Working to put a Stop to Destructive Activities at Ka'ena

The Lawai'a Action Network has recently sent out a letter to commanding officers of all branches of the military in Hawaii requesting their assistance in protecting the culturally and ecologically sensitive area of Ka'ena from off-road activities. Mahalo to all those in the community who signed on in support of our letter!

Why the military? Because many of the off-roaders in Ka'ena are military personnel - in fact there is a local 4-wheel club in which most members are employees of the military. According to an article in JP Magazine titled, Vacation to Oahu - Hawaii Fine-O: Hanging with the Oahu Jeepers, "The Oahu Jeepers are made up of local Jeep enthusiasts, so that is to say almost every member is an active military, retired military, or civilian military contractor. We wondered why so many military guys owned Jeeps and found out that while stationed in Iraq, Afghanistan, or other nasty places for an extended time period, a vast majority of their pay is withheld because their living expenses are covered by Uncle Sam. Once back home, they get their withheld pay in a lump sum that usually gets spent on whatever they were dreaming about while overseas. In most cases, that's a shiny, modified Jeep."

Be it military or not, the next step in the process of educating off-road enthusiasts about the harm their hobby causes will be to contact JP Magazine, and any other publications that have been promoting off-road activity in Ka'ena, as well as local 4-wheel clubs who are posting videos about off-roading at Ka'ena online (see JP Magazine article link below).


All of the images are from JP Magazine's website

http://www.jpmagazine.com/eventcoverage/154_0604_vacation_to_oahu_hawaii_fine_o/index.html

Native Plants of Ka'ena (more to come)

Naupaka Kahakai are probably the most prevalent of native plants in Ka'ena. They can be found growing atop the sand dunes along the coastline of Ka'ena. In mo'olelo explaining the tiny, white half-flower of Naupaka Kahakai (a beach variety), it is said that two lovers were separated to mountain and sea and transformed into plants in order to protect them from Pele's jealous rage. The Naupaka Kuahiwi (mountain variety), was said to hold the other half of the blossoms that remain separated forever. The Naupaka of Ka'ena play an important role in the coastal eco-system; their roots protect the dunes from erosion, keeping soil firmly packed under the surface. Offroading on the dunes has caused major damage to a lot of Naupaka in the area, a plant that we rely on to protect our reefs from siltation caused by erosion.


Naio is a large shrub with tiny white flowers that can be found in the midlands of Ka'ena. Its wood has a Sandalwood-like scent.


Ohai is a low-lying shrub with a very unique flower. Like Hinahina, its silvery leaves reflect the light of the sun.

Ka'ena 'Akoko is a ground-crawling plant that grows on both sand and stone.

Pa'u o Hi'iaka is a ground-crawling plant that can be found growing alone or intertwined with other ground-crawling plants. The photo above shows the Pa'u o Hi'iaka growing with Ilima Papa. According to mo'olelo, its name was given after Pele found the plant wrapped around her baby sister Hi'iakaikapoliopele, protecting her from the heat of the sun.

Ilima Papa is a ground-crawling plant that grows along the coastline of Ka'ena.

Hinahina ku kahakai's succulent leaves form rosettes that are the base for the plant's tiny, white and sweet-smelling blossoms. It is a ground crawler that is named for its soft silver leaves.