Kaʻū News Briefs, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022

‘Ōpae ‘ula, or tiny red anchialine pool shrimp like the ones shown here, were one of the main topics of the fifth International

 Symposium on Anchialine Ecosystems held on Hawai'i Island in November, available on facebook and YouTube

 Photo by Lindsey Kramer

HAWAI'I WILDLIFE FUND'S FOCUS ON PRESERVING ANCHIALINE PONDS, many of the brackish pools with native shrimp along the Ka'u Coast, is the subject of a wrap-up statement this week on its November symposium, with presentations now available on facebook and YouTube.
    Hawai'i Wildlife Fund and partners' fifth annual International Symposium on Anchialine Ecosystems marked the first time Hawai‘i hosted this international event, and it welcomed more than 125 scientists, resource managers, students, and community members from around the world. Hawai‘i experts represented 78 percent. Seventeen percent came from the U.S. Mainland, and five percent from Croatia, Italy, Canada, and Mexico. "We were honored to provide a platform for sharing the brilliant research, management and restoration projects going on both globally and locally here in Hawai‘i," said the statement from the organizers.
    In the words of Troy Sakihara of the Hawai‘i state Division of Aquatic Resources, “This year’s symposium was grounded upon the importance of and our collective kuleana, a broad, inherent responsibility to culture and place. While the endemic flora and fauna of Hawaiian anchialine ecosystems are celebrations enough for conservation and protection, the cultural, spiritual, and historical significance of these pools are transcendent.”
    Opening plenary presenters, Ku‘ulei Keakealani and Lehua Kamaka, helped set the tone and intention by connecting participants with e ola nā loko wai, the life-giving characteristics of these combined freshwater and marine ecosystems. The following day, plenary speaker Dr. Scott Santos walked attendees through the genetic diversity and interconnectedness of red pool shrimp, ‘ōpae ‘ula (Halocaridina rubra) populations in the Hawaiian Islands. Symposium talks ranged from restoration techniques for improving water quality and eradicating invasive species, to preparing for the potential impacts of climate change and rising sea levels. 

Dr. Scott Santos presented his research on genetic diversity and interconnectedness of red pool shrimp, ‘ōpae ‘ula,
(Halocaridina rubra) in the Hawaiian Islands. Photo by Lindsey Kramer/ HWF

   Other presentation highlights included an overview of the protection and restoration efforts of the Kaumaui area in Keaukaha, East Hawai‘i, presented entirely in ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i, by student practitioners from Ka ‘Umeke Ka‘eo Hawaiian Immersion Public Charter School. Another was an overview of recent efforts to cultivate and use the native plant, ‘auhuhu (Tephrosia purpurea) and plant-based rotenone chemicals to help remove invasive fish and restore native wildlife to anchialine pools. The statement from organizers reported, "A stunning, albeit not completely surprising talk on the impacts of microplastics reaching fragile anchialine cave ecosystems. Let’s all continue to cut-down on our use of single-use plastics, OK?"

    Huaka‘i, field trips, featured visits to an array of anchialine ecosystems, including both restored pools and pools populated with invasive fish like tilapia, mosquitofish, and guppies. After the symposium, some participants ventured to check out the newly formed, geothermically-heated and piping hot anchialine pools inshore of a newly created coastline during the Kilauea eruption.
    According to Megan Lamson, Hawai'i Wildlife Fund President and Hawai‘i Program Director, “The 5ISAE event was a grand success, bringing a wealth of knowledge and variety of anchialine perspectives from around the world and across Hawai‘i to Kona to discuss the ongoing research, restoration work, and protection efforts happening in these pools, ponds, cracks, caves and crevices. It was a true honor to see folks being able to learn and share from one another, Hawai‘i participants bringing more culture and place-based solutions and stories, and mainland / global researchers bringing more bio-geo-chemical aspects (and new vocabulary) to the table. We were humbled by the community support and are thankful that it brought such positive attention to these special habitats and the flora/ fauna/ fungus that live there.”

During a huaka‘i, field trip, participants visited remote anchialine pool sites in Kaʻū. Photo HWF 

    Lead organizers of the event, based in Kona, included Hui Loko; the team at Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund; Hawai‘i Department of Land & Natural Resources' Division of Aquatic Resources, Division of Forestry & Wildlife; Division of State Parks; The Nature Conservancy, and the National Park Service. Generous financial support was provided by Kamehameha Schools, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Pacific Islands Fish & Wildlife Office, He‘eia Bay Forever, the U.S. Geological Survey, Fair Wind Cruises, and several private donors. Other key sponsors included Lili‘uokalani Trust, Hawai‘i Fish Habitat Partnership, Hawai‘i Mountain Running, Kua‘āina Ulu ‘Auamo, Hawai‘i Coral Reef Initiative, David Shepard Hawai‘i, Mauna Lani Auberge Resorts, and the Four Seasons Resort.
   Local vendors that donated items included Annette Tagawa, Ao Organics Hawai‘i, Aquatic Life Divers, Ashley Pugh, Fish Hopper Restaurant (Kona), Friends of Lili’uokalani Gardens, Greenwell Farms, Hawaii Forest & Trail, J. Hara Store, Jack’s Diving Locker, Jodie Ray Rosam, Kahulale‘a, Ka‘u Coffee Mill & Visitor Center, Kona Coffee Company, Kona Joe Coffee, Lava Lava Beach Club- Waikōloa, Liko Lehua, Momi Ahu, Naomi Ahu, Nalu Builds, ‘Ohana Slippah Fish, Ola Brew, Orchid Isle Snacks, S. Tokunaga Store, Inc., Sea Paradise Sailing and Snorkeling Tours, Sig Zane Designs, and Takeo Gyotaku. Donated items helped fund additional student travel stipends and online accessibility of the symposium proceedings. 

   In coordination with CarbonBuddy, the event was carbon-neutral.
   To see all of the presentations, check out the HWF YouTube channel and the 5ISAE event Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/hianchialine). Talks will continue to be posted on both platforms: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NmR2xxy9Zc&list=PLAi8pqpKGj4u-_7kxW7XutEjdbMljklP6.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at wwwkaucalendar.com. See upcoming events at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/04/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html.

Letters to Santa from Pāhala keiki will bring them gifts before Christmas. Photo by Jana Kaniho

Deadline for Letters to Santa to reach
the Pahala Post Office is Dec. 15.
Photo by Jana Kaniho

LETTERS TO SANTA IN PĀHALA bring gifts to keiki at Pāhala Post Office. The protocol is for keiki who live in Pāhala to write letters to Santa asking for a humble gift and the post office staff and supporters attempt to make their holidays wish come true.

     Deadline to receive the Letters to Santa is Thursday, Dec. 15, addressed to  Pāhala Post Office, Pāhala, HI 96777. The gifts will be handed out on a date to be announced before Christmas, said organizer Jana Kaniho. She emphasized that keiki be very specific about the gift they would like to receive.

    Donations to support the program have come from  O Kaʻū Kakou and private citizens. Donations can be given at the post office in cash, check or in the form of gift cards from Target, Walmart and Amazon.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at wwwkaucalendar.com. See upcoming events at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/04/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html.

Volcano School keiki visit Volcano Art Center to
 sing Aloha 'Aina and display their art.
Photo from Volcano School

ALOHA AND 'AINA are subjects learned in the classroom of the PreK class at Volcano School of Arts & Sciences. "When students decided to combine the two words, amazing things happened.  A mele and a piece of art were created," said teacher Michelle Buck. Volcano Art Center put the students' art piece on the back lanai. Second graders accompanied the PreK class to visit their art on display.  The children hiked through the Ni'aulani Rain Forest and sculpture garden prior to stopping for a group photo.  

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at wwwkaucalendar.com. See upcoming events at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/04/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html.

HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES AT THE CLUB AT DISCOVERY HARBOUR include Trees of Hope, the Jingle Bell Open and and Ho'olili Farmers Market

     Trees of Hope begins Monday, Dec. 5 and runs through Jan. 5. Non-profit groups will decorate Christmas trees to be displayed at the clubhouse. As members and guest visit, they will have the opportunity to make donations and provide gifts to the organizations of their choice.

      A Ho'ili'ili Farmers Market will be held on Saturday, Dec. 10 at The Club at Discovery Harbour, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with holoholu fun, live music, food and local treasures, including island gifts for the holidays.

     A golf competition called the Jingle Bell Open will be held at Discovery Harbour on Saturday, Dec. 10 with a Shotgun at 8 a.ml, trophies for winning team, a putter for the closest pin and driver for the longest drive. It is presented by ClubTech. Cost is $45 per person. Sign up at clubatdiscoveryharbour@gmail.com or call 808-731-5122.