Kaulana Manu - Native Bird & Plant Sanctuary - kaulanamanunativebirdplantsanctu

12/3/2009 2:25:11 AM - 002090904884
Aloha Jim. Your comment is unfortunately a common one from visitors and commercial tours alike. The response I give is simply, we are not keeping the public from the trail. Instead we are creating a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone. Building a trail does not take a couple of days. Especially when there is really only one person working on it. This project is completely VOLUNTEER BASED...So instead of feeling like you are being turned away I encourage you and anyone else interested in enjoying the trail to kokua the kipuka and volunteer your time and effort. Together we can make this trail available faster to the public. All the while not having to worry about large falling dead trees, uneven terrain and rubbish thrown about our beautiful sanctuary.
Thank you for your comment. If you have the energy to help us out we can curb all future complaints and disappointments.
P.S. If you didn't notice when you were up there there are no bathrooms...We officially have to wait at least until those are put in...I think we could all agree we would like to enjoy the kipuka without having to worry about stepping on or smelling the unappealing aroma of human feces and not to mention the toilet paper along the trail.
I hope this helped ....Aloha!

11/29/2009 8:19:48 PM - 003002676494
I was disappointed that I could not enter the kipuka while hiking up the saddle road and picking up trash. Why have a trail if no one is allowed to walk on it?

Aloha everyone! We have two days coming up this month for volunteers to come up and see just how much work we have been doing! MAY 23 & 30. Come be amazed and kokua the kipuka....WE'RE ALMOST COMPLETED!!!!!!!

We would love to start increasing volunteer days during the summer! So ...Monday & Wednesday and 2 Sundays out of the month! Anyone that feels like joining me please let me know. Aloha! 

Aloha all,

  I am unhappy to inform you all of the temporary suspension of all volunteer activities in Kaulana Manu. There will be tree cutting occuring and there are safety concerns about people in the area when these trees are still standing. If there are any questions,concerns or complaints concerning the cutting or the effect this will have on the endangered and native species residing in the kipuka I will be happy to forward the letters to my supervisor Irving Kawashima and his supervisor Roger Imoto. They are the two who decided to cut the trees and suspend all activities inside and would have better explainations for you than I.  I will keep you updated as I receive new information. Please feel free to email me at varagon@dofawha.org.

Mahalo,

  Virginia

Aloha everyone! Happy New Year to all...I hope everyone had a well rested holiday vacation/break. You were all missed. But now I am hoping to get the ball rolling again with some more work days! Please check the calender and let me know what days you can make it ahead of time. And please let your friends know about these days as well.  I hope to see all of you soon.

Happy Holidays to all! Sunday the 13th of December will be the last volunteer sunday of this year...The next work Sunday will be 1-03-09.  I hope you are all surrounded by those you love this holiday season and I will see you next year! Aloha, Virginia

Aloha e friends,

   I thought that since we are coming to the close of the year, I should make a special from me to you journal entry. I just wanted to thank you all for all your hard work and dedication. The amount of LOVE you have put into this kipuka is amazing and it shows!! Everytime I walk around the trail I am filled with such happiness and satisfaction because I remember what it looked like before and I see what it looks like now.   I know it has progressed so much only  because of the people who love Kaulana Manu the way I do...I hope you all know , again, this is not MY kipuka ...This is OUR kipuka project. Thank you again and I hope you all have Happy Holidays! There are just a few volunteer days in December before a short break...If I don't see you then I'll see you in January... Aloha!

 

Aloha Kaulana Manu Ohana!

We have had so many wonderful sketches submitted for us to choose from. It has been a tough choice. So what we have decided to do is go with a little bit of everyone. :) Sorry, it really was a tough decision. I will have a mock up of the collaborative art work on Monday. The official tshirt color will be dark green or black. We are still not sure if we will start with short sleeves or long...Any opinions?? Let me know. Take care of yourselves!

A hui ho!

In an attempt to connect the young men and women of Hawai'i to the beauty of Kaulana Manu and more importantly , nature, we have started a partnership with the Connections Charter school in Hilo, Hi. These young men and women of the highschool are assisting the kipuka in all programs ie. Trail work, Birding, Invasive species removal... They are ready, willing and able to volunteer for us every Wednesday. I am grateful and appreciative of their hard work and assistance. What a great group! They are so motivated and enthusiastic. Together we'll have this trial in tip top shape before the year ends.

Mahalo nui loa Connections!!