Manoa's Own STREAM TEAM Works Overtime

Of all the many natural elements comprising the beauty and the essence of Manoa Valley, perhaps Manoa Stream is one of the strongest and most significant. No wonder, then, that it occupies so much of Malama o Manoa's time and effort. There are no fewer than 3 ongoing Malama projects involving the stream.

Malama's energetic "Stream Team" has been extra busy over the past 2 years with efforts to revitalize Manoa Stream and provide an aesthetically pleasing environment that can be enjoyed by the whole community. In order to achieve our goals, we most recently became active participants in the City and County Adopt-a-Stream program. Under the leadership of Board Member George Arizumi, Malama has adopted the section of Manoa Stream running from the Kahaloa Street bridge (near Manoa Garden) to just makai of the Woodlawn Drive bridge (below UH Faculty Housing). Permanent signage has been displayed at the Woodlawn Drive bridge to indicate that Malama has adopted this section of the stream.

The first formal stream cleanup occurred on February 28th, 1998 with many Malama volunteers getting down and dirty in the stream. Eighteen bags of garbage were collected from the water and its banks and countless large metal objects were removed. It was a fun effort that led to immediate gratification through a marked improvement in the aesthetic quality of the stream and more signs of aquatic life. These stream cleaning efforts are scheduled quarterly, usually on a Saturday morning from 9:00 am until 12 noon. Please contact George Arizumi (988-5069) for further details. 

Under the able leadership of Gary Blaich and Chuck Pearson, our continuing efforts to promote restoration of the existing stream-side pathway running through the entire valley are becoming a reality. Trail restoration efforts by the Stream Team in February, 1998 and as of early 1999, we have now restored nearly two miles of trail along the Stream stretching from the Woodlawn Drive bridge to Dole Street. Chuck and Gary are also continuing their efforts to obtain formal support or our pathway restoration project from the University of Hawaii, a major landowner along an important and potentially heavily used section of Manoa Stream. Stream path rail restoration events are scheduled on a quarterly basis, usually on a Saturday morning from 9:00 am - 12 noon. Please contact Gary Blaich (943-2527) for additional details.

Because today's youth are the future stake holders of our fragile environment, Malama continues to be involved in environmental education efforts and stream issues through active participation in the Manoa School Laulima and Manoa Ahupua'a projects. These projects are actively involving Malama boardmember Eric De Carlo who is providing technical assistance in the development of curriculum, training of teachers, and establishment of a school-based stream monitoring program at the school.

This work by the students will complement current research efforts at the UH undertaken by Drs. De Carlo (956-6473) and Khalil Spencer (956-9607) of the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology and their graduate students. They have been conducting a scientific investigation of heavy metals and sediments in Manoa Stream and the Ala Wai canal for several years now. Their project is funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources. In addition to bacterial contamination such as that caused by Leptospira, they report that deterioration of the water quality in Manoa Stream is primarily the result of inputs from storm drains and road runoff and becomes significant primarily below the UH campus, upon entering the highly urbanized area of the watershed. Please contact them should you desire any additional information.

 

Chuck Pearson, Beryl Blaich & Eric De Carlo getting down & dirty
in the Manoa Stream "Adopt-A-Stream" cleanup effort

Some of the many stream warriors who volunteer their time every quarter
to restore the health of Manoa Stream

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rev 12/12/05