The environmental, cultural and purely practical health of Waimea’s watersheds including protection, restoration and invasive species management will top WCA's Thurs., June 6, 2024 Town Meeting from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the W.M. Keck Observatory Conference Room. 

Six respected Hawai’i Island partners will share their priorities, achievements and concerns related to ensuring healthy watersheds in the region and across the island.

“Healthy watersheds are generationally important critical habitats for many reasons including the way they replenish surface and groundwater for agriculture and potable use,” said WCA President Nancy Carr Smith.

This meeting will provide an opportunity for our community to learn more about reforestation and protection efforts taking place in our district, she said.

As always, the entire community is welcome to WCA Town Meetings either in person or may watch virtually via WCA’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/WaimeaCommunityAssociation) or YouTube channel (www.WaimeaTown.org).  The meeting also will be recorded and available on Facebook and YouTube for later viewing. 

Also as always, questions are welcome – preferably in advance by emailing WaimeaCommunityAssociation@gmail.com. Questions may also be typed into the Facebook chat and will be addressed as time permits. 

Leading off the discussion will be Nick Agorastos, Natural Resources Management Specialist V - Program Manager with the State Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW). Agorastos is responsible for managing and protecting the Natural Area Reserve System (NARS) island wide. He will share what specific projects the State is working on in our area, share the challenges and opportunities found, as well as talk about the State Tree Nursery here in Lalamilo and how far-reaching the tree nursery is.  

Next, Zachary Judd, Forester with Parker Ranch, will share the ranch’s management plan in terms of reforestation, increasing their forestry footprint, controlling invasive species, and helping to build a forestry economy, while balancing the need for trees and productivity of the land.

Complementing Judd's presentation will be Alex Woodbury with Kamuela Hardwoods, who in their efforts of salvaging dead and dying trees from Parker Ranch and other neighboring lands, are keeping wood products out of our landfill, removing dead and dry material out of the forest, and decreasing reliance on importing materials as they further lumber production. Woodbury will also talk about Kamuela Hardwoods' partnership with the ranch in hopes of creating a viable lumber business while planting and growing more trees.

Mahina Patterson, who coordinates the Kohala Watershed Partnership, will then discuss their stewardship of Kohala watershed areas, and share what that kuleana looks like. 

“We will learn ‘what a difference a fence makes’ and why working to protect certain natural areas from invasive species is so important,” said Carr Smith. 

The Mauna Kea Forest Restoration Project will then be addressed by Kassandra Talamatez, who is a restoration technician for this project that falls under DLNR DOFAW. She will explain this project’s focus on protecting the Palila bird, which is a critically endangered Hawaiian honeycreeper. 

Next, born from the Richard Smart Funds’ newly emerging Waimea Community Weaving Hui, will be an introduction of the Third Spaces prototype hui that was “planted” by Keali'i Thoene and other Waimea community volunteers. 

“This hui is working to understand and encourage more public spaces for residents, and creating volunteer efforts that include planting native trees in public outdoor spaces that we all love,” said Thoene.

WCA Town Meetings always include a brief public safety update by South Kohala Community Policing Officers, and a presentation by a community not-for-profit organization. June is Pride Month nationally, so WCA’s spotlighted nonprofit will be Equality Hawai’i with presenter Mark Gordon. 

For more info about the meeting or WCA, email President Nancy Carr Smith at WaimeaCommunityAssociation@gmail.com or go to www.WaimeaTown.org.