Mangrove were introduced to the Ko'olaupoko moku in the 1920's for their erosion control and shoreline protection benefits, but by 2000 they were widespread with about 30 acres of dense forest in He'eia.
In Hawai'i,
mangrove negatively affect habitat in the following ways:
- destroys native ecosystems
- blocks stream passage of endemic o'opu
- destroys shorebird nesting and breeding ground
- harbors invasive macrofauna
- does not provide permanent carbon sink
At He'eia, Hui o Ko'olaupoko, Paepae o He'eia, and
Kāko
’
o
‘
Ōiwi
, are removing the biggest forest of mangrove on O'ahu and many other groups are eradicating smaller patches in areas throughout the State.
One of the tricky things about mangrove removal is that parent trees are highly prolific. Mangrove propagules, like the ones pictured above, float along waterways and at sea in great abundance from even a single tree. The key to eradicating this invasive is to first remove all the parent trees and then remove any propagules. The neat thing about the propagules is that they can be easily killed just by snapping the little pods in half.
If you would like to assist with removing this harmful invasive species, please join us for a
volunteer day
or
donate
today!
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As a grassroots community organization, we realize that science and best management practices are not the only things required to make a difference. Sometimes we need to stand up through legal and grassroots advocacy. This section will detail updates on advocacy issues within the Ko'olaupoko region.
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On September 26, the nonprofit
Save Our Sherwoods
filed a
complaint
in US District Court seeking to stop construction of the
Waimanalo Bay Beach Park Master Plan
.
The complaint makes several allegations but HOK will focus here on one of the most fundamental issues. The City and County of Honolulu is required by the Hawaii Environmental Protection Act (AKA HEPA - HRS Chapter 343) to complete a supplemental statement whenever the timeline to implementation is elapsed or there has been a substantial change. The supplemental statement must follow the same public comment period as the initial document.
Here, the City has significantly strayed from the original plan in Phase 1 by transitioning from R-1 recycled water for irrigation to potable water and changing the on-the ground design.
In the supplemental statement we should expect that the significant factors will be triggered in several respects.
- water usage as an irreversible commitment of resources
- increased tourism that will significantly affect traffic, cultural, and cumulative effects as well as significantly burden the public facilities at the park
- current climate change models put several structures under water in the coming years in violation of Coastal Zone Management Act and the Special Management Area permit that did not look at this requirement
- influence of the leaky sewer lines on TMDL enterococcus which is intermittently out of compliance and out of compliance in Waimanalo Stream mouth
The spirit of the law of, HEPA is to advise decision makers
and the public about the impacts to natural resources. Because the initial EA was likely insufficient and there has been no supplemental statement, we cannot say for sure, what, if any, impacts this project will have. Additionally, it is also unclear whether the City has met the requirement of conducting a complete Archaeological Inventory Survey as required by the EA.
As advocates for clean water, restoring the
'āina
, and for the overall well being of the people of the Ko'olaupoko moku, we support legal compliance with HEPA and CZMA on this project.
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Every year the small staff at Hui o Ko’olaupoko works with nearly two thousand volunteers. It’s an honor to get to work with so many dedicated community members!
This month, we would like to spotlight one volunteer who loves to give back to the 'āina, you may have met Rachael S. at a He’eia Estuary Workday. This awesome volunteer comes out to He’eia every month. An avid biker, Rachel used to ride by He’eia State Park regularly and is now happy that she gets to be involved in helping to care for it. She loves seeing the native marsh birds returning back to the area. Last month at He’eia Estuary we were excited to gift her an HOK rashgaurd and hat along with a 32.oz Hydroflask.
Mahalo piha to Rachael for her continued support of HOK’s work!
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Upcoming Service Days
Check our
calendar
for additional week-day volunteer opportunities and other community events.
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Saturday, October 12th
9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Sign in at 8:45 a.m.
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Join us at our most interesting stormwater management project at Windward Community College. Three rain garden basins were installed in front of Hale 'Imiloa in 2014 to divert excess rain water from the roof of the science building into native planter beds and back into the aquifer rather than it becoming polluted surface water runoff. The native gardens have flourished, and are maintained to this day by HOK and volunteers. This site is easily accessible and suitable for volunteers of all ages. Please wear shoes and work clothes that you don't mind getting dirty, bring a reusable water bottle, and sun/rain protection. Gloves, tools and ice water to refill your bottle will be provided.We hope to see you out!
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He'eia Estuary Restoration
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Saturday, October 19st
9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Sign in at 8:45 a.m.
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He'eia Estuary Restoration
is HOK's largest ecosystem restoration project, aimed at improving water quality and increasing habitat for native species by removing invasive mangrove and replanting native Hawaiian plants along five acres of the He'eia Stream Estuary. Volunteers will be working along the edge of beautiful Kaneohe Bay with views of a traditional Hawaiian fishpond while helping with a variety of tasks from mulching and weeding established planter beds, tromping through the mud to remove invasive mangrove seeds, and out-planting native plants.
Please wear clothes and shoes that you don't mind getting very wet & muddy. Rain boots, long sleeve shirts, and long pants are preferred! Bring sun/rain protection and a water bottle. Tools, work gloves, and ice water to refill your bottle will be provided.
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HOK's mission is to protect ocean health by restoring the 'āina:
mauka to makai.
Hui o Ko`olaupoko (HOK) is a 501(c)3 non-profit watershed management group established in 2007 to work with communities to improve water quality through ecosystem restoration and storm water management, focusing specifically in the Ko`olaupoko region - from Makapu`u to Kualoa. HOK implements innovative, on-the-ground projects that effectively manage and protect water quality and natural resources in Hawai`i.
We are always grateful to have monetary donations to help us continue our interaction with the community and protect the ocean we all enjoy. Because we are small, you can be assured that your donations are going to our environmental programs and not overhead and administration costs. Your donation is tax deductible and very easy through our secure PayPal. If you'd rather send a check, that can be done via mail at 1051 Keolu Dr. #208 Kailua, Hawaii 96734. Please help us shape a healthier future for Ko'olaupoko.
Sincerely,
Jeanelle Miller, J.D.
Executive Director
Kristen Nalani Kane
Project Director
Safia Lehua Slater
Grants Manager
Jamie Miller
Outreach Coordinator
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