Kailua Teens Lavish Help On Kawai Nui
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Del.icio.usKailua High School freshmen joined an ongoing effort to improve Kawai Nui Marsh in their first community service project in the Kailua Ahupua’a last week.
Three different groups of 60 students worked in three areas of the marsh for their part in a schoolwide Community Service Day. At the Ulupo Heiau, they worked on ethnobotanical restoration - cutting and loading branches into a green waste bin, constructing a pathway, weeding and building a water diversion embankment.
Students at the Na Pohaku o Hauwahine site performed dryland forest revegetation - hauling mulch, weeding and cleaning other areas that will replanted with Native Hawaiian plants.
The third group worked in the upper Maunawili Valley on a taro and organic vegetable farm.
“We’re trying to get our high school students involved in projects like these,” said Todd Hendricks, a retired Kailua High teacher, prior to the work day. “It’s neat because the heiau is literally right across the street from the school. I know the kids will get excited when they see it.”
Taking stewardship of the land is always a good experience, he said: “You have to help and become a part of the community. Hopefully, the students will come back and help again in the future. Hopefully, they’ll realize how important it is that these things all tie in together - from the land to the sea.”
Chuck Burrows, president of the Ahahui Malama i ka Lokahi and member of several related community groups, said students and other volunteers have been coming to the marsh to do community service for years, so he’s excited to have Kailua High School join the project.
“We like to have our schools involved in our restoration projects, to protect and conserve our sacred sites here in the marsh, and to utilize these areas for educational purposes.”
It’s crucial, Burrows added, that the citizens of the community take responsibility for caring for the environment, instead of just relying on government agencies to do it.
“Especially if students come out and care for these places, then they’ll also likely take care not to vandalize other park areas as well,” he said.“We’re teaching them about responsibility and a conservation ethic.”
Burrows said it takes many hands to continually keep up Kawai Nui Marsh; projects go on every weekend and even throughout the week.
“I’d like to encourage other residents and citizens to come out and volunteer their time as well,” he said.
“Come learn about the ecological and cultural history of these sites.”
To offer help, call Burrows at 595-3922.
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