Coconut Island closed for tree trimming
The Department of Parks and Recreation will close Mokuola Island (Coconut Island) in Hilo from Monday through Wednesday for maintenance.
The closure will help keep patrons safe while coconut trees are trimmed and coconuts removed.
Info: 961-8311.
Keauhou Bird Conservation Center receives grant
The Cooke Foundation recently awarded $8,670 to the Hawaii Forest Institute for its Keauhou Bird Conservation Center Discovery Forest.
Funds will help the institute and Kamehameha Schools in their collaborative efforts to engage student volunteers focused on forest stewardship activities at the Discovery Forest. In addition to restoring native forest habitat, the Discovery Forest provides youth with a forest stewardship learning experience as well as fruit and perching limbs for the birds in captivity.
According to Keauhou Bird Conservation Center Caretaker Iwikauikaua Joaquin, the Discovery Forest has engaged 730 volunteers of all ages in outplanting more than 3,100 native seedlings, which will benefit the Hawaiian birds in captivity and in the wild. Outplanted species include koa, mamane, maile, ohia, painiu, ohelo, kawau, kolea, olapa and pilo.
The Division of Forestry and Wildlife Forest Stewardship Committee recently approved a 10-year management plan, which calls for the restoration of 40 acres over 10 years.
The Keauhou Bird Conservation Center is near Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Info: Heather Simmons, 933-9411, hfia@hawaiiforest.org.