Several Talk Story on the Land sessions are planned this year.
Several Talk Story on the Land sessions are planned this year.
Attendees of the Kaiholena South talk will learn about the archaeological, historical, cultural and ecological features of this 35-acre portion of the Ala Kahakai Trail system.
The free event is offered from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 5.
Led by Rick Gmirkin, National Park archaeologist and by Aric Arakaki, superintendent of the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail system, the event will feature a hike around the many heiau, massive halau, and village complexes that are still visible. Attendees should meet at the Mahukona lower parking lot at 9:45 a.m.
From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 19, participants will explore the Kona cloud forest on the flanks of Hualalai Volcano and see the tropical, forest, and montane zones of plants that change as the elevation increases. It will be led by Norman Bezona, a horticulture consultant and garden columnist for West Hawaii Today. Attendees should meet at the northwest corner of Home Depot at 9:45 a.m. Coffee and snacks will be at Thunder Mountain Coffee following hike.
Also, Lehua Lopez, head of the nonprofit conservation group Hoomalu Ka’u, will teach about the cultural and historical uses of native dryland forest plants and native plant ID. Meet at Christ Church Queen Emma Center, 81-1004 Konawaena School Road, Kealakekua at 10 a.m. April 2 for the 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. event. It is a class and not a hike. Water and snacks will be provided.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 14, a group will visit Honolulu Coffee Co. Captain Cook and several sites and learn about the watershed and the issues surrounding runoff, water use and pollution of the ocean. Meet at the lower corner of the Kealakekua Ranch Shopping Center parking lot at 9:45 a.m.
Starting at the Irwin Conservation Easement that protects the ohia forest in Volcano and moving on to the Jackson and Taylor easements, a group will visit conservation easements that have been donated to the Hawaiian Islands Land Trust and learn about the importance of the Small Easement Project. The event is from 10 a.m to noon June 4. Attendees should meet at the parking lot for the Ohia Cafe at 9:45 a.m. Snacks and water will be provided.
Finally, a group will visit ohia forest and see the work Kaye Lundburg and her family have done by clearing invasive species from the land and planting native plants from 10 a.m. to noon July 16. Meet off highway 11 on the mauka side between mile marker 32 and 31 by the large avocado tree at 10 a.m. The group will carpool into the property.
Snacks and water will be provided for all events. Reservations: Janet Britt, 769-4343, janet@hilt.org.