Event to Help Restore Pool at Ka‘elehuluhulu Beach

The Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) invites volunteers to participate in a community workday on July 28, 2018, to help restore the anchialine pool at Ka‘elehuluhulu Beach. The event is called Sand Castles for Conservation and the DLNR Division of State Parks are sponsoring it. People are encouraged to help build sand castles using only sand from the anchialine pool.

Hawaiian Stilt in pool. PC: DLNR

Fun activities and prizes will be held throughout the day located at Kekaha Kai State Park in the Mahai‘ula section of the park.

The sand was deposited in the pool during the 2011 tsunami. There has been much progress over the past year in restoring the pool and the local community is welcome to help remove the sand during the event. The restoration process efforts have resulted in the return of an endangered Hawaiian stilt, which has been seen foraging in the Ka‘elehuluhulu pool for the first time in several years.

There will be a beach cleanup hosted by Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund from 9:30 to 11 a.m. The sand castle competition will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. While judging is taking place, event participants will be able to try the slack lining activity hosted by SlackHi from 1 to 2:00 p.m. There will be an adult and keiki competition. Participants can work as teams or as individuals.

Prizes will be awarded for a variety of categories. The prizes are donated by the Four Seasons Hualalai Resort, Big Island Diver, Dolphin Quest, Surfer Rider Foundation Kona, and Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund. Coffee for the event is being donated by the San Francisco Bay Coffee Company.

To register contact dena.m.sedar@hawaii.gov.