Hawaii Agriculture Research Center / Health

HARC is a private non-profit organization that supports a viable agricultural sector by researching and applying relevant science and technology to achieve practical solutions and by identifying new agricultural opportunities. They are aiming to develop new technologies to help forward and sustain agriculture in Hawaii. Our speaker was a Plant molecular Biologist from Taiwan but went to University of Manoa in Plant Physiology and Agricultural engineering. She taught us how to identify the sex
determination genes in Papayas. We also got to do a DNA dance.

Our next guest speakers are Pediatricians and they came to talk to us about the importance of our health and how we should change it or start eating right today because most of the health problems are spreading out to teenagers like us. They gave us sheets that explained whats in the things we drink and eat that is not good for us. It is very important that we eat Breakfast and not too much Sugar. Also, SLEEP is very important :) It was a very healthy lesson. Mahalo.

Piliokahe/ Palehua Nursery

We have a adopted part of Piliokahe Beach which is where we have gone to do some planting and weed work. We were split into two groups, one had to remove or weed the invasive plants that were there, and the other group had to plant the Native plants. It was a lot of work and really hot but we managed to pull through and did a very good job. After that, it was time for a quick game. The object of the game was to pick up any type of rubbish and collect all the data on a piece of paper to see how much rubbish was found. There was mostly Plastic .

After that, it was time to head back up to Palehua to do some Nursery work with Uncle Anu's wife, Maka. She had us plant some baby plants into small containers and take out some of the seeds to plant. We also got to see all of her experiments of her plants that were planted all differently. And it shows which one is working and which is not due to the growth of the plant and most of these plants were planted from months ago. It was really educating and learned some useful information in planting.

What was here before ?

Today, we have a very special guest who we see around campus all the time, Josiah Ho'ohuli also known as "Uncle Black", and Nanakuli's Ambassador. He discovers history and tales that seems to be hidden in plain sites. He joined the Marine Corps for a change of scenery, and gets involved with the community, he's a fixture at Nānākuli High and loves everything about the west side. "You have to pay attention to the Kupuna" is what he says and shares to us young ones to recognize him and other elders. Uncle black has been living here ever since, and he knows many things and was gladly and happy to share it with us. There were many things that was here long ago and is not here today. Uncle Black said, " today is all about MONEY ", which we agree with. It's changing over time and it's not "nanakuli" anymore. Us students would love to try and change it back :)

Thank you so much for sharing your experience and life to us, and caring so much about our community . We appreciate the time you took off to spend it with us and we are grateful. See you on Campus Uncle Black :)

Ms.Kirkland had us work on our Ipus in our groups of three. It was first time experience for most of us and it was cool.

Nānākuli Valley Trip

 Took a trip to the Ranch that is located at the back of our valley, to explore more about it and see what was here before and what there is now. We were guided and led by both magnificent and well known men named Bruce Koebele and Eric Enos who are both from the westside of the island. Uncle Bruce talked to us about all of the Native and Non-Native and also Invasive plants that were all posted at the ranch from many years ago. There were also some native plants that were planted there but got burned down from the fire that happened in 2005. So it is time to replant them and recreate this ranch. Kupu Hawaii, a program that empowers youth to serve their communities through character building, and service learning.

Near the stream has like a collection of the Lions Ears (Leonotis leonurus) which Uncle Bruce wanted us to pull out so that we can plant the Natives there. Lion Ears are basically large shrubs that are about 3-6 feet tall . 

After a short break, Uncle Bruce had the members of KUPU split and get into groups and help us plant the native plants. 

Group 1 : The Nanu Plant (Hawaiian gardenia)

Group 2: The Naio Plant

Group 3: Ma'o Hau Hele, the actual State Flower

Group 4: 

Group 5: Naio Plant

Lastly, we got to talk stories and listen to Uncle Enos who knew a bunch of things about Nanakuli. He mentioned some very interesting things about the back valley and the heiau here.  He builds organizations investing in continuous improvement where he can combine his technology, project, process, and leadership experience to help out.

It was a very exhausting, yet educational day for us learners and enjoyed it a lot. We made a very huge difference when we pulled the weeds and planted the Natives to help recreate what was there. Much Aloha to Uncle Bruce and Uncle Enos. Also to the KUPU program, Mahalo.

Paepae O He'eia

Paepae O He'eia is a non-profit organization dedicated to caring for an ancient Hawaiian Fish pond that is located in He'eia, Ko'olaupoko, Kaneohe. It was established by a group of young Hawaiians and works in partnership with Kamehameha Schools, land owners, to maintain and manage this fish pond for the community. From all the pictures that we have seen shown by the staff there, they changed a whole lot and cleaned it up real good. This fish pond has changed over the last two years by the staff, they removed most of the Mangroves there due to all the mud it was causing and made more secure Makahā's which are very useful for that Pond.We got to see Native & Invasive Plants while walking along where the Mangroves were, and also played a little line up to see how the rocks were stacked here. These huge rocks were carried down from the mountains from the hands of Hawaiians and stacked up. 

We got to see the Makahā and the Kia'i and were told all about it. There were legends about the man who owned this pond and what would happen to those who would come and take fish or whatever without asking. The Kia'i was made right next to the gates so that the Guardians would watch for the fishes that are coming in and out. It was a very nice hale and Makahā.

Then it was time for our service and help out by removing the invasive seaweed. There were a lot surrounding the fence that was put there which has a lot of fishes inside. It was hard for them to get the water in there with all of the Limu blocking the wholes of the fence. It was a new experience for most of the students and they were scared at first but enjoyed after. As they pulled and reached for the limū, they caught Crabs, Fishes, and Shrimps as well. The best part was just reaching for it because you can't see anything beneath the water due to the mud and sand mixed and all the movement in the water. Basically, you were just feeling for it. The students had a great time, and some of them wouldn't mind doing it again.

After all of the things that has been said and taught by the staff here at the fish pond, the students had one last mission and that was to go on a Scavenger Hunt. It was a nice activity to end the day and they enjoyed it and contributed as a group.

Nānākuli Hula with Uncle Kimo

Today, we were having a very special guest that knows a whole lifetime about Nanakuli, and also had family who lived here and lives here himself, Kumu Kimo Ke'aulana. He is a Hawaiian Instructor who has been teaching at Honolulu Communtiy College since 1997. He expands the significance and beauty of his culture, Hawaiian. Uncle Kimo is an absolute natural of his kind, he has taught us the meaning of "Nānākuli" by using his skills and giving us 5 different symbols. Other than the other guest speakers, he really reached out to us and made us feel comfortable which encouraged us to sing his song that he brought to share with us, the Nānākuli Hula. Uncle Kimo went throughout the whole song which is in Hawaiian so that we would understand the meaning of the song.  It was a great pleasure having Kumu Ke'aulana sharing his story and entertaining and actually connecting with us. Mahalo and Thank You Very Much.

COCONUT ISLAND/ MOKU O LO'E "WaiWai"

Coconut Island or Moku O Lo'e, is located in Kaneohe Bay. It's a Marine research facility of the Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology of the University of Hawai'i. Nobody is to live on the island, it is private and only used for research and experiments. You are to ride a boat to get there and not touch anything because everything is being experimented and tested, must ask for permission.

On our way to Moku o Lo'e, we slowed the boat down to test out one of their tools to get Plankton. Plankton is a very small organism that is eaten by whales ad Fishes.  It was shown by our guide and we got to use the Microscopes to see the actual Plankton that was caught from their useful tool. There were a lot. 

Our first activity was to separate a bucket of Poriferans, Annelids, Cnidarians, etc. We were to go into four groups and organize them into small little bowls.

Poriferans, "Pore Bearers", are sessile filter feeders or deter predators. Annelids were the Marine Worms, they're long tubes like bodies and very bubbly. There are also Cnidarians which are 'hollow stingers ', Microscopic stinging capsules called nematocysts . 

After they were all being observed, they were to be put back into the water. 

We were split into two groups and were to see different tanks that has different kinds of things inside. There are two tanks with different types of sharks. It was really entertaining and an actual first time view for most of us because we don't see sharks. There were also Black and White tip sharks that were in some type of Lagoon. A black tip is constantly moving but the White tip stays still and underwater.

There were alot of Native, Non-Native plants .

It was a Joy and a great experience to spend a day at Coconut Island with such Intelligent scientists and great Knowledge . It taught us a lot and such useful information. Would be looking forward to going back to Moku o Lo'e . 

It was also a special and a blessing day for one of our Interns Ms.Kaui. It was her 22nd birthday and she was gladly to spend it with the Wai'anae Malama Aina Field School. God bless you and thanks for the cupcakes and your cooperation. Happy Birthday !

Day 4 : Geology Bus Tour

Today, were going to see things from a scientific view given by a Geologist,  Dr.John Sinton, he will be our guide and teach us all about the Wai'anae Volcano. He has been studying and doing a lot of researches all over and is one of the first finders of the Ka'ena Volcano. He helped determine possibly a third volcano that happens to be very older than the Wai'anae Volcano. Most of their research is from all of the rocks located there. Dr. Sinton experimented a whole lot and is sharing such important and interesting information all about Volcanoes.

First Stop : Nanakuli Intermediate & High School

Second Stop :  Kaukama Road

There are numerous huge amount of rocks located on this road that is known as Pahoehoe  lava rocks. Pahoehoe lava are smooth and thick rocks. There are also dike rocks that has been drilled in by Geologists for samples. These are all lava flows.

Across the valley has a fantastic view of the low hill of Pu'u Ma'ili'ili and Kailio (Dog) .

Stop 3 : Wai'anae Valley Road

A backroad leads to the back of Wai'anae Valley, where an old dairy used to be and is known as the Wai'anae Volcano caldera . This area is private and is not to be trespassed at some boundaries. Other than that, there are some white rocks, that were carried there and is not to be dumped. The mountains and lava flows outwards which shows that its the inside of the Volcano.

Stop 4 : Poka'i Bay or Ma'ili Beach Park ( LUNCH )

Here has another view of Pu'u Ma'ili'ili, it looks different from Pu'u o Hulu Kai to the south and more leveled. But there are rocks near the ocean side where people usually fish or jump from that was actually Coral reef. You can see the coral on the rocks which says that it used to be underwater or the ocean was higher than all of these huge rocks. There are hidden stories from back then about the he'ao here but it is still unknown of the actual truth. There also native plants here.

& its LUNCH TIME :) Yaaay !

Well, it was a great view from Poka'i Bay but it was time for the next stop and more to learn :)

Stop 5 :Kaneana ( Cave of Kane )

This cave is really special to most people because this is the place where Pele has emerged on Oahu, from Kaua'i and is also where Maui and his grandmother lived. People also say that there was a shark man that once lived here and is probably still living til' this day. There are vertical bodies above and around the cave. It's dark and cold in the cave and very quiet. The lava flows inside are very mixed. There are a'a, pahoehoe, and dike rocks and the rocks proves that waves from the ocean used to come splashing and crashing in and also went higher than the cave.

Last Stop : Roadcuts, South of Makua Valley

A little down from Kāneana, there is a section of hardened sands and coral above lava flows. It is near the road and they were formed by lava flows and the big volcano. There was a change in the sea level and the ocean used to come up where these rocks are at. It's basically a mixture of dike, pāhoehoe, a'a, sand, and even fossils. It was all mixed together due to the Ocean waves, lava flows and air bubbles. Its a very beautiful piece.

After a long and exhausting day, everyone had a great time learning about the west side, and all about Volcanoes & Lava flows. Also enjoying the views and different types of rocks. Now, they wont see it as just some kind of rock, but they know the types and where it came from. Having Mr.Sinton was a pleasure and we are really thankful for sharing what he does for a living and all he knows about our side of the island. Mahalo Mr.Sinton , hope to learn more :)

Day 3 : GIS Guest Speaker

Another Work Day

Today, the students have been taking their Pre-Tests and learned or refreshed their memory about what they have learned recently on Science. They also had another guest speaker, Craig Clouet, the GIS (Geographic information System ) Solutions Engineer at ESRI. He mentioned a lot of new things about apps and things on electronics. Mr.Clouet explained about these new softwares and how useful it can be all though it may be confusing. Much Alohas to Mr. Craig Clouet for such a great presentation and helping us understand the usage of GIS software.

Day 2 : Palehua/ Palikea Hike & Service Project

Palikea Hike

The Wai'anae Malama Aina Field School on their First field trip of the summer. They hiked the Palikea Trail to see the view and collect data of their home, Nanakuli. We were located on Mauna Kapu and then hiked in between Palikea and Mauna Kapu. 

A very experienced couple hiked us through the Palikea Trail, Ranger Thomas Anuheali'i "Anu" and his wife Maka Kamohali'i. They have been on this trail a lot of times and shared their experience and knowledge with the Wai'anae Malama Aina Field School.

On the Palikea Trail, there are numerous amount and different types of Native and Non-Native Plants.