Birds of the Marsh Tour Sat. Dec. 5th

Birds of the Marsh tour

Leader: Ron Walker, wildlife biologist

Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009   (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 at Creekside in Kailua, then to Kaelepulu. 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, Kailua Hawaiian Civic Club, Kawai Nui Heritage Foundation and the Hawaii Audobon Society.

A $5.00 donation is requested. We will car-pool between sites.

Please sign up for the tour with Ahahui Malama i ka Lokahi by calling 593-0112 or emailing to email@ahahui.net.

KAWAINUI MARSH TOURS – 2009

THE  NATURAL  and  CULTURAL  HISTORY  TOURS of  the

KAILUA  AHUPUA`A  and  KAWAINUI  MARSH

Sponsored by ‘Ahahui Malama i ka Lokahi, Kailua Hawaiian Civic Club and Kawai Nui Heritage Foundation

These educational tours of the Kailua Ahupua‘a and Kawainui Marsh are offered to inform residents and visitors about the Hawaiian archaeological, historic and ecological resources of the marsh.

The tour groups meet at Ulupo Heiau next to the Windward Kailua YMCA at 8:30 am and walk, as well as car pool, to the various sites. Return trip is usually to the Windward YMCA by 1:00 pm. A donation of $5.00 will be accepted for the tour. Donations are used to support the cultural and ecological restoration work of Kawainui Marsh. Group size will be limited to 25 persons.

2009 KAWAINUI TOURS

1. Sat. – July 11 – Ulupo Heiau Hoike (10 am – 3 pm)

2. Sat. – Sept. 5 – Cultural and Natural History Tour of Kawainui Marsh

3. Sat. – Oct.  3  – Geology of the Kailua Ahupua‘a

4. Sat. – Nov. 7 – Archaeological  & Historic Sites of Kawainui/Hamakua

5. Sat. – Dec. 5 – Birds of the Marsh (Kawainui, Hamakua & Kaelepulu)

(Dates or tours may be subject to change depending on weather or other circumstances.  Check for updates at: http://www.ahahui.wordpress.com/)

WHAT TO BRING: Backpack or Fanny-pack, walking shoes, water bottle, mosquito repellent, sunscreen, rainwear, hat or cap, sunglasses. Optional: camera and binoculars.

CONTACT INFO: Call 593-0112 for more information and to register for these educational tours, or email: email@ahahui.net or hemanumalia@hotmail.com

(There are also service-learning trips for elementary through college age students to our project sites around Kawainui Marsh. Contact us for more information.)

Birds of the Marsh tour, Sat. Dec. 6th

Birds of the Marsh tour

Leader: Ron Walker, wildlife biologist

Saturday, Dec. 6, 2008   (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 at Creekside in Kailua, then to Kaelepulu. The third stop would be at Kawai Nui 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, Kailua Hawaiian Civic Club, Kawai Nui Heritage Foundation and the Hawaii Audobon Society.

A $5.00 donation is requested. We will car-pool between sites.

Please sign up for the tour with Ahahui Malama i ka Lokahi by calling 593-0112 or emailing to hemanumalia@hotmail.com.

Celebrate World Wetlands Day in Hawaii – 2/2/08

You are invited to help celebrate World Wetlands Day. Learn why Kawainui and Hamakua Marsh Complex in Kailua, Oahu was designated a Ramsar Site in February 2005. On Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008 we will celebrate World Wetlands Day at Le Jardin Academy from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be exhibits, speakers, events for the kids, free tours to Na Pohaku o Hauwahine, Kawainui Neighborhood Park garden, Hamakua wetland and Ulupo Heiau State Historic complex. See what may happen to restore Kawainui and Hamakua Marsh Complex, learn about the wildlife, and native plant restoration projects and how you can get involved in helping to malama this cherished area. The event is free. Sacred to Hawaiians, Kawainui Marsh is the largest remaining emergent wetland in Hawai‘i and the state’s largest ancient freshwater fishpond. Located in the center of the caldera of the Ko‘olau shield volcan., the marsh today provides primary habitat for four of Hawaii’s endemic and endangered waterbirds. The marsh stores surface water and provides flood protection for Kailua town.Hamakua Marsh is a smaller wetland that is historically connected to the adjacent Kawainui Marsh. Is also provides significant habitat for Hawaii’s endangered waterbirds.Fostering worldwide wetland conservation is the primary goal of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. First signed in 1971, this international treaty promotes conservation activities that also incorporate human use. Participation in the Convention brings nations together to improve wetland management for the benefit of people and wildlife and promote biological diversity.  See:  www.ramsar.org  and,  www.ramsarcommittee.usThere are more than 1,600 Ramsar designated sites in over 150 countries, including 22 sites in the U.S. Many of these sites are National Wildlife Refuges (NWR). Kawainui and Hamakua Marsh Complex is the only current Ramsar site in Hawaii. 

Birds of the Marsh Tour (Kawai Nui, Hamakua & Kaelepulu)

On Saturday, December 1st, Ron Walker a wildlife biologist with Ahahui Malama i ka Lokahi will lead a tour of the Kailua Waterways, which includes Kawai Nui Marsh, the Hamakua State Wildlife Sanctuary and the private Kaelepulu Wetlands Preserve. We will carpool from the meeting site. A donation of $5.00 would be appreciated. Be prepared with sunscreen, rain gear and good footwear. It is anticipated that the tour will finish about 11:30 AM at Kaelepulu. For reservations and more information, contact Rick Kaimi Scudder at 593-0112 or email <email@ahahui.net>