Volunteers Sought for Stewardship at the Summit - April through June 2015

Date: March 27, 2015
Contact: Jessica Ferracane, 808-985-6018

(Image not found.)

A volunteer removes invasive Himalayan ginger from an endemic kōlea lau nui (Myrsine lessertiana), an endemic understory tree found in the rainforests on Kīlauea volcano.

NPS Photo/J.Ferracane

Hawaii National Park, Hawai'i –Help protect the native Hawaiian rainforest at the summit of Kīlauea by volunteering for "Stewardship at the Summit" programs in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, now through June 2015.

Stewardship at the Summit begins at 9 a.m. and ends at noon. The dates from April through June are: April 2, 11, 17, and 24; May 1, 8, 20 and 30; and June 5, 13, and 19.

Volunteers help remove invasive, non-native plant species that prevent native species from growing. Meet project leaders Paul and Jane Field at Kīlauea Visitor Center at 9 a.m. on any of the above dates. Wear sturdy hiking shoes and long pants. Bring a hat, raingear, day pack, snacks and water. Gloves and tools are provided. No advance registration is required, and there is no cost to participate, but park entrance fees apply.

Volunteers have dedicated 4,271 hours of their time, and have restored more than 25 acres of native rainforest within the national park, since 2012. Countless Himalayan ginger, faya, strawberry guava, and other invasive, non-native plants that threaten the native understory near the summit of Kīlauea volcano have been removed. In their place, once-shaded 'ama'u and hāpu'u tree ferns have re-emerged, and pa'iniu, kāwa'u, and other important native plants are returning to the stewardship plots.

-NPS-

 

Closeup of kōlea lau nui

NPS Photo/J.Ferracane