January 31, 2015—Fountain grass is from Northern Africa, where it is well-adapted to droughts and frequent fires. It displaces slow-growing native dry forest species in Hawai‘i, and when it burns, it creates hot, fast fires that kill native seeds and plants. Unfortunately, the fountain grass itself is not killed by these fires, so the resulting cycle of growth and fire creates dense thickets of a single species: fountain grass.
The dry to mesic gulches and forests of Kohala Mountain are threatened by this grass, along with the fire cycle that it creates. Cattle find the grass unpalatable, so it can invade pastures as well. Control is a labor-intensive proposition involving weed-whacking, uprooting, and an herbicide application. Many decades of efforts at Volcanoes National Park and the Waikoloa Dry Forest project have shown that persistent control can work, as the seed bank is quite short-lived, and the native dry forest can regenerate.
Our goal for 2015 is to eradicate fountain grass in the Sanctuary, and replace those dense grass areas with native trees and shrubs. Join us in our efforts this year, and become one of the veteran volunteers who will be able to tell newbies in the future about “back in the day” when fountain grass blanketed the slopes of Waiakamali Stream!
Meet at The Kohala Center office (65-1291A Kawaihae Rd) in Waimea at 8:30 a.m. and we will carpool to the work site. Our work will involve uprooting fountain grass, especially around native trees where weed-whackers and spray could be harmful. We will also be planting a few native shrubs like nehe and kuluī to fill in those bare spots where we clear the grass. Please wear long pants and sturdy shoes, and bring along lunch and a water bottle. We will provide tools, plants, gloves, snacks, and drinking water. After lunch in the shade of Grandmother ‘Ōhiʻa, we will either enjoy the new nature trail, collect native seeds in the Sanctuary, or head uphill for a short hike in the wet forest. We will return to The Kohala Center by 3:30 p.m..
Please click here to RSVP by Thursday, January 29.