MAKIKI WAI WORKDAY AND NA ALA HELE TRAIL ADVISORY COUNCIL REPORT

ByMike Garcia

MAKIKI WAI WORKDAY:

This past Saturday, almost 30 volunteers mustered at the Hawaii Nature Center for Makiki Wai workday.  In addition to planting and general trail maintenance, volunteers completed the long discussed fence between Kanealole Trail and the Makiki baseyard.

HURT members, assisted by volunteers, tie-wired split bamboo pickets onto the chain-link fencing and gates to create a "rustic" looking barrier.  Please kokua with the new route by diverting onto the new trail section – go over the "HURT" bridge on the way back to NC.

Mahalo to all you HURT runners who volunteered your Saturday to come out and help!

NA ALA HELE TRAIL ADVISORY COUNCIL:

The Trail Advisory Council met this past Tuesday.  Some of the more pertinent items discussed were:

1.  DLNR is issuing a conditional use permit to the Conservation Council for a 1 year period.  Council volunteers will be weeding and hand clearing various sections of Manoa Cliffs Trail once a month (no herbicide).  Volunteers will be allowed to work without direct supervision by DLNR personnel.  Hopefully this will provide a model for HURT members to volunteer as well.  If you see workers on Manoa Cliffs Trail while running, please be sure to stop and thank them!

2.  Negotiations are underway to lease 30 parking stalls at Paradise Park from the Wong family.  Parking will no longer be allowed at the trailhead.  There are also plans underway to install a cattle gate at the lower boundry of Paradise Park which will close the area off after hours.

3.  DLNR staffing is now complete.  Jason Misaki will be working with personnel from OCCC and Patricia Tannahill will work with volunteer groups.

4.  Construction of the new Nature Center structure is on schedule – photos attached.  NC is advertising week long summer programs for kids.  If you are interested, please give them a call.

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Mahalo again to all of you who took the time to send me your thoughts concerning requests by the Commercial Trail Activity Council.  The CTAC wanted to increase the size of hiker groups, use trails on weekends, and make more trails available for commercial activity. (Click on the photo’s to enlarge them)

Although the requests will be discussed further, the general consensus by Trail User groups (HURT, Hawaii Motorsport, Equestrians, Hunters, Mountain Bikers, 4-Wheelers, and Hiking groups) were not to allow the requests.  Stay tuned!

Mike Garcia