Celebrate RAMSAR World Wetlands Day, Feb. 4th, 9 am to 1:30 pm
Join us at the Kailua Methodist Church, on Kailua Road for a fun-filled day with:
• Free tours of the Kawainui-Hamakua Marsh Complex, a RAMSAR Wetland of International Importance
• Wetland Exhibits and Displays
• Native Plant & Food Sales
• Hands-0n activities for children
• Learn about the restoration and planning activities for this special place
www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/dofaw
Visting Wetlands — A Great Experience
Community Service Project at Na Pohaku o Hauwahine Sat. Jan. 21st
Please join with us on Saturday Jan. 21st from 8:30 am – 12:00 pm to malama Na Pohaku o Hauwahine located along Kapa’a Quarry Rd. in Kawainui Marsh, Kailua. Our restoration efforts at this site are to remove alien plants and replant with endemic natives. We are also restoring a native wetland bird habitat in the marsh where we are opening up more water areas for the native wetland birds. We will be primarily concerned with weeding in areas planted with natives and watering to keep the young plants alive and growing and possibly do some new plantings. Wear work clothes, shoes, (no slippers!) bring your gloves, weeding or cutting tool, water and snack. Persons with chainsaws welcome! Contact Kaimi Scudder at 263-8008 or email: email @ ahahui.net if you’re coming and for more information. Also, see Ahahui Malama I ka Lokahi’s website at: www.ahahui.net
Community Service Project at Ulupo Heiau Sat. Jan. 14th
Join us on Saturday Jan. 14th at Ulupo Heiau to malama this wahi pana (sacred
place). At 8:30 am we will begin our Oli Kahea and have an orientation to
this mapele heiau. For those who would like to work in the loi kalo with
Hanaloa Helela may do so while the rest will work with Doc Burrows in the
loi wetland and bird habitat. Wear tabis or footwear when working in the loi and
shoes in the land areas. We will be cutting back the hau and bamboo,
weeding in the auwai, cutting weeds in the marsh and maybe digging out the peat
layers. Bring a cutting or digging tool, water bottles, bug spray and a snack. Wear
shorts or long pants, gloves, hat and use sun screen. No slippers or open toed shoes!
We will be pau by 12:00 pm, perhaps tired, wet and dirty but you will be
thinking throughout the week on what you have done to malama this sacred
place. Call 263-8008 or email rick_scudder @ yahoo.com for more information.
Happy Holidays from ‘Ahahui Malama i ka Lokahi
Mahalo to all of our members, supporters, volunteers and organizations working to restore Kawainui-Hamakua Marsh
Community Service Project at Na Pohaku o Hauwahine Sat. Dec. 17th
Please join with us on Saturday Dec. 17th from 8:30 am – 12:00 pm to malama Na Pohaku o Hauwahine located along Kapa’a Quarry Rd. in Kawainui Marsh, Kailua. Our restoration efforts at this site are to remove alien plants and replant with endemic natives. We are also restoring a native wetland bird habitat in the marsh where we are opening up more water areas for the native wetland birds. We will be primarily concerned with weeding in areas planted with natives and watering to keep the young plants alive and growing and possibly do some new plantings. Wear work clothes, shoes, (no slippers!) bring your gloves, weeding or cutting tool, water and snack. Persons with chainsaws welcome! Contact Kaimi Scudder at 263-8008 or email: email @ ahahui.net if you’re coming and for more information. Also, see Ahahui Malama I ka Lokahi’s website at: www.ahahui.net
Kawainui Marsh Master Plan update kick-off meeting, Sat. Dec. 10th
Community Service Project at Ulupo Heiau Sat. Dec. 10th
Join us on Saturday Dec. 10th at Ulupo Heiau to malama this wahi pana (sacred
place). At 8:30 am we will begin our Oli Kahea and have an orientation to
this mapele heiau. For those who would like to work in the loi kalo with
Hanaloa Helela may do so while the rest will work with Doc Burrows in the
loi wetland and bird habitat. Wear tabis or footwear when working in the loi and
shoes in the land areas. We will be cutting back the hau and bamboo,
weeding in the auwai, cutting weeds in the marsh and maybe digging out the peat
layers. Bring a cutting or digging tool, water bottles, bug spray and a snack. Wear
shorts or long pants, gloves, hat and use sun screen. No slippers or open toed shoes!
We will be pau by 12:00 pm, perhaps tired, wet and dirty but you will be
thinking throughout the week on what you have done to malama this sacred
place. Call 263-8008 or email rick_scudder @ yahoo.com for more information.
Birds of the Marsh Tour, Sat. Dec. 3rd
Birds of the Marsh tour
Leader: Ron Walker, wildlife biologist
Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011 (8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.)
Learn about Hawaii’s endangered waterbirds and the efforts to restore the Kawainui, Hamakua and Kaelepulu wetlands.
The tour will go to Hamakua wetlands in Kailua, then to Kaelepulu wetlands. The third stop would be at Kawainui Neighborhood Park (Kaha) to look at the Kawainui Estuary and islets and, finally to Na Pohaku o Hauwahine to look at the volunteer-created wetland bird restoration project.
This natural history tour is co-sponsored by Ahahui Malama i ka Lokahi, the Kailua Hawaiian Civic Club, and the Hawaii Audubon Society.
A $10.00 donation is requested. We will car-pool between sites. Contact Kaimi at 263-8008 for more info. and to
sign up for the tour. email: email @ ahahui.net Reserve your space early.
Ahahui Malama i ka Lokahi — 263-8008 or email to “email@ahahui.net”.
- Hawaiian Coot, an endangered species
Community Service Project at Na Pohaku o Hauwahine Sat. Nov. 19th
Please join with us on Saturday Nov. 19th from 8:30 am – 12:00 pm to malama Na Pohaku o Hauwahine located along Kapa’a Quarry Rd. in Kawainui Marsh, Kailua. Our restoration efforts at this site are to remove alien plants and replant with endemic natives. We are also restoring a native wetland bird habitat in the marsh where we are opening up more water areas for the native wetland birds. We will be primarily concerned with weeding in areas planted with natives and watering to keep the young plants alive and growing and possibly do some new plantings. Wear work clothes, shoes, (no slippers!) bring your gloves, weeding or cutting tool, water and snack. Persons with chainsaws welcome! Contact Kaimi Scudder at 263-8008 or email: email @ ahahui.net if you’re coming and for more information. Also, see Ahahui Malama I ka Lokahi’s website at: www.ahahui.net
‘Ahahui general meeting and lecture presentation by Dr. Sam `Ohu Gon III
Aloha kakou,
You are invited to attend the ‘Ahahui general meeting and lecture presentation by Dr. Sam `Ohu Gon III at the Kailua Faith Baptist Church on Saturday, November 19, 2011 at 6:30 p.m.
Learn about ‘Ahahui Malama I Ka Lokahi, its programs and projects and meet fellow members, volunteers and others interested in learning more about Hawaii’s environment and cultural practices. Faith Baptist Church is just mauka of the Windward YMCA.
Dr. Sam `Ohu Gon III will be talking about the relationship of Hawaiians to the ‘aina, called,
“Aloha mai au I ku‘u ‘aina – The aloha I have for my beloved land.”
The public is invited to attend this free meeting and lecture. For further information contact Ka‘imi Scudder at 263-8008, or emailemail@ahahui.net
For updates, see the ‘Ahahui Malama I ka Lokahi blog at: www.ahahui.wordpress.com
Mahalo.
Ka‘imi Scudder
Administrator
Our Guest Speaker:
Dr. Samuel M. ‘Ohukani‘ōhi‘a Gon, III
Senior Scientist and Cultural Advisor
The Nature Conservancy of Hawai‘i
Part of the Conservancy staff for over 24 years, Sam has brought his expertise to the organization in a variety of capacities. As the Ecologist for the Hawai‘i Natural Heritage Program of The Nature Conservancy of Hawai‘i from 1986 – 1999, he conducted biological inventories and produced biological reports and management recommendations for The Conservancy, our partner federal, state, and local agencies, and for private organizations. As the coordinator for the Hawai‘i Natural Heritage Program from 1992 to 1994, Sam managed a staff of 15 and an annual budget of over $1 million. As Director of Science he guided the science behind the vision and operations of The Nature Conservancy of Hawai‘i. In his current role as Senior Scientist and Cultural Advisor, Sam maintains his science guidance, and adds his cultural expertise to enhance the mission of The Conservancy.
Sam has over 30 years of experience in Hawaiian ecology. This experience includes biological inventories and research, field ecology, entomology, arachnology, ethology, natural community classification, ecological modeling, and biological database management. He also is versed in Hawaiian culture, history, and language. Sam is instrumental in many facets of the Conservancy’s work. His knowledge of Hawaiian culture and history are an important asset when working with local communities. He has applied his island conservation expertise in cooperative projects and workshops in the Galapagos Islands, the Philippines, Pohnpei, Palau, Jamaica, Okinawa, Amazonia, and Rapanui. As an excellent public speaker, Sam often lends his knowledge to conservation agencies, educational institutions, community groups, donors, and important visitors.
Sam is an active member of The Nature Conservancy of Hawai‘i and an Advisory Committee member for the ‘Ōhi‘a Project (Hawaiian natural history curriculum development). Additionally, he serves as a Hawaiian natural history and culture consultant for the Moanalua Gardens Foundation (and its evolving status in the Papahana Kuaola Hawaiian Education Center), sits on the steering committee of the ‘Ahahui Mālama i ka Lōkahi (Hawaiians for the preservation of native ecosystems), and on the Restoration Advisory Group for the Kaho‘olawe Island Reserve Commission. He has served on panels of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs on the topic of traditional management of natural resources, and sits on the Hawaiian leadership committee advising the Hawai‘i Life Sciences Consortium. Sam serves on the Board of Trustees for the Native Hawaiian Culture and Arts Program (NHCAP), the Bishop Museum Association Council, and as an at-large member of the Hawai‘i State Board of Land and Natural Resources.
For over 12 years Sam studied oli (traditional Hawaiian chant) and hula with Kumu John Keolamaka‘āinana Lake, a master of Hawaiian religion and cultural protocols; training that culminated in his ‘uniki (traditional rite of passage) in February 2003 as a kahuna kākalaleo, practitioner of Hawaiian chant and protocol. In that capacity he serves as a Kahuna Pule (prayer master) at the heiau (temple) of Puʻu Koholā at Kawaihae, Island of Hawaiʻi as part of Nā Waʻa Lālani Kāhuna o Puʻu Koholā. Kumu Lake, before his passing, gave Sam the kuleana (responsibility) to continue teaching oli for the hālau (traditional learning group) on Oʻahu, a heavy but joyful responsibility. Sam strives to blend the richness of unique Hawaiian ecosystems with the equally rich culture that developed here.
Sam received his bachelor’s degree in Zoology at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. He then went on to receive his masters in Zoology and doctorate in Animal Behavior at the University of California, Davis. He holds an affiliate faculty post with the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Hawai‘i.
