Beach pathway cleanup in Wai‘anae needs volunteers

Volunteers are needed for this year's first Kaukama Road Pathway Beautification and Cleanup on Saturday, January 24, 2009 from 7 – 10 a.m. The meeting place will be at Nani Kai Beach on Kaukama Road (one street east of Maili 76 gas station). Sponsors of the cleanup, Women of Wai'anae, AlohaCare, Rep. Maile Shimabukuro and Nani O Wai‘anae, will provide trash bags, gloves, yard tools, plants and refreshments. Volunteers are asked to bring sun protection, protective footwear and water for the plants.

In July 2008, AlohaCare awarded Women of Wai`anae, via their fiscal agent Kaho`omiki, a $5,000 grant in honor of the late Rev. Frank Chong to use toward the creation of a multi-use pathway along the Wai`anae Coast from Lualualei Naval Road to Ka`ena Point. The goal is to connect the path to the state's planned bike path, which will end at Lualualei Naval Road. The funds will be spent on maintaining and beautifying the pathway through volunteer work days.

After receiving the AlohaCare grant, Women of Wai`anae, Teach for America, ServiceNation, and Nani O Wai`anae organized a pathway clean up and beautification at Maili Point on September 27, 2008, the first national “Day of Action.” The event coincided with volunteer projects across the nation. Over 100 volunteers gathered and planted more than 40 native plants, mostly drought resistant, and thousands of native seeds. The following native plants are just a few that now flourish along the pathway: akia, milo, ma`o (cotton), naupaka, pa`u o hi`iaka, pohuehue, koali (morning glory). Volunteers also cleared brush and debris, and gathered over 100 bags of litter. Previous clean-ups were held on April 4, 2008 and May 17, 2008.

“The Kaukama Road Path will go a long way toward preventing childhood and adult obesity by providing a scenic route for biking, walking, jogging and other forms of exercise,” said Rep. Maile Shimabukuro (D45 Wai‘anae, Makaha, Makua). “It will also serve as a viable alternative to driving in these times of high fuel costs and traffic congestion, not to mention increased awareness of the need to reduce our 'carbon footprints' to combat global warming.”

For more information about the pathway clean-up, email maileshimabukuro@yahoo.com or call 696-4677.