WAIMEA — “We wanted to do something really fun and different, that distinguishes our fundraiser from others,” Jen Lawson said, executive director of the Waikoloa Dry Forest Initiative.
WAIMEA — “We wanted to do something really fun and different, that distinguishes our fundraiser from others,” Jen Lawson said, executive director of the Waikoloa Dry Forest Initiative.
The nonprofit volunteer group, which takes care of the region’s native trees, is gearing up for their new “Beer, Bites and Bocce” fundraiser to be held from 2-6 p.m. on Sept. 10 at Anna Ranch in Waimea.
“A lot of golf tournaments are really popular here, but anybody can play bocce, and it’s fun,” Lawson said.
Bocce is a traditional ball-and-target sport, with roots in Egypt dating back to 5,000 B.C. It found its way to ancient Greece, and from there across the Roman Empire, throughout Europe and into America. According to the United States Bocce Federation, it is the third most participated sport in the world and is considered the oldest known sport in history.
No experience is needed to play in the tourney, and Lawson encourages teams of four, or individual players, to sign up with a “great team name, a snappy outfit and a good attitude.”
With a background in botany and plant sciences — in addition to backyard bocce — Lawson came to Hawaii Island from California in 2008 to work on endangered species conservation. She started with Waikoloa Dry Forest Initiative in 2011.
“It was an opportunity to do something different, as well as build community around restoring the forest,” Lawson said.
A “dry forest” is one that receives fewer than 50 inches of rainfall per year. Threatened by feral animals, human development and wildfire, WDFI estimates that only 5 percent of these native forests remain across the islands. Waikoloa Dry Forest is a 275-acre preserve located southwest of Waikoloa Village. There, volunteers work tirelessly to protect and nurture endemic trees like wiliwili and the endangered uhiuhi.
Their work is having an impact.
“The forest is doing really well. It’s surprising to me how quickly,” Lawson said. “The forest has generally been in decline, but we’ve been seeing some really awesome things in the last five or six years. Lots of things we planted are producing flowers and seeds. Plants are not just surviving, but thriving.”
Thriving is thanks to a loyal cadre of volunteers who collect seeds, start plants at the nursery, clear weeds and invasive species, maintain fencing and plant young trees in the rocky Waikoloa landscape. In the last five years, they have planted at least 10,000 trees, and have also started propagating ilima and aalii plants.
WDFI also runs a free Future Forester program for fourth and fifth graders, as well as the Dusty Donkey Emporium, a thrift shop located in Waikoloa Stables. Guided tours of the forest are available, especially during wiliwili blooming season between August and October.
“It’s taking care of the forest that is literally in your own back yard,” Lawson said. “WDFI was born from the idea to take care of the place, rather than some kind of mandate. You see that kind of project a lot at the ocean. And what happens mauka affects what happens makai. I feel like the initiative is having an impact on the image of Waikoloa, what Waikoloa is really all about.”
Beer, Bites and Bocce is $75 per person, including a tournament entry fee, three beverage tickets and gourmet food sampling throughout the day. In addition, participants will receive a custom, insulated growler from Big Island Brewhaus, who will donate a portion of each refill sale to WDFI. For non-players, the admission fee is $50, excluding the growler.
The event is sponsored by Live Aloha Realty and Big Island Brewhaus. Tickets are available online — including instructions for how to play bocce ball — at www.commitchange.com/nonprofits/4021/events/957.
For more information on the Dry Forest efforts, visit waikoloadryforest.org, follow Waikoloa Dry Forest Initiative on Facebook, or call Jen Lawson at 494-2208.