Archive for October, 2009
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.
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.
The American Meadow Garden
In his new well-illustrated book, The American Meadow Garden, John Greenlee has targeted the Great American Lawn – that notorious sink of fossil fuels, water, chemicals and spare time – for destruction. “The revolution is clearly on,” he says, adding: “It’s a one-garden-at-a-time revolution.” Greenlee describes one of the most exciting new directions in horticulture and design, yards made of combinations of grasses and compatible accent plants for different kinds of meadows. One chapter catalogs grasses and grasslike plants now available in the horticultural trade; another showcases outstanding domestic meadows, including some of Greenlee’s own designs.
Smart grid gets test in Wailea
General Electric Co. recently announced it would test its “smart grid” technology in Wailea, hoping to reduce peak electricity consumption there by 15 percent by 2012.
Next Meeting: South Maui Sustainability Hosts “Sustainability Gift Fair” Nov. 12
Think Globally, Act Locally with Greener Lifestyle Gift Ideas
6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Kihei Charter School [map]
South Maui Sustainability (SMS) will host a special holiday gift fair featuring local businesses that support greener lifestyles on Maui. The “Sustainability Gift Fair” event, taking place from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Thursday, November 12, at Kihei Charter School will include more than a dozen vendors showcasing locally produced body care products, fresh island-grown produce, Hawaiian herb guides, food preservation tips, recycling services, personal chef services and much more.
Affordable gift certificates and sustainable products are available for purchase on site. The event will also feature delectable pupus, crafts and a presentation on eco-friendly tips for the holiday season.
Participants include Kula Fields, Maui Aloha Aina Association, David Bruce Leonard-Hawaiian Herbalist/Author, No Mo Plastic Bags , Alii Lavender Farm , Maui Favorites, Food Preservation, Maui Recycling Service, edible Hawaiian Islands Magazine, Joy’s Cafe, Kihei Charter School, Kihei Community Yoga, Barbara Berg-Children’s books, Phil and Paula- Jewelry, Beth Marcil,-Eco-Totes & T-shirts, Maui Academy of the Healing Arts, Earth Foundation, Mountain Slopes Water Company, Maui Tomorrow, The Sierra Club and others. Live music by Cambria Moss.
*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.
Maui Weekly preview of Sustainabiity Gift Fair.
Mayor’s Meeting on Agriculture Department Furloughs, October 27
Agriculture’s Plant Pest Control Branch employees as well as the furloughs for their agricultural inspectors, Mayor Charmaine Tavares will be hosting her third community meeting to bring important information to the public about the impacts of these staffing shortages. The meeting will be held at the Kaunoa West Senior Center on Tuesday, October 27th, beginning promptly at 6:00 p.m. Kaunoa West is located at 788 Pau‘oa Street in Lahaina. Proceed mauka on Lahainaluna Road and take the second right onto Pau‘oa Street. The meeting will include a Powerpoint presentation by Anna Mae Shishido, Maui County Supervisor for the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture’s Plant Quarantine Branch. A panel discussion will follow to address the environment, impacts to agriculture and ranching, and how the community can help with early detection and reporting of pest species.
Panelists include:
Lissa Fox, Maui Invasive Species Committee Clark Hashimoto, Agricultural Specialist, Office of the Mayor Willilam Jacintho, Maui Cattlemen’s Association/Maui County Farm Bureau Kuhea Paracuelles, Environmental Coordinator, Office of the Mayor Anna Mae Shishido, Hawaii Department of Agriculture – Plant Quarantine Branch
Mahalo to Zeke Kalua and the West Maui Taxpayers Association for hosting this important meeting.
Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project: It’s for the Birds
On Saturday, November 14, 2009 at 4 p.m. the Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project is hosting its first annual gala event, “It’s for the Birds” at the Hui No’eau Visual Arts Center, 2841 Baldwin Avenue in Makawao
This will be an evening celebration to benefit future research and recovery efforts of Maui’s native forest birds.
It will feature music by Maui’s very own talented musicians Halemanu and George Kahumoku and a keynote presentation by Jack Jeffrey, one of Hawaii’s most well known conservationists and photographers, on Hawaii’s unique endemic avifauna.
Pupus and fine wine will be served with a silent auction.
Car Running on Algae Fuel to Cross Country on Just 25 Gallons of Fuel
Algaeus, the world’s first algae-powered plug-in hybrid car, was unveiled in San Francisco and the prototype traveled with a host of other ‘green’ vehicles to New York for the opening of the film “Fuel” to promote alternative fuel.
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.
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South Maui Sustainability 