Waipio Valley access road to be closed July 4 weekend
The County of Hawaii announced Monday that the Waipio Valley access road will be closed to non-Waipio residents over the Fourth of July weekend.
The county said the decision to close the road comes as the Big Island continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic. Residents have also requested the closure, citing high traffic, roadway, and health concerns.
Guards will be positioned at the top of the road throughout the weekend to ensure compliance, the county said.
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KHS launches new youth summer program
Kona Historical Society’s pilot summer youth program, Malama ‘Aina continues.
This program consists of five sessions throughout the months of June and July and is being offered free of cost to middle school students in sixth through eighth grade.
Students enrolled in Malama ‘Aina will spend three days at the society’s Kalukalu Headquarters in Kealakekua where they are invited into the native forest, the society’s archives, and the historic H.N. Greenwell Store Museum. Over the course of the program students spend time working in the native forest, learning plant identification and uses, removing invasive species, and replanting additional native plants. Using the society’s newly refurbished research stations, students are also invited into the Jean Greenwell Library and Archives to identify their own ahupua‘a and to learn about its history, natural resources, and uses. Students also have the opportunity to research their own genealogy. Their new knowledge and interests are utilized in the creation of natural plant dyes and a personally carved ohe kapala on the final day of the program. Finally, students’ ohana are invited to headquarters for a final presentation and celebration of the student’s hard work.
The first two sessions of Malama ‘Aina were held in early June. The last three sessions are slated June 29 to July 1, July 6 to 8, and July 20 to 22. The 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. program is free and lunch is provided.
To register a student, visit https://tinyurl.com/khsmalamaaina or https://konahistorical.org/.
For more information, call the Kona Historical Society at (808) 323-3222 or email Audrey Blair at audrey@konahistorical.org.