DOFAW Wetland Volunteer Day

ALOHA ʻĀINA

Join us every First Saturday of the month for the Division of Forestry and Wildlife's (DOFAW) Wetland Volunteer Day from 9a - 12pm. The site will be at either Kawainui marsh, Hamakua marsh, Pouhala marsh, or Paiko lagoon. Support some of Hawaii’s most endangered waterbirds! Volunteers are needed to assist in removing invasive sedges that over crowd nesting areas, prevent water flow and water drainage.

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED- Sign-up here: http://dlnr.ivolunteer.com/#1

BRING: water, rubber boots/shoes that can get wet and muddy, work gloves, sunscreen, dry clothes.

 

Kawainui Complex Details

Through a joint project between the Army Corps of Engineers and the Hawaii State Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife, the southern portion of Kawaianui Marsh was restored to create a habitat for four endangered Hawaiian waterbirds: Aeʻo (Stilt), ʻAlaeʻulaʻula (Moorhen), ʻAlaeʻkeʻokeʻo (Coot) and Koloa Maoli (Hawaiian Duck).  The site consists of two ponds (North and South) excavated from upland pasture adjacent to Kawainui Marsh.  Preferred habitat requirements (water depth, vegetation cover, etc.) for each of the listed waterbird species vary, therefore the depth of the ponds is designed to have a maximum range from 18 in. to 24 in.  Each of the two ponds are subdivided into five or six interior cells in an arrangement that follows the site topography to collectively drain downslope from mauka to makai. Rainfall is the primary source of water supplying the ponds supplemented by two solar powered pumps utilizing groundwater wells to provide adequate water circulation within the ponds.  Ample water circulation is critical to prevent outbreaks caused by natural toxins produced by bacteria in pond soils. Hamakua and Pouhala marsh, as well as Paiko lagoon, are other examples of protected wildlife sactuaries for many endemic waterbirds.