NORTH HAWAII — On Nov. 16, 13 Honokaa High School (HHS) agriculture class students from grades 10-12 observed and learned about plants of the Kohala Mountain bog ecosystem and the Waikoloa Stream system.
They also got their hands dirty towards the end of the day as the high schoolers worked with UH Sea Grant representatives to plant native ahu’awa behind Waimea Center to help reduce sediment from Waikoloa Stream going to the ocean, and conducted water quality tests.
“It was cool for the students to understand the importance of the watershed and how it is vital to keep it healthy,” HHS ag teacher Manuel Jadulang said. “Our area of Waimea is unique that our drinking water as well as for ag comes from the area where the kids visited. The ohia trees are stunted because of the boggy type of environment which is very unique with lots of sphagnum moss.”
The field trip was made possible by Franny Brewer from the Big Island Invasive Species Committee, The Kohala Center’s Environmental Education Coordinator Ilene Grossman, Ka’aina Ishimine, Kehau Marshall from Ulumau Puanui and Parker Ranch.