HANAPEPE — The Kauai Forest Bird Recovery Projectis holding its annual Hawaiian blessing of its 2018 field season at the Pohaku Hula Site.
HANAPEPE — The Kauai Forest Bird Recovery Projectis holding its annual Hawaiian blessing of its 2018 field season at the Pohaku Hula Site.
Kumu and Hanauma of the KaImi Naauao o Hawaii Nei Institute and staff from KFBRP, Kokee Resource Conservation Program, and the Kauai Invasive Species Committee will gather to bless the upcoming field season with songs and dances to invoke the protection and good will of the gods and the elders for Kauai’s native forest birds and their habitat.
A volunteer workday hosted by KRCP is to follow the blessing to remove invasive weeds from the Pohaku Hula Site adopted by the KaImi Naauao o Hawaii Nei Institute.
This volunteer day is another celebration marking Hawaii Invasive Species Awareness Month. It helps raise awareness about the impacts and threats posed by invasive species across the state. Volunteers will help protect Kauai’s native forests by removing invasive guava and ginger. Information about how interested organizations can adopt their own site will be available at the workday
Kauai is home to three critically endangered forest bird species — Puaiohi, Akikiki and Akeke‘e — and one threatened species, Iiwi. During the field season, KFBRP staff works on collecting population data and performs habitat protection and predator control of these species in their native habitats.
The blessing and work day is scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday. Participants should meet at Kanaloahulululu Meadow in Kokee and caravan to the site. The event is open to everyone. Volunteers should wear long pants, long sleeves and covered shoes, and bring lunch, drinking water and a rain coat. All tools will be provided.
