Polipoli Volunteer Trail Work Day this Saturday

Those of you on Maui have probably heard that while the Kula Forest Reserve and Polipoli State Park are open, all trails remain closed after the severe windstorm on Fathers Day. In some areas 50+mph winds were recorded. Today, I had the opportunity to hike Mamane Trail (one of the most heavily damaged trails) with members of the Na Ala Hele trail crew to assess the damage. I can only describe it as Tree-magedon. The upper part of the trail which goes through the grassland is fine, however, on entering the forest, the trail is heavily damaged. I counted about 50 separate blockages in the lower mile of trail and there are well over 100 trees that will need to be chainsawed. We will also need to reroute the trail in a handful of places due to severe damage and root balls tearing out the trail. In some areas, every tree in a 50 yard circle was blown down and smashed to pieces.

To speed the reopening of the trail, Na Ala Hele will have a Volunteer Trailwork Day this Saturday, June 30, to work on a few of the reroutes. We are asking volunteers to meet at the Kahului Forestry Baseyard at 7am, or Rice Park in Kula at 8am, and we plan to work until approx. 1pm. Please RSVP with me so we can make sure everyone has transportation to the trailhead. Tools will be provided. All volunteers are encouraged to bring lunch, water, sunscreen, hat, work gloves, and a jacket. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Mahalo for your kokua in reopening our trails.

Unfortunately, the Na Ala Hele trail crew has been assisting with a brush fire in Kauai this week and are still there. We will have to postpone.

I have just confirmed with the Na Ala Hele Trail Crew that we will have a volunteer work day this Saturday, 7/14/12. The crew is back from the fire on Kauai, and anticipate having both Mamane and Upper Waiohuli cleared by this weekend. We will be going in to complete repairs and minor re-routes of a couple of sections. We are asking volunteers to meet at the Kahului Forestry Baseyard at 7am, or Rice Park in Kula at 8am, and we plan to work until approx. 1pm. Please RSVP with me so we can make sure everyone has transportation to the trailhead. Tools will be provided. All volunteers are encouraged to bring lunch, water, sunscreen, hat, work gloves, and a jacket. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Mahalo for your kokua in reopening our trails.