DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES

News Release

LINDA LINGLE

GOVERNOR

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

PETER T. YOUNG, CHAIRPERSON

Phone: (808) 587-0401

Fax: (808) 587-0390

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

For Immediate Release: September 29, 2006

National Public Lands Day
Hawaii Among 600 US Sites Targeted for Volunteer Projects
-- NPL Day Photo Contest Invites Entries --

HONOLULU -- In recognition of National Public Lands Day, Saturday September 30, Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) along with others, including Hawaii Army National Guard, Lyon Arboretum, Pacific Regional Visitors Center and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are sponsoring volunteer projects as part of the largest annual single-day volunteer restoration effort for America’s public lands.

"We invite volunteers of all ages to participate in local events to help care for the natural areas that provide habitat for native wildlife, recreational outdoor opportunities, and to learn about our special environment," said Peter Young, DLNR chairperson.

Hawaii events planned on September 30 as part of National Public Lands Day include:

O‘ahu
Kalanimoku Native Hawaiian Garden planting project – 8 a.m. to 12 noon at the Department of Land and Natural Resources, 1151 Punchbowl St. makai side. Volunteers are needed to help clear an overgrown naupaka hedge, plant a native ground cover in its place, and to help apply a new level of mulch. Wear hat and covered shoes. Gloves and equipment will be provided. For information call Teka Iese at 587-4169.

Bellows Air Force Station - trail clearing; clearing invasive species, trash and debris; and placement of interpretive signs for World War II revetments. For information call Monica Baco, Hawaii Army National Guard, 733-4360.

Lyon Arboretum (Manoa) – Removal of invasive plants from upper arboretum areas, including native Hawaiian plant section; repair and restoration of trails damaged by flooding; planting area in children’s garden; and cleaning and restoring botanical signage throughout gardens. For information contact Jill Laughlin, 988-0461.

Pacific Regional Visitors Center (Fort DeRussy, Waikiki) – Distribute techniques for improving gardening skills, a hands-on course for applications to grow vegetables in pots. For information call Garland Ireland, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at 438-2815.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Pearl Harbor National Wildlife Refuge – Waiawa Unit -- Removal of mangrove seedlings in the 24-acre refuge to re-establish habitat areas for endangered Hawaiian waterbirds. Dress to get muddy and dirty and bring a change of clothes, brimmed hat and sunscreen. Covered shoes are required. For information call Pauline Kawamata, Hawaii Nature Center, at 955-0100.

Kauai
Hui o Laka - Kokee Natural History Museum will have a volunteer work day at Kanaloahuluhulu Meadow in Kokee State Park. Volunteers will be cleaning up beneath the collection of conifer trees along the eastern edge of the meadow and also performing routine maintenance on the Nature Trail. Hui o Laka-Kokee Natural History Museum was recently awarded a grant from the Hawaii Tourism Authority to develop an interpretive program around these historic plantings of conifers in the Kokee area. For information call Kokee Natural History Museum

Sixth Annual Volunteer Photo Contest
The National Environmental Education and Training Foundation announces the Sixth Annual National Public Lands Day Photo Contest, open to all National Public Lands Day (NPLD) volunteers. For information about contest guidelines and how to submit, go to: http://www.publiclandsday.org

The contest will allow you to celebrate the natural beauty of our country's public lands and show us why you have lent a hand for our public lands. All photographs must be taken at a work site on National Public Lands Day 2006.

Prizes will be awarded for the best photos of Volunteers in Action. Photos should reflect, in a visually interesting and creative way, volunteers working on a specific task at the project site.

The winning photos will be published in the future NPLD newsletters, posted on www.publiclandsday.org, used in press releases and potentially featured in other national publications.

All entries must be postmarked by November 1, 2006, and sent to: The National Environmental Education & Training Foundation Attn: NPLD Photo Contest 1707 H Street, NW, Suite 900 Washington, DC 20006

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For more information, contact:
Deborah Ward
DLNR Public Information Specialist
Phone: (808) 587-0320