JULY 2008 TALK OF THE FOREST

o You can check out the State's final version of the Master Plan for Waimea Canyon and Kokee State Parks at http://www.hawaiistateparks.org/plans/index.cfm The Board of Land and Natural Resources will meet in Lihue Friday, July 25 at which the plan will be discussed. Public is always welcome to attend and participate.

o It's been WET on the West Side (of Kauai) this summer. Almost daily rains have drenched the western slopes of Kokee every afternoon, with mornings dawning sunny and clear. It's been good for the forest - no fire hazard like last summer. And Waipoo Falls is back to inspiring its usual roadside pull overs. It's been raining on the whole West Side - it's green, green, green from Hanapepe to Mana!

o Don't miss the unveiling of the new statue of Spark Matsunaga July 27 in Hanapepe at Storybook Theatre of Hawaii's new Spark Matsunaga Peace Garden. One of Hawaii's first congressmen, Spark was an extraordinary leader who grew up in Kauai's "Biggest Little Town." For information on this historic afternoon event, call Storybook Theatre's executive director Mark Jeffer's at 335-0712. A reception for sculptor Kim Buffet will be held prior to the unveiling. Congratulations to Storybook Theatre for celebrating Spark's great leadership in this way.
 
o Could that be - our Akulikuli lei?! Anybody else notice the inside back cover of HMSA's great member-mag
"Island Scene" (Summer 2008)? Hui o Laka trustee Kay Koike gave us a call  to point it out - there, ouched in a full bleed frame of dark pink is a patch of 'akulikuli lei blossoms, glowing like brilliant pink stars, and it  says Akulikuli lei, Kauai right under the photograph. These blooms just gotta be from that border planted by Hui o Laka  volunteers right at the entrance to the CCC Camp Mess Hall. We remember it was Diane Lemes who kneeled and knuckled through construction debris and replaced it with moist Koke'e soil in the narrow bed that borders the new accessible parking stall. We nursed slips from a Kokee cabin garden. We daily snip off fading flowers (otherwise the whole plant dies down) Now this narrow strip is in bloom all the time! The blossoms of Akulikuli lei (that's its whole name, not just akulikuli) are fashioned into fragile lei of extraordinary beauty and stunning impact - after all, the flowers are near-neon shades of pinks, orange, and white. The lei is often associated with Waimea on the Big Island (it thrives in the cool uplands). It used to thrive in and distinguish Kokee as a region of island mountain traditions equal to Waimea on the Big Island and Kula on Maui, spots reknowned for their beds of akulikuli lei. Old photos shows "The Park Headquarters" building bordered on all sides and in front by glorious beds of akulikuli lei; Joe Souza planted and tended those. And we don't forget Division of Aquatic Resources' Wade Ishikawa. Back when he was with State Parks, Wade planted and used to tend the brilliant bed of akulikuli lei in the grassed triangle in front of the Kokee Park Pavillion in Kanaloahuluhulu Meadow. If no one tends akulikuli lei, the patch dies back and is eventually replaced by grass. There are many akulikuli in Hawaii from the kai to the uplands. For a great intro to all akulikuli in Hawaii, and their many uses including removing pollutants from water, see Heidi Bornhost's 2005 article at this link:   http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2005/Sep/30/il/FP509300321.html
 
HERITAGE LANDSCAPE PLANTS
o So why are we going on about the akulikuli lei plant? It's not native to Kauai forests and it's not ndangered (though it's become rarer in mountain gardens). Akulikuli lei, like hydrangea and mentley plum trees, are treasured cultural plants. While they are not native, neither are they aggressive. They stay more or less put where they are planted, and together contribute to Kokee's "sense of place." These are "heritage landscape plants," plants that have come to be connected with special places like Kokee. They should be appreciated even if they are not endangered-they are part of the story of people and place. That's why Hui o Laka has begun a list of Heritage Landscape Plants for the area around the CCC Camp. These culturally significant plants are important, too! And sometimes, very beautiful. Drop by the see the akulikuli kai at the CCC Camp yourself sometime!
 
TAKE A WONDERWALK IN JULY AND AUGUST!
 o Come enjoy a stroll in the parks! It's cooler and thanks to a moist summer, everything green and growing. Call 335-9975, ext 0 to sign up for any of these hikes. Mahalo nui to Hui o Laka's devoted volunteer hike guides. Admission is by your donation at the end of the hike. Thanks for the support!
  July 12 - Kokee Halemanu
  July 13 - Pihea
  July 19 - Canyon
  July 20 - Kaluapuhi
  July 26 - Berry Flats
  July 27 - Pihea
  August 2 - Canyon
  August 3 - Kokee Halemanu
  August 9 - Kaluapuhi
  August 10 - Berry Flats
  August 16 - Canyon
  August 17 - Kokee Halemanu
  August 23 - Berry Flats
  August 24 - Pihea
  August 30 - Berry Flats
  August 31 - Kaluapuhi
 

15 NEW HUI O LAKA MEMBERS IN JUNE - 13 RENEW!
In June, Hui o Laka welcomed 15 new members with 13 loyal friends renewing their invaluable support. Mahalo nui a loa to Paula Amerine, Cappella Samanta, Keith & Merridee Smith, Elizabeth Hooker, Ron & Laura Wiley, David & Lynette Hargreave, Mr. & Mrs. RH Foster, Grant & Laurel Moorhead, Marc & Alice Imlay, Nanette Chang Dettloff, Donald & Shirley Hasenyager, Dick Sutton, Lindsay & Diane Faye, Gaye Miller, Griffen Madder, Joshua Miller, Avery Miller, Jody McGrath, Cindy Puig, TC Theofelis, Kathryn Majorki, Heuionalani Wyeth, Alice Walter, Pat Wilson, Mitch & Jenna Haynie, Thomas King Jr, Gary Hoover & Scott Feamster You're making a difference in the mountain parks you love ` Mahalo nui!
 
BE ON THE MOUNTAIN!
o SEPT 27 Public Lands Day - volunteer in Kokee!
o OCT. 11 20th Annual Emalani Festival, begins at 10 am, Kanaloahuluhulu Meadow
o  OCT. 25 Hui o Laka's Annual Membership Meeting, 10 am, CCC Camp Mess Hall
o NOV 29 The 55th Birthday of Kokee Natural History Museum! Come celebrate!