David Y. Ige

Governor and Mrs. Ige and Kanu Hawai‘i’s Keone Kealoha at Diamond Head.

A group of volunteers – including Governor and Mrs. Ige – converged on Diamond Head State Monument April 21, along with Kanu Hawai‘i members and others, to mark Earth Day and Volunteer Week. The group tended the ‘ahi garden in the crater – home to 23 different native Hawaiian plant species. The garden was created by Kupu Hawai‘i, a non-profit that aims to preserve the land while empowering youth. The Iges planted two red ‘ilima, a rare endemic and endangered variety rediscovered on the ‘Ewa plain.

The governor also used the opportunity to proclaim April 17-23 Volunteer Week Hawai‘i to celebrate the work of volunteers across the state. “It really is an honor to work side by side with so many organizations to care for this place we call home,” he said. Kanu Hawai‘i was the point of contact to help organize and track the week’s activities. “Last year we had 231 volunteer events; this year we have over 400 statewide on six islands,” said executive director Keone Kealoha. “I hope it’s a trend that continues. Volunteering is part of our culture of aloha.”

Kanu and Kupu Hawai‘i volunteers (from left) Breanna Rose, Anna Garcia, McKenzie Morey and Stefan Long work in the native Hawaiian plant garden.

Also, Diamond Head State Monument is joining two other state parks – Ha‘ena State Park on Kaua‘i and Waiʻānapanapa State Park on Maui – in requiring advance reservations for out-of-state visitors, beginning May 12, 2022.  Hawai‘i residents will continue to enjoy free access without reservations, but entry may depend on parking availability. The new reservation system is intended to help manage the thousands of visitors who flock to Diamond Head park each year. The system is expected to improve the experience for both residents and visitors and reduce impacts on local communities and resources.

Read more in the May Capitol Connection newsletter.

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