The Year in Review: 2002
Malama O Puna’s Annual Report & Newsletter

Mango Grove Protected Forever! Six years in the works, the efforts of Malama O Puna to protect the grove of 354 old growth mangos along the Old Government Road have finally born fruit (pun intended). Originally planted over 100 years ago to provide shade and sustenance to the traveler, the grove lines both sides of the road for 1 3/4 miles on a stretch of the road that runs between Cape Kumukahi and the bottom of Hawaiian Beaches. It is listed in The County General Plan as a place of scenic beauty. But it is much more than that…it is magical. Coming out of the relentless sun and heat of the Kapoho lava flow, one is suddenly enveloped by the coolness of the green tunnel formed by the overarching mango branches. The trees are massive - the largest is over 18 feet in girth. Lianas, ferns and epiphytes festoon the trees. Hala and palms join in the blend. Dappled sunlight through the canopy creates dancing patterns of shadow on the surface of the road. Birdsong and fragrance fill the air. Suddenly you feel yourself transported back to Old Hawai'i.

The Wa‘a wa‘a-Koa‘e Road Committee is working to put the road, trees and historic rock walls into the protected status provided by a listing in the National Register of Historic Places. Getting the grove declared “exceptional” and protected by ordinance is a major first step which lays the foundation and credibility for historic status. As part of the process, MOP had to document each tree: photographing each one with its identifying number, measuring its girth and distance from the road median. Then the County had to be gently nudged to name an Arborist Advisory Committee for the current administration, so that the nomination of the trees could be approved and passed along to the County Council as a bill to amend the ordinance to include the grove. We presented it to the Committee and attended its meetings so that we could answer their questions. The Committee and its Chair, landscape architect Leonard Bisel, were exceptionally supportive. We then took it to Mayor Harry Kim, who was delighted to sign the Landowner’s Approval Form. We walked the bill through the County Council’s three hearings, testifying and answering their questions. The councilpersons were pleased to have such a “warm and fuzzy” piece of legislation like this to support, and did so unanimously. Julie Jacobson, Gary Safarik, “Bobby-Jean Leithead-Todd and Curtis Tyler rhapsodized over the beauties of the area and the need to preserve it so that future generations could share the pleasure with us. And now they will. Take a drive down there and enjoy – no rush: it will be there for a long, long time.

Uluwehi Native Tree Arboretum
We wrote three grant proposals in hopes of getting funding for the first phase of this project, including a landscape design and Albizia eradication. By October we learned that we would not get any financial help, so we started in anyway. Our first workday removed alien weed trees from “segment A”, and we planted 3 kopiko, 2 maile, 2 alahe‘e, 2 wiliwili, 1 ohe‘ohe, 1 kukui. 2 ko‘oko‘olau, 3 Hibiscus muliwai, and assorted green ti. If you want to help with planting, weed eradication or in any other way, call the office and volunteer.