Week 1

top; blue skies over Kalaeloa, where we planted saplings of 'Ewa Hinahina and Maiapilo.

#2; Mongoose prints left in a visitation trap help to determine how well the program's efforts are working.


#3; a baby 'Alae ke'oke'o (Hawaiian Coot) swims along at the James Campbell Wildlife Preserve.

#4; a freshly thawed Bullfrog ready for dissection.

bottom; an 'Ewa hinahina sapling newly planted and marked by a circle of rocks.

USFWS ^__^

- June 24, 2011

So, we finished one week of work! We've planted over 125 native plants, including Ewahinahina and Maiapilo. I like learning the Hawaiian stories behind certain plants. The story behind the Pa'uohi'iaka is that one day Pele went to the beach to go spear fishing and brought her baby sister Hi'iaka. Pele was out for so long that her sister started getting sun brunt. A plant covered Hi'iaka so when Pele came back, she named the plant Pa'uohi'iaka which means the skirt that covers Hi'iaka. I also like how we got to eat certain plants like the 'Akulikuli. When you break it, it smells kind of good but it taste very salty. It was used to prevent scurvy and it was used in Hawaiian cooking for flavoring. We've placed about 80 "tracking tunnels" that were baited with peanut butter and sardines around the Punamano and Ki'i fields. After analyzing the tracks, we found that there are mongoose, rats, mice, and even toads. Speaking of toads. We got to dissect over 50 toads! It was disgusting but we learned how to identify if toads were male or female, if they had eggs, and what they ate.

Our team is getting closer as the days go on. We understand how each other works, and that we work better and faster if we have a strategy down. I like how we become close with the people we ride in the car with, but at work, we have the chance to work with the other team members and learn things about them that other people might not know. I'm very proud of our team. We're focused on getting work done, but of course we laugh and make jokes. We got a lot done in one week, let's see how we do on Kaho'olawe next week! :)

- Bree Kalima.

Aloha everyone! I have never blogged before so I apologize if this isn't sufficient. These past two weeks of working with my Oʻahu F team have been awesome. I have learned more after two weeks outdoors and working with my hands, than after 9 months in a Biology classroom. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is the agency my team has been working with for the past five days. This federal government agency is dedicated to the management and conservation of different habitats throughout the nation.

This week my team and I were introduced to the James Campbell Natural Wildlife Refuge (NWR). This wetland refuge located in Kahuku that provides a habitat for endangered birds such as the ae‘o (Hawaiian stilt) which can be a very territorial species, the ‘alae ke‘oke‘o (Hawaiian coot) that is born with black feathers that eventually turn white, the ‘alae ‘ula (Hawaiian moorhen) that can waddle across the surface of water, and the koloa maoli (Hawaiian duck) that nest year-round on the refuge. Throughout the week my team and I set up these things called tracking tunnels that are placed at different locations on the refuge and with the use of tracking cards they record invasive species that pass through these areas. Some common invasive species that were recorded are mongoose, rats, and mice. We also had the opportunity to dissect toads and plant native species. I am satisfied with the work I have done so far on this tranquil, diverse, and beautiful refuge. I look forward to continuing our progress with to restore this native habitat. Now who's ready for Kahoʻolawe?