Many Mahalos to Arboretum Volunteers
2009 VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
Rodney Calasa
In 2009, Rodney Calasa volunteered
weekly “animal control” services to eradicate feral pigs and
deer at Pu’u Mahoe. A total of 21 animals were eradicated
humanely in 2009 with a high powered rifle and skilled
marksmanship.
The deer meat was smoked for popular
deer jerky, and pig used for imu- a Hawaiian style ground
oven lined with hot rocks and ti leaves. Fresh organic meat
fed family and friends during poor economic times, while
Pu’u Mahoe was spared further damage.
Click here for
award announcement
In October 2009 NHPS
volunteers participated in a service trip to
the D.T. Fleming Arboretum in Ulupalakua,
Hawai'i's oldest and largest native
arboretum. A seven-acre enclosure located in
the 17 acre Pu’u Mahoe cinder cone on
Haleakala's southern slope, the Arboretum is
home to over 120 species of native Hawaiian
plants.
On a Saturday morning, NHPS volunteers
applied compost and mulched, collected seed,
hauled prunings, and helped clear away
invasive glycine vine, Kikuyu grass and
morning glory from native plants.
The Arboretum is overseen by the Friends of
D.T. Fleming Arboretum (FOFA), a nonprofit
corporation dedicated to preserving and
upgrading the Arboretum. FOFA recently
obtained a four year grant from the USDA for
projects which will include completing a pig
fence to protect the whole 17 acre cinder
cone, planting 795 feet of double-row
windbreak trees along two windward edges of
the cinder cone, planting 250 native plants
in a new expanded acre of the Arboretum,
improving the access road, mulching and
controlling invasive weeds.
Martha Vockrodt-Moran, FOFA President says
the ultimate goal is to restore the native
forest of Pu'u Mahoe, a home for native
wildlife. “We work to constantly progress
the Fleming Arboretum as a valuable seed
resource for conservation and a plant
recovery reserve for Maui’s rare dryland
species. The increasing importance of the
Arboretum will assure its preservation,
strong for the future. An Arboretum for
Hawai’i, especially exciting is involving
the community in our proud work.”
FOFA recently completed the construction of
a Shed/ Lua/ Workshop facility to increase
and broaden educational programs at Pu’u
Mahoe. The facility makes possible a greater
number of programs with increased
participation. Martha hopes overnight
camping for volunteers will increase youth
group participation.
FOFA’s mission is “preservation thru
protection, propagation and distribution”.
FOFA distributes seed to public and private
restoration groups for out planting. Home to
one of Hawai'i's rarest trees, the Maui
Alani (Melicope knudsenii), FOFA has
distributed 39 Arboretum seedlings which
have been out-planted into the Auwahi
Forest, the State Natural Area Reserve and
in the Arboretum. Waimea Arboretum on Oahu,
Amt Greenwell on the Big Island and the NTBG
on Kauai also have seedlings.
NHPS supports the efforts of organizations
such as FOFA in preserving and nurturing the
native habitat of Hawai'i.
NHPS members had a great time volunteering
at Fleming Arboretum. Of course, the
wonderful lunch served by Martha after work
and the Fleming family’s trademark Purple
Cows (ice cream floats made with Roselani
vanilla ice cream, ginger ale and Welch's
grape juice) didn't hurt either!
NHPS service trips are held the
second Saturday of each month.
Contact Irene Newhouse at [808] 879-2252 for
more information.
Click here for Accomplishments of the
Workday
(Click to enlarge)
2008
Friends of D.T. Fleming Arboretum
2008 VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD GOES TO:
STEPHANIE SEIDMAN
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Click here
to learn more about Stephanie and her contributions to the Fleming Arboretum in 2008
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Click Here to read accomplishments of the work day
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Rodney Calasa from Haiku, Maui has a
State Permit from the DLNR for night hunting at Pu'u Mahoe.
All deer and pig meat is used for jerky and kalua.
Rodney volunteers his time weekly to Pu'u Mahoe for animal control.
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Maggi is proud of her title "Volunteer Peacock Patrol"
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2008 Volunteers on Weed Patrol.
| Photo of Weed & Pot Club-volunteer group weeding -- L to R: Bev Speidel,Jenny Campbelle, Mikki Clark, and Larry Solarz
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As newly cleared areas at Pu'u Mahoe become established with Kikuyu grass cover, weeds as wild olive, Christmas berry, wattle, and fireweed are less apt to germinate.
Until then, controlling invasive weeds at Pu'u Mahoe is an ongoing challenge.
Broadleaf control spray and manual weeding is done by volunteer labor.
A new challenge in the Arboretum is the gradual increase of morning glory and glicine vine. Vines grow faster than Kikuya grass, requiring herbicide spray more often
2009 will focus on eradicating vine from Arboretum.
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Click Here to read accomplishments of the work day
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Volunteer of the Year Award 2007
Ernie Rezents
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FOFA 2007 Volunteer of the Year Award goes to ... Ernest Rezents. Ernest, a registered consulting horticulturist, has generously donated his time regularly for the last five years, contributing to the health of the Fleming Arboretum.
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Click Here to read accomplishments of the work day
Click Here to read accomplishments of the work day
Volunteer of the Year Award 2006
Euphence Fleming Vockrodt
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Euphence Fleming Vockrodt received Volunteer of the Year Award 2006. “Euphie,” daughter of D.T. Fleming, and her late husband Jack Vockrodt, maintained the Arboretum for 45 years. She continues to care for the Arboretum every Friday. “Good enough is not good enough” for Euphie. She is a perfectionist in her work. |
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Volunteers 2005
| Volunteer of the Year Award 2005
Aileen Yeh
| Aileen was recognized for her contributions to the Fleming Arborertum with aifare and registration to Hawaii Conservation Conference 2006 on Oahu, representing the Fleming Arboretum.
Aileene Yeh of Hilo's State Research Center, succeeded in the highest Alani seed propagation rate of 20% (vs. the average of 5%) from 2004 seed. In June this year she hand-carried 15 Alani seedlings via air for outplanting on Maui so they would not freeze in baggage. She continues to generously donate her nursery and time for propagation of the Arboretum's rare species. |
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Mach Machada , entomologist for the State of Hawaii, examines bug damage.
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Newsletter Frenzy - volunteers, along with Board member Karen Levy (right) prepare annual neswletter for mailing (L-R: Maryjo Lo Bianco, Barb Wheeler, John Kellner, "Lobi" Lo Bianco, Leon Wheeler, Diane Kellner and Board member Karen Levy
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| Terry Quisenberry - A fresh pig catch changes his fencing plans for the day. Terry caught a total of 5 wild pigs that were damaging Pu'u Mahoe. This pig was prepared for Imu (underground oven with hot rocks) at memorial servces March 17 for Dr. Steve Moser at the Kahului Harbor Canoe Club. |
Volunteers 2004
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| Volunteer of the Year Award 2004
Bob Bangerter
Bob was recognized for his contributions to the Fleming Arborertum with an original watercolor by Muffie Davis in a Koa frame contributed by Cole's Frame Shop.
Click here to view
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Volunteer
Peacock Patrol: (L-R) Slim, Maggie and Ope. Thanks to these
vigilant canines, vehicle bumpers at the Arboretum are no longer
vandalized by peacocks trying to fight the reflected images of themselves.
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Bob
Bangerter has donated many hours providing professional
photography, including the Virtual Tour and the latest photo presentation
of Exceptional Tree nominations for the Maui County Arborist Committee.
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Arboretum Manager Martha Vockrodt-Moran
harvests ripe Pua Kala seed (the white Hawaiian poppy).
Most endemic species have lost their thorns, adapting to Hawaii's
non-threatening environment. Pua Kala is one of the few natives
choked with thorns, even on the flowers.
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| Kihei/Wailea
Citizens' Beach Patrol are regular volunteers. They helped
with the tree label project (L-R) Nobu Suda, Jack Crow and Don Schneider. |
Steps insalled by KWBP
on the steep slope
between Trails 4 & 5 by volunteers William Riley, John Whittemore
and Jack Crow, while wives Margaret and Janice help with tree labels.
(Maggie is stand-in for volunteers.) |
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Ernest Rezents, (R)
FOFA Board Director, is an Arborist, Instructor and registered
Consultant on tree care. He contributes valuable advice for Arboretum
care. Arlene Taus (L), is a certified arborist who works in the
Arboretum.
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Maui Sierra Club, led by Arboretum
manager Martha Moran, takes tour of projects to accomplish on
their volunteer work day.
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Maui
Garden Club provides volunteer labor on a regular basis.
(L-R) Kathy Collins, Cathy Hobson and Marjorie Bonar in distance.
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Dan Judson (with crimping tool)
organized a work day with Debbie DeMello (R), son Noah and Amie
Vobork (below left).
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Noah
Judson and Amie Vobork started work from the top trail
of the Arboretum ..."for the view" installing labels
for the Kaulunani grant.
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David Moran is a major volunteer
who does irrigation and fence repair, as well as tractor work
clearing brush and mowing. Here David helps with the annual August
harvest of Alani seed.
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Volunteer of the Year Award 2003
Anna Palomino
Anna was recognized for her contributions to the Fleming Arborertum.
Click Here
to Read about her in a Maui No Kā 'Oi Magazine article:
An Expert in Her Field
At Anna Palomino's Ho'olawa Farm, spiritual rediscovery is rooted in practical knowledge.
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