Group News: Hawaiʻi Island, Maui, Oʻahu and Kauaʻi
Hawaiʻi Island Group
Comments for Puna Geothermal Venture Meeting on Thursday, June 1 at Pāhoa Neighborhood Center
by Cory Harden, Hawaiʻi Island Group Member | Reading time: 2 minutes
PGV’s plans to expand to 60 MW seem to be wishful thinking. Five years after the eruption, PGV is only generating about two-thirds of its former power. So they keep drilling, trying to find areas where geothermal fluid may have migrated after the eruption. This drilling subjects neighbors to weeks of day-and-night noise.
The drilling costs end up hidden in capacity charges in PGV’s proposed power purchase agreement with HELCO. Capacity charges are based on the greatest amount of electricity that may be used, to ensure that when there is a demand for electricity, the capacity to generate it will be available.
There are additional costs to send power from PGV to faraway customers—building and maintaining transmission lines, and increasing generation to make up for the power that is lost as it travels through miles of transmission lines.
The result for customers is higher electric bills—though cheaper power is available from solar and wind.
HELCO goes along so they can use PGV to meet renewable energy requirements. But there’s nothing renewable about using fossil fuel to manufacture, transport, and power drilling equipment.
PGV has dreams of producing hydrogen. The mayor and county council went along with the recent fast-tracked resolution supporting a hydrogen economy on Hawaiʻi Island. Hydrogen, if produced by environmentally friendly methods, may be useful for a few needs, such as maritime shipping and aviation. But it’s tricky. Hydrogen molecules are tiny and leak from almost every container. Hydrogen can cause steel pipes to become brittle and crack. It has to be liquefied, compressed, or stored in a metal hydride if you want to use if for transportation. The liquefied hydrogen requires temperatures near absolute zero. You need energy to produce hydrogen, but it’s usually more efficient to just use that energy directly, for example, to run a car or electric system. And hydrogen is flammable.
In any case, sooner or later, lava is bound to threaten PGV again. Should we really count on a major power source that can be knocked out overnight?
Maui Group
Upcoming Outings
Saturday June 10, 2023
Wahinepeʻe Water Hike (C/E)
East Maui, 5 miles
Hike through East Maui forest, past pools, waterfalls, great scenery. Can be muddy. Elevation gain is 1,300 feet and there is some walking on large river stones. EMI waiver required (see emi.html). Bring water, lunch. Meet 8am Haʻikū Community Center. Limit 15.
Leader: Rob Weltman, robw@worldspot.com
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Saturday June 17, 2023
Wailea 670 Preserve Exploration (C/E/S)
South Maui (Palauʻea), 2 miles
Explore the upper part of the proposed 160 acre native plant and archaeological site preserve. Native wiliwili groves; rare stepping stone trails and unique archaeological habitation and ceremonial site remains. Rugged terrain. Amazing sites and views. tools will be available to clear some sites
Leader: Lucienne de Naie, huelogrl@icloud.com
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Friday June 23, 2023
Makaiwa Bay and Shoreline (East Maui) (C/E)
East Maui, 4 miles
Sometimes strenuous hike through a muddy forest and then down a ridge line to the coast. There are ropes at the end of the hike if you would like to explore the coastline. The return hike is all uphill. Bring water, snacks, sunscreen, hat, swimwear. Limit 10. Meet at Haʻikū Community Center, 8am to carpool.
Leader: Miranda Camp, mauimiranda@hotmail.com or 868-6848
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Saturday June 24, 2023
Hāmākua Mālama Service Outing (C/E/S)
Ha‘ikū (Kaupakulua Ahupuaʻa), 2 miles
Help clear away abandoned rubbish from gulches in Ha‘ikū’s Hāmākua Coastal Preserve and re-plant native species. Tools, snacks, trash bags etc will be provided. Co-sponsored by Mālama Hāmākua
Leader: Lucienne de Naie huelogrl@icloud.com
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Saturday June 24, 2023
Wailua Iki Stream Hike (C/E)
East Maui, 6 miles
Moderate hike above Hana Highway through beautiful forest on winding, muddy, jeep road. Pools, waterfalls and lush plant life. The group may decide to swim. Bring appropriate footwear, sunscreen, lunch and water. Meet 8am at Haʻikū Community Center. EMI WAIVER REQUIRED (waiver info here). Limit: 15.
Leader: Rob Weltman, robw@worldspot.com
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Oʻahu Group
Kōkua Kalihi Valley’s Waiwai Summer Program to mālama Wāwāmalu
by Reese Liggett, Oʻahu Group Outings Leader | Reading time: 1 minute
Misty Pegram, Community Education and Civic Engagement coordinator for Kōkua Kalihi Valley’s Youth Services has arranged for 25 11th and 12th grade high school students in KKV’s Waiwai Summer Health Program to experience Oʻahu Group outings’ conservation service-project at Wāwāmalu Beach. The 33-day Waiwai program is designed to introduce these youth to the many different fields that health care has to offer.
Waiwai’s Wāwāmalu Beach conservation experience will take place June 21 under the leadership of Oʻahu Group Outings Leaders Suzan Harada and Reese Liggett. Lisa Furger and Nicole Hiltbrand, interning from Switzerland with the Hawaiʻi Chapter, will assist in coaching the Waiwai kids in removal of exotic plants and encouragement of native plants at Wāwāmalu Beach that is one of Oʻahu Group outings’ conservation service-projects.
This conservation service-project was deemed necessary due to the depredation caused by decades of off-roading at this section of Sandy Beach Park—depredation that was brought to a close by the installation of a boulder barrier installed by the city’s parks department in early 2021. Now Wāwāmalu Beach is a recovering, natural area for the survival and encouragement of Native Hawaiian animals and plants, and for the quiet enjoyment by the public. And members of the public are welcome to participate as well in this rewarding, conservation service project at Oʻahu Group’s monthly third Sunday morning outing. See details in the hikes and outings section of the website here.
Upcoming Outings
Sunday, June 4, 8am
Mālama Tree Crew: Ala Mahamoe Tree Maintenance
1,000+ trees were planted in this area by volunteers led by Professor Mora, in partnership with The Outdoor Circle, Mālama Learning Center, Ko‘olau Mountain Watershed Partnership, and the Garden Club of Honolulu in 2018. Unfortunately it was a rough winter and many trees died. However in the years since, we have planted almost a thousand trees to re-establish the native watershed—and most of them have survived! Help us keep them thriving! We will be watering, weeding, and clearing debris from around these recently planted trees. Meet at 8am at the gate between 1800 and 1812 Ala Mahamoe St. Tools and refreshments provided. Bring long pants, long-sleeve shirt, water, hat, sunscreen, gloves. Reservations required at least 1 day prior to makikirandy@yahoo.com.
Sunday, June 11, 8:30am-1pm
Palehua ʻElepaio Enclosure "Akupu" Service
Space is limited as we will be working in a sensitive area where the endangered native ʻelepaio is nesting and there are some native plants already growing which we don't want to disturb or damage. We may hear and see some native ʻelepaio as we work in the area, so bring a camera as well. Pack water, snacks and definitely mosquito repellent. Bring gloves and hand tools for weeding alien plants and pruning saws for cutting down invasive strawberry guava in the enclosure. We will also be outplanting other native plants to restore the native habitat. We plan to meet in Makakilo at 8:30am and finish by 1pm. Reservations required at least one week prior. Contact Clyde for reservations with first and last name and phone number contact at clydekobashigawa@hawaii.rr.com. Co-leader: Curtis Kawamoto.
Sunday, June 18, 8am-11pm
Wāwāmalu Beach Service Project
Help return Wāwāmalu Beach to its native/natural status after years of off-road abuse and inattention. Seed collection and sowing, as well as removal of invasive plants on tap. Personal pickaxes welcome. Bring closed-toe shoes/boots, gardening gloves, sunscreen and water flask (iced refill available, no plastic water available). Meet 8am at western access area just left off the eastern driveway for Sandy Beach Park. RSVP to leader Reese Liggett at wliggett@twc.com. Co-leader Suzan Harada.
Wednesday, June 21, 8am-11pm
Wāwāmalu Beach Service Project
Help return Wāwāmalu Beach to its native/natural status after years of off-road abuse and inattention. Seed collection and sowing, as well as removal of invasive plants on tap. Personal pickaxes welcome. Bring closed-toe shoes/boots, gardening gloves, sunscreen and water flask (iced refill available, no plastic water available). Meet 8am at western access area just left off the eastern driveway for Sandy Beach Park. RSVP to leader Reese Liggett at wliggett@twc.com. Co-leader Suzan Harada.
Sunday, June 25, 8am
Mālama Tree Crew: Ala Mahamoe Tree Maintenance
1,000+ trees were planted in this area by volunteers led by Professor Mora, in partnership with The Outdoor Circle, Mālama Learning Center, Ko‘olau Mountain Watershed Partnership, and the Garden Club of Honolulu in 2018. Unfortunately it was a rough winter and many trees died. However in the years since, we have planted almost a thousand trees to re-establish the native watershed—and most of them have survived! Help us keep them thriving! We will be watering, weeding, and clearing debris from around these recently planted trees. Meet at 8am at the gate between 1800 and 1812 Ala Mahamoe St. Tools and refreshments provided. Bring long pants, long-sleeve shirt, water, hat, sunscreen, gloves. Reservations required at least 1 day prior to makikirandy@yahoo.com.
Kauaʻi Group
Help inform Kauaʻi’s climate action future
Reading time: 1 minute
In case you’ve missed it, the County of Kauaʻi is seeking your feedback on its proposed climate action strategies to be included in the county’s Climate Action Plan.
Our island home is already seeing the impacts of the climate crisis, with coastlines quickly eroding and threatening our roads and coastal communities, increased flooding and storm events, changing crop seasons, and much more. This is just the beginning—we need strong climate action and we need it now. Please share your voice to help inform the county of the communities’ needs in the face of climate change.
The county is hosting in-person workshops around the island over the coming weeks as well as an online poll through June 21. The Kauaʻi Group is encouraging its members and supporters to attend the in-person meetings and complete the online survey. Below you will find the county’s flier with the upcoming workshop dates. You can find more information about the ways to get involved as well as more on the Climate Action Plan online here.