The Botany of Desire – full program online

A PBS video available online featuring Michael Pollan and based on his best-selling book, this special takes viewers on an eye-opening exploration of the human relationship with the plant world — seen from the plants’ point of view. Narrated by Frances McDormand, the program shows how four familiar species — the apple, the tulip, marijuana and the potato — evolved to satisfy our yearnings for sweetness, beauty, intoxication and control.

South Maui Water Quality – What You Can do

On September 10, 2009 Robin Knox spoke at the monthly SMS meeting about South Maui water quality and how we can have a hand in designing and creating the South Maui Watershed.

Robin Knox is an environmental scientist with more than 25 years experience in Clean Water regulation and pollution control. She specializes in developing water quality-based pollution controls that protect aquatic resources from man-made sources of pollution.

View Robin’s slide show.

Maalaea Bay’s once-vibrant reefs suffer decline at an alarming rate

The best place to see vibrant coral reefs in Maalaea may be at the Maui Ocean Center. The popular aquarium displays an abundant range of marine life that no longer exists in the adjacent bay, which has experienced a total collapse of its underwater ecosystem in recent years, due largely to human impacts.

[read full Maui News article]

New County Working Group to Examine Injection Well Options

Mayor Charmaine Tavares has convened a Community Working Group (CWG) to explore options to increase treated wastewater reuse to 100% within Maui Island. Represented in the group of 18 participants are developers, scientists, environmentalists, large and small scale farmers, community association representatives, a native Hawaiian fisherman and others. The CWG will meet at least once monthly over the next year and produce a report with recommendations in December 2010 to the Department of Environmental Management.

Below are the details for the first meeting. Subsequent meetings will be scheduled after consulting with the CWG members.

Where:
Kalana Pakui Building, First Floor
Planning Department Conference Room
250 S. High Street

When:
October 29th from 1:30-4:30 p.m.

Members of the public are invited to attend all the CWG meetings and provide comment. For more information, contact the Department of Environmental Management at 270-8230.

State Water Commission-Hearings on Restoring Streams

The Na Wai `Eha Interim Instream Flow Standards Contested Case is nearing a final decision by the State Water Commission. Hearings Officer Lawrence Miike’s proposed decision, issued this April, recommends that the Commission restore about half the flows to Waihe`e River and Waiehu, `Iao, and Waikapu Streams. The entire Commission will hold a meeting on Maui to hear final arguments from the parties on October 15, 2009, at 9 a.m., at `Iao Congregational Church at 2371 W. Vineyard Street.

To carpool to the hearing, check rides@CarpoolMaui.com.

[read more]

Mauka to Makai Riverwalk

First Friday in Wailuku
Friday, October 2, 2009

Hui o Na Wai `Eha and Maui Tomorrow, represented by Earthjustice, are petitioning the State Commission on Water Resource Management to stop wasteful water diversions and to restore the Waihe`e, North & South Waiehu, `Iao, and Waikapu Streams, traditionally known as “Na Wai `Eha” or “The Four Great Waters.”

A march in support of mauka-to-makai stream flow will begin at 4 p.m. at ‘Ïao Valley State Park and proceed about 3 miles down ‘Ïao Valley Road to the State Office Building where participants will hold signs and rally to raise awareness of the need for stream restoration.

Shuttles up to  ‘Ïao Valley State Park will be available at 3:30 p.m. for people who park near the State Office Building.

Sponsors will provide signs for peope who don’t bring their own.

That evening an information booth will be set up at First Friday on Market Street.

The State Water Commission will hold a meeting on Maui to hear final arguments from the parties on October 15, 2009, at 9 a.m., at ‘Ïao Congregational Church at 2371 W. Vineyard Street.

[read more]

Maui Costal Land Trust Coastal Dunes & Wetlands Refuge Annual Picnic

Saturday, September 5
9:45 a.m.— opening blessing for a day of fun and celebration.

Bring the family out to the Waihe‘e Refuge! See the restoration work that Maui Coastal Land Trust has done and are learn about the progress they’ve made at the rerfuge.

Explore for yourself at this free event.

• Native bird tour with Fern Duvall at 8:00 am – sign-up mandatory
• Blessing of new interpretive trail signage at 9:45 a.m.
• Guided Refuge Walks by Scott Fisher, Maui Coastal Land Trust at 10:00 and Noon
• Free BBQ picnic by Maui Culinary Academy, served from 10:30 – 2:00 pm
• Music by George Kahumoku at 11:00 am
• Keiki games & activities:
  • Hawaiian games by Hawai‘i Nature Center

  • Science activities by Maui Digital Bus
  • Hands-on crafts by Pacific Whale Foundation
  • Hands-on crafts by Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary
• Cultural demonstrations:
  • Poi pounding by Hokuau Pellegrino, Ho‘olauna Program, Kamehameha Schools
  • ‘Ahu ‘awa cordage weaving by James Crowe, Maui Coastal Land Trust
  • Waihe‘e history and talk story

Please RSVP! Confirm your attendance by calling 244-5263, or emailing info@mauicoastallandtrust.org.

Next Meeting—SOUTH MAUI WATER QUALITY: What You Can Do

Thursday, September 10th
6:00 p.m. Potluck Pupus and talkstory
6:30 p.m.–8:00 p.m. Presentations
Kihei Charter School

South Maui Sustainability is sponsoring the second in a series of community meetings which address South Maui water issues. Previously we examined water quantity. This presentation will introduce water quality concerns and how the South Maui community can have a hand in designing and creating the South Maui Watershed.

Speakers include:
Robin Knox is an environmental scientist with more than 25 years experience in Clean Water regulation and pollution control. She specializes in developing water quality-based pollution controls that protect aquatic resources from man-made sources of pollution.

*Kihei Charter School location:
300 Ohukai Rd # 213
Directions: Coming from south Kihei, take the Pi’ilani Hwy toward the Mokulele. Turn right (mauka) onto Ohukai Road. Take your second right. Go straight to the very end and turn left around the building. Turn left into the next bay. KCS is located on the right. Coming from north of Kihei, turn left (mauka) onto Ohukai Road and follow the directions as above from Ohukai Road. Look for the blue and yellow signs.

Click map to enlarge.

Photo by Peter Liu Photography, peterliuphoto.com.

International Costal Clean-up Day

Saturday, September 19th
9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

The SMS Reef Sustainability Committee is joining forces with Community Workday, Maui Reef Fund, Hawaii Wildlife Fund, Surfrider, and Stableroad.com. to collect litter and debris from roadsides and shorelines in an island-wide clean-up. Besides being an eyesore, litter ends up in the ocean and is detrimental to our reefs in many ways.

For volunteer information, email us at CoastalCleanup@SouthMauiSustainability.org

Making a Difference—An Action Guide to Marine Conservation in Hawai‘i

Making a Difference—An Action Guide to Marine Conservation in Hawai‘i is a pdf file that has been designed as a community tool to provide key information, guidelines, and contact information for marine resource conservation. The goal is to empower Hawai‘i’s ocean users to take an active stewardship role in the preservation and protection of the marine environment. This action guide outlines key rules and regulations on a variety of topics and provides general ecological information and guidelines to follow such as actions to take, if any; what information to record; what agency to contact; and where to go for more information and guidance. As a Hawai‘i ocean user and stakeholder, you can make a difference and contribute to marine conservation efforts! This action guide is also available to download from www.coral.org or www.projectsealink.org. There you will find the most recent version, in the event that changes have been made between printings.

Hawai‘i’s unique natural and cultural resources are irreplaceable, and should be treated with respect. We all must recognize our important role in caring for our environment, and our responsibility to do so. Take the time to learn about an area before you visit it, and consider such things as land owner-ship issues, sensitive cultural sites, traditional practices, and proper protocols. You can minimize your impact by educating yourself on the proper ways to interact with the marine environment.