Kahanaiki Workday
Kahanaiki is a ~3 acre restoration site within Kawainui, along Kapaʻa Quarry road, that Le Jardin Academy is stewarding in collaboration with DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife.
Since January 2021, students have worked to clear invasives, plant native species, and maintain Kahanaiki as an educational native garden and outdoor classroom. This partnership is an effort to restore ecosystems, increase community connection to place, and promote outdoor and environmental education within and beyond Kailua.
Meeting Logistics: Meet at the DLNR the parking lot on the makai (ocean) corner of Kapaʻa Quarry Road, 200 ft after the turn off Kalanianaʻole Hwy. There is a large yellow gate and grass parking lot, please do not drive further up the road. Plan to arrive around 8:50, we will walk up to the road, sign waivers, do brief introductions and start our work day at 9am. We usually end work days around 12pm. Please be aware, there are no facilities such as running water or restrooms at this site.
Nā Pōhaku o Hauwahine is an ~8 acre restoration site within Kawainui, about a mile down the road from Le Jardin Academy on the makai side of the road. This site is managed by DLNR State Parks in conjunction with Ahahui Mālama i Ka Lōkahi who assists with restoration, conservation, and Hawaiian cultural projects. LJA has partnered with Nā Pōhaku since 2018 and continues to work with them on a regular basis.
Meeting Logistics: Meet at the Nā Pōhaku o Hauwāhine parking lot on either the makai or mauka side of the road right next to the site. It is highly recommended to carpool to the site as there is limited parking. ***In the event that there is a high number of volunteers for Nā Pōhaku, the Ex. Ed. Team will set up a shuttle system from LJA. The Ex. Ed. Team will email out instructions for this.
About Kawainui: Kawainui is historically the second largest historical fishpond in Hawaiʻi, a breadbasket within the Koʻolaupoko region. Kawainui is currently a RAMSAR protected wetland which provides habitat to native waterbirds including the endangered aeʻo, ʻalaeʻula, ʻalae keʻokeʻo and kōloa maoli. Various community organizations around Kawainui are working to restore abundance to different sections of the marsh. Our workdays entail a mix of weeding, planting native species and building and maintaining site infrastructure such as trails. We may use tools including pick axes, sickles, shovels and hand saws. Come prepared to get muddy.
Please bring:
Signed waiver attached below
Full water bottle(s)
Snacks/lunch
Closed toed shoes/boots
Gloves if you have them
Recommend long sleeves and long pants for sun and abrasion protection
Contact site coordinator Aubree Woods, [email protected] and Local Impact Programs Manager, Joel Saito [email protected] for questions
Event Links
Booking: https://go.evvnt.com/2778116-0
