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| Water tank above Pāhala near a well drilled by the county for some 11 miles of pipe to serve some 459 connections. Photo by Julia Neal |
The latest U.S. Drought Monitor map shows nearly the entire island of Hawai‘i to be under at least moderate drought conditions (https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/data/png/20230912/20230912_hi_trd.png).
The National Weather Service's forecast calls for the existing drought conditions to expand over the entire island and intensify over the upcoming months due to the ongoing El Niño event. Peak dryness is expected to occur from around January through February 2024. The El Niño event will likely persist well into spring 2024. The majority of the Department of Water Supply's public water systems rely on water pumped from underground aquifers that are more resilient to drought than surface water sources. However, due to the drought forecast, DWS will continue to closely monitor its 23 water systems, especially those
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| Winning art by Kira Aguiar in the 2022 Water Conservation Poster Contest, sponsored by Department of Water Supply, |
If DWS' pumping capabilities cannot sustain the water needs of all customers and the public served by a respective water system, DWS will ask those customers to reduce their water use. Measures could include a request to cut back on irrigation, undertake 10 percent voluntary conservation, or comply with a mandatory 25 percent reduction notice so DWS can maintain an adequate supply of safe drinking water for all customers.
Water customers can do their part by fixing common household water leaks, irrigating efficiently, and switching to low-flow toilets. Other helpful water conservation tips can be found at the Department's website, www.hawaiidws.org, by clicking on the "Conservation" tab in the homepage drop-down menu.
Updated messaging will be posted at www.hawaiidws.org and on the DWS Facebook page at www.facebook.com/HawaiiDWS/.
To reach the DWS, call (808) 961-8050 during normal business hours, (808) 961-8790 for after-hour emergencies, or email: dws@hawaiidws.org.
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Santiago was located on Saturday, Aug. 12, in Pāhala after officers followed up on a tip from the public. He was arrested without incident and charged with one count each of contempt of court and a revocation of his supervised release, with total bail set at $5,250.
Santiago had also been wanted for questioning in a separate ongoing criminal investigation, which, upon completion, will be forwarded to the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney to be reviewed.
The Hawai‘i Police Department would like to thank the public’s assistance in locating Santiago.
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MAMAKI IS THE PLANT OF THE MONTH for Lāʻau Letters: Native Plants of Kaʻū, the monthly column by author Jodie Rosam and artist Joan Yoshioka. Read about Kaʻū’s native plants and their moʻolelo (stories), uses, preferred habitats, and opportunities to adopt them for stewardship. This column seeks to encourage making new plant friends and to reunite with others.
Description: Māmaki, Pipturus albidusm, is an endemic shrub (and sometimes small tree) in the Urticaceae or Nettle family, but unlike its continental relatives, māmaki evolved in its island ecosystem without stinging hairs. Māmaki is easily identified by its almost heart- or diamond-shaped and papery light green leaves with beautiful pink or red veins (although there is a green-veined variety). These colorful leaves can range from as small as 2” to as long as 10”. The small, pale-green flowers bloom year-round and appear in tiny clusters, producing white fruits resembling small raspberries. A juicy māmaki fruit is a sweet treat so don’t hesitate to try one!
Uses: Māmaki should be a staple plant in everyone’s garden or property, as its magical uses are plentiful. Māmaki wood was used as iʻe kuku (kapa beaters), but more commonly, māmaki was used to make kapa. While wauke (Broussonetia papyrifera or paper mulberry) was the primary source for making kapa, kapa māmaki was also quite common, especially on Hawaiʻi Island. Medicinally, māmaki fruits and seeds were eaten by mothers during pregnancy and by infants, young children, and even adults as a mild tonic. The berries can also be used topically to treat sores and wounds. Today, fresh or dried māmaki leaves are used to make a delicious tea which is good for cleansing the liver, bladder, and kidneys, and can even assist in lowering blood pressure and reducing inflammation. Māmaki tea can be very useful in times of high vog emissions to keep you feeling and breathing your best.
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Habitat: Generally speaking, māmaki grows on all of the main Hawaiian Islands except Niʻihau and Kahoʻolawe, typically within mesic to wet forests from about 100-6,000 feet elevation. Māmaki is often a colonizer of disturbed areas, so if you do any hand or mechanical clearing, please learn how to recognize māmaki seedlings so that they are not misidentified as weeds and pulled! Because of its usefulness, māmaki is often cultivated and planted, though in some instances you may find wild populations. The tiny seeds are easily dispersed by birds and can remain viable in the seed bank for a relatively long amount of time. In Kaʻū, māmaki can be found along roadsides and even in subdivisions, so again, learn to identify and begin to acquaint yourself with this wonderful plant (if you have not yet already). Just remember, always ask the landowner before you harvest any leaves on private property, and always ask the plant for permission, too!
Growing and Purchasing: Although you can often find māmaki for sale in garden departments of big box stores and local nurseries, māmaki is easy to grow and will propagate readily from seeds or cuttings. Seeds can be separated from pulp using a strainer or by hand by loosening them in a bowl of fresh water. Once in water, the viable seeds will sink and the pulp (and any non-viable seeds) can be poured off. At this point, seeds can either be dried to store, or poured (with water) over a relatively dense media and kept moist and shaded until they germinate, which takes about 2 weeks. Cuttings should be taken from 4-6” material, and soaked in water until roots appear, then transferred to media. While māmaki prefers wet feet (a place that is well-watered), it can also thrive in drier locations once it becomes established. To keep your māmaki at a height for optimal leaf harvesting, pinch-prune the upper growing tips to encourage vigor and keep leaves within reach. Cheers to māmaki tea in everyone’s future!
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com, in the mail and on stands.
Growing and Purchasing: Although you can often find māmaki for sale in garden departments of big box stores and local nurseries, māmaki is easy to grow and will propagate readily from seeds or cuttings. Seeds can be separated from pulp using a strainer or by hand by loosening them in a bowl of fresh water. Once in water, the viable seeds will sink and the pulp (and any non-viable seeds) can be poured off. At this point, seeds can either be dried to store, or poured (with water) over a relatively dense media and kept moist and shaded until they germinate, which takes about 2 weeks. Cuttings should be taken from 4-6” material, and soaked in water until roots appear, then transferred to media. While māmaki prefers wet feet (a place that is well-watered), it can also thrive in drier locations once it becomes established. To keep your māmaki at a height for optimal leaf harvesting, pinch-prune the upper growing tips to encourage vigor and keep leaves within reach. Cheers to māmaki tea in everyone’s future!
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com, in the mail and on stands.
TROJANS GIRLS VARSITY VOLLEYBALL TEAM REMAINS UNDEFEATED, beating Konawaena on Monday, on the road. The scores were 25-21, 25-22, and 25-10.
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