Mālama Maunakea Weed Pulls Scheduled

Volunteers removing invasive weeds at Halepōhaku. Photo courtesy Office of Maunakea Management.

The Office of Maunakea Management’s (OMKM) successful Mālama Maunakea weed pull is seeking community members to volunteer to help prevent unwanted invasive species from being transported to the upper elevation areas of Maunakea.

Upcoming Mālama Maunakea weed pulls are set for Saturday, July 22, and Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017.

The daisy-like flowers of fireweed. UH photo.

The summer volunteer weed pulls will focus on eradicating fireweed (Senecio madagascariensis) and other invasive plant species. Volunteers will also be helping to prepare the area around Halepōhaku for future native plant restoration.

Since the first Mālama Maunakea community weed pull in 2012, more than 1,100 community volunteers helped donated more than 8,000 hours of their time, working around Halepōhaku and the Visitor Information Station at the 9,000-foot elevation.

Each Mālama Maunakea community weed pull begins with a project orientation and acclimation to the high elevation. From 10 a.m. until noon volunteers will pull weeds around Halepōhaku. After a walking tour of the area, lunch follows and an interesting lecture on the Maunakea resources completes this fulfilling day on the mountain.

Transportation to and from Hilo and lunch for volunteers will be provided. Community members coming from other areas of Hawai‘i Island should contact OMKM to coordinate transportation.

Items to bring:

• Water, sunglasses, sunscreen, sun protection, light rain gear, warm clothing, hiking boots or good walking shoes.
• Long-sleeved shirt and pants, sun-hat and a layer or layers to protect you from wind or wet and/or cool weather are recommended.

Items provided:

• Lunch, snacks, transportation, drinking water, gloves for pulling weeds and tools.

Families are welcome but space is limited.

Email [email protected] to sign up.

Log onto malamamaunakea.org for more information.

About Office of Maunakea Management

The Office of Maunakea Management is charged with day-to-day management of Maunakea Science Reserve as prescribed in the Master Plan. The adoption of the Maunakea Science Reserve Master Plan by the University of Hawai‘i Board of Regents in June 2000 marked a critical milestone in the management of Maunakea.

Meetings and public hearings spanning a period of nearly two years went into the formulation of the Master Plan, which established management guidelines for the next 20 years. The Master Plan reflected the community’s deeply rooted concerns over the use of Maunakea, including respect for Hawaiian cultural beliefs, protection of environmentally sensitive habitat, recreational use of the mountain, and astronomy research.

It places the focus of responsibility with the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo. The UH-Hilo Chancellor established the Office of Mauna Kea Management and the Board of Regents established the Maunakea Management Board in the fall of 2000. The Mauna Kea Management Board, in turn, formed Kahu Kū Mauna, a council comprised of Hawaiian cultural resource persons to serve as advisors.

The mission of the Office of Maunakea Management is to achieve harmony, balance and trust in the sustainable management and stewardship of Maunakea Science Reserve through community involvement and programs that protect, preserve and enhance the natural, cultural and recreational resources of Maunakea while providing a world-class center dedicated to education, research and astronomy.