounds of debris into the truck. 

 

Mahalo to Diga Kern for organizing and to the Hawaiʻi County PONC Stewardship Fund for support. For more information, visit the HER websiteʻs Waiʻele page under the Other Projects menu. Also take a look at HER blog for a great summary of the event and its beautifully produced video produced by Diga Kern, who did an awesome job facilitating the event!