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Lessons from Wetlands

Wednesday, October 15th, 2008

By Arleone Dibben-Young

Coastal wetlands have received much less attention than terrestrial and marine ecosystems, but Dr. Greg Bruland of the University of Hawaii, Manoa, hopes to change that.

Scientists and students have been busy studying vegetation, soils, water quality and fish communities of wetlands across the Hawaiian Islands on a quarterly basis. Initially, 40 sites were tested, with 20 picked for the three-year project. Of the five sites originally sampled on Molokai, three wetlands were chosen for continued research – Ohiapilo Pond Bird Sanctuary, Koheo Wetland, and Ualapue Pond. September’s sampling focused on water quality and fish by three team members.

 “We are curious to know what kinds of fish live in Hawaii's wetlands and how many fish there are in these wetlands,”  explains Dr. Rich MacKenzie.

Caitlin Kryss adds, “When investigating Hawaiian wetlands, most researchers look at the birds, but very few have looked at the fish.”

MacKenzie and Kryss are part of the Forested Wetlands team. “Fish are important food sources for other fish, birds, and humans, so knowing how many fish are in a wetland and what kinds of fish are there is very useful,” articulates MacKenzie. “This information can show us how healthy a wetland is as well as how valuable a certain wetland might be to native birds and fish. The fish act as sentinels for the wetlands; any changes that we detect in the fish community usually indicates that something is wrong in the wetland.”

MacKenzie and Kryss have been using lift nets. “These are specially designed nets that allow us to determine how many fish there are in a certain area. Because we use the same type of nets in each of the wetlands, we can compare fish among the different sites,” says Kryss.

“When we lay our nets, we pick random places to lay them and never use bait as we don't want to attract fish, which would influence our catch. My favorite sites on Molokai are Koheo and Ualapue. I like them because we catch all different kinds of fish and shrimp that are native to Hawaii. Their presence suggests that these wetlands are in really good shape.” The team plans to keep sampling the same sites over the next year, but will be using different nets such as a seine and a throw net.

University of Hawaii team member Gwen DeMent is comparing the phosphorus sorption capacity of wetland soils.

“Coastal wetlands are valuable ecosystems, and are responsible for many important functions including the biogeochemical cycling of phosphorus,” she explains. “Too much phosphorus can lead to invasive species dominance and coral reef degradation.“

DeMent has found significant differences in soil properties of restored and created wetlands versus natural wetlands. “These differences influence plant growth and survivability as well as the retention of nutrients for wetland health.” The results of DeMent’s study will assist in developing management strategies for protecting and preventing degradation of valuable coastal wetlands.

Working under a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency titled Assessment and Monitoring of the Water Quality and Habitat Functions of Natural, Restored, and Created Wetlands of the Hawaiian Islands, Bruland and the team of grad students have partnered with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service’s Forested Wetlands, Hilo, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Army Corps of Engineers, Pacific Coast Joint Venture, and Ducks Unlimited.

For an in-depth look at this project and other mauka-to-makai research go to
http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/brulandg/whatsnew/CTAHR_Research_News_May_08.pdf

If you would like to volunteer in December’s sample collection, call Arleone at 553-5992.

Democracy lives in Hawaii County Council

Wednesday, October 15th, 2008

By Jerry Konanui

Hawaii County Council heard the overwhelming voices of Taro, Coffee Growers and Consumers and stood by them.

Unlike State House of Representative Agriculture Committee Chairman Clift Tsuji who after receiving over 7000 voices in support of SB 958 and 240 plus against, aborted and killed our taro bill SB 958 last session.

Our county council supported the majority, 80 % of the coffee growers and 90 % of Hawaii Island taro growers and the over 1200 voice of consumers, taro and coffee growers and passed County Bill 361.
It is a breath of fresh air a moment of hope and calm that simply says democracy lives here in Hawaii County.

Endless mahalo nui to all who found it important enough to as Aunty Emily says to stand your ground and voice your mana’o, and I also mean those who were against the bill as well.  It is through this process of lively, healthy, and open debate that we can educate each other and others to do the right thing for the benefit of the majority of the people.  We each have a voice, a vote, no one more important then the other.  This transcends race, age, ideology and status of any kind every voice is important and needed if we are to co-exist in harmony.

We welcome Mayor Kim suggestion that all stake holders come together and work on this very heated subject about Genetic Engineering of our foods.  We are not against Biotechnology to include Genetic Engineering; we are for Safe Science, Transparent Science and Science of mutual consensus.  We are and always have been open to dialog.  So hele mai! Hele mai!! E ho’ohui ana kakou!! 

Makaukau makou!!Mahalo ke Akua, na kini akua, na aumakua, na kupuna.
                Jerry Konanui he kahu o Haloa

Trash To Treasure

Wednesday, October 15th, 2008

Molokai Planning Commission addresses waste management.

By Catherine Cluett

Molokai Integrated Solid Waste Facility
Molokai residents and planners got together to talk trash last Wednesday. But the only bad-mouthing was about how Molokai’s waste is, well, going to waste. Billy Buchanan and Steve Price have a better idea – turn the trash to electricity instead of burying it.  

The Molokai Planning Commission hosted a discussion on improvements to the existing waste management facilities on Molokai, and heard a presentation by Kamehameha Environmental LLC on an advanced waste disposal technology.  Molokai residents Buchanan, a board member of Kamehameha Environmental LLC, and Price, Kamehameha Environmental’s Chief Operation Officer, showed a short video on the process and answered Commissioners’ questions about their trash-to-energy initiative.  

Guild Gallery artist donates giclee of St. Sophia Church

Wednesday, October 15th, 2008

Molokai Artist Jack Geng has donated a giclee, which is a fine quality reproduction printed on canvas, to St. Sophia Church. The painting is a keepsake representation of St. Sophia Church as it appears today. The church is scheduled to be demolished when the new Blessed Damien Catholic Church is built on the same site.
 
This is the second donation of art that Mr. Geng has made to the island catholic community. His famous full-color painting of Father Damien was completed last year. The giclee of it was presented to the parishioners of St. Francis Church in the Kalaupapa settlement.
 
Jack is not only a painter, but also a sculptor, having graduated from the University of Hawaii with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. His usual work consists of Molokai landscapes, but his admiration of Father Damien’s life and work inspired him to paint religious themes. He has also painted Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Church.
 
His work is available at the Molokai Artists and Crafters Guild Gallery & Gift Shop which is located in Kaunakakai – upstairs above American Savings Bank and open Monday to Friday from 9:30 am to 5pm, Saturdays from 9 to noon.
His Father Damien portrait prints and giclees are also available on the web at www.molokai-art-hawaii.com.

Molokai Drop In Center Gets ‘Extreme Make Over’

Friday, October 10th, 2008

The Drop In Center, known as Hana Ka Lima ("working hands"), provides a variety of services to people with physical, mental, and addiction challenges. It currently serves 12 to15 clients per week, with a total case load of about 80 people, says facility director Joe Childs. He expects to see an in increase in those numbers after the make over is complete. “What we have to offer would draw more people,” he says. “Putting members’ skills to use in such activities as cooking and gardening is a way of healing.”

Merriam says the kitchen will allow Hana Ka Lima to serve meals, as well as serve the community in food bank donations, which clients will assist with.

Merriam first visited Molokai two years ago, and brought the project to the Rotary last year for planning. “Kathleen is the brains behind this project. If it wasn’t for her, this wouldn’t be possible,” says Childs.

Rotarians are completing about $150,000 worth of work on the project, says Merriam. MCSC obtained $19,000 for Hana Ka Lima renovations from a Maui County grant, and $7,000 was donated by the Metro Rotary. “Funding is short, but we can’t say Molokai deserves less,” says Merriam.

“My sister was on Molokai when the Ranch closed,” says Dana Barnum, who has been a member of Metro Rotary for about a year, and volunteered her time for the Molokai project. “I knew this was a way to let people on Molokai know that people on Oahu cared about them,” she says.

"We are overwhelmed by the Rotary Club's generosity," said Karen Holt, Executive Director of the MCSC. "The members paid all of their own expenses to come to Moloka'i, in addition to donating their time. We can’t thank them enough for this incredible gift to our community."

Many Molokai residents have pitched in their volunteer services to help in the project. Mel Chung of Kaunakakai arrived on Saturday morning, planning to work only an hour, but was still there when the sun went down that night. Drop In Center clients also aided in the work. “They did a lot of preparation before we got here,” says Rotarian and licensed contractor Mike Darcey, who helped supervise the project. “They made our job easy, and their faces light up as they help us.”

The property where Hana Ka Lima is located was recently purchased by MCSC from Bill Aki and his sister Lani Soong. “Because Bill and Lani wanted their family's land to benefit the community, they donated a substantial portion of the property's value so that MCSC could afford to buy it,” says Holt.

“Molokai Drop In Center has been lacking state support for a long time,” Merriam explains, adding that so far, Hana Ka Lima has received only verbal recognition from the state in its 12 years of operation. Merriam and Childs hope that after this project, the facility will receive recognition from the state as a full-fledged clubhouse, the term used for community facilities like the Drop In Center, and be given more state staffing and funding.

Currently, the Hana Ka Lima has only two full time staff: Childs, and his wife Althea Childs, Drop In Center Coordinator. Merriam says it should have a minimum of four full time staff, which would allow for increased hours and more services. The nine other clubhouses in the state are fully funded and staffed. Hana Ka Lima would be the first and only clubhouse on Molokai. “We like to refer to clients as club members,” explains Childs. “It’s like a foster family to them.”

“We hope this project will be a booster for Drop In Center members and for the community, helping to dispel the stigma of mental illness,” says Childs. “This weekend’s work is just a beginning.”

The Rotary Club and MCSC would like to give a big mahalo to: architect Jim Reinhart of Architectural Diagnostics, Ltd. and Contractor Mike Darcey of Darcey , BJ Dudoit and Karen Holt from MCSC, Rotary Club volunteer organizer Kathleen Merriam, Bobo Alcon for the backhoe, Akamai Tree Trimming, John Kaalekahi, Sr. for the tent, plumbers Malcolm Pastrana and David Nanod, electrician Wynn Walton, local landscaper Alika Kaahanui, Peni Tilini and Dean Spencer for the use of their dump trucks, landscaper Mike Elinski of Native Plant Source, Mel Chung, Ron and Lucy Davis, MSCS, the Rotary Club, and all the Hana Ka Lima members and staff who helped with the project.