Molokai's role in the healing of Kaho'olawe
By Robert Lyn, Molokai Times Reporter
4/23/2007 12:43:16 AM
Just south of the airport is an 80-acre natural treasure, a history of
Molokai written in leaf, bark and flower. The Natural resource
Conservation Service (NRCS) Plant Materials Center (PMC) is attempting
to help restore, heal and re-vegetate Hawaiian land with some ingenious
methods.
On Tuesday April 17, 15 members of the community gathered for a tour
around the facility. Primarily a resource for farmers, the PMC is
filled with an array of windbreak shrubs and trees, and deep-rooted
fauna perfect for holding soil in place.
One of the trees, Panix - a hardy indigenous species - has already made
an impact on the environment after the devastating Gall Wasp
infestation almost wiped out the entire Wili Wili population'
"Local farmers see that Panix has a similar growth rate (to Wili Wili),
and does not lose its leaves; they have already started planting it,"
said Kawika Duvauchelle the Natural Resource Specialist.
On the island of Kaho'olawe - just off the Southwest coast of Maui -
two formidable enemies, the goat and the bomb have left the island
barren and bereft of vegetation.
Glen Sakamoto, manager of the PMC, and his team have been taking action
to restore the Kaho'olawe to its former glory. As Volunteer Kristin
Coelho hooks up eight-foot high Pili grass bales to a helicopter bound
for the island, Resource Specialist Kawika Duvauchelle explains the
strategy.
"Pili grass is a hardy, drought-tolerant native grass. The island was
used by the Navy as a bombing target, and was decimated by goats; Pili
grass is slowly re-vegetating the land at Kaho'olawe."
Although it will take many years, the PMC is certain Pili grass is the
first step in healing barren portions of the island.
At the end of the tour, under a majestic pine with the sun at our
backs, refreshments are served and the air of hope and possibility is
palpable.
Glen Sakamoto spells out the mandate of the PMC with clarity and
vision.
"Our main function is to protect our resource base. There is a
political and emotional push to use native plants, but sometimes they
don't work. We have to find a happy medium between native and non-
native plants to control the erosion."
Long years have passed, and land usage on Molokai has changed
dramatically. The team at the PMC are determined to heal the land with
a sensitive mix of science, local knowledge and grassroots activism.
Unfortunately, none of this is possible without money from congress.
Chief of the NRCS, Arlen Lancaster, arrived at the center on a
Wednesday afternoon, resplendent in a yellow lei; it is his first time
on Molokai.
Dr. Noa Emmett Aluli, Chairperson of the Kaho'olawe Island Reserve
Commission (KIRC) greets him warmly and tells Chief Lancaster of
malama 'aina, (the ethic of caring for the land).
"When you go there (Kaho'olawe), you will feel the mana," said Dr Aluli.
On a tour around the property, Chief Lancaster explains the funding
situation, "Congress has a monetary cap, and they will tell you how to
spend the money. 2007 was a strange year - congress switched - but we
are optimistic about 2008. This is a project we want to continue with."
The chief added, "We do need a solid budget; when earmarks come and go,
you can't plan ahead."
As we walk back to the main offices, an exciting sense of common
ground, ecological awareness and understanding is apparent. Legal and
Public Affairs Director of the NRCS, Doug Mckalip, said he was really
excited to see the island the following day. Said McKalip, "We have a
responsibility to fix federally what we damaged federally."
Director of the NRCS, Larry Yamamoto, summed up the challenges and
hopes for the future. "Sometimes, because this seems like all science
and technology, the message gets lost. There is a native Hawaiian owl -
the Pueo - present on the island, if you restore habitat, the animals
will come back." Perhaps Pili grass is not as exciting as a Pueo Owl,
but the NRCS are aware of the cause and effect of sensitive stewardship
of the land. They even sighted a few Pueo recently. Malama' aina.
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