DLNR Declares Feb. 6 World Wetlands Day
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Del.icio.usKawainui Marsh and Ka’elepulu Pond once held large fishponds used by Kailua’s early Hawaiian inhabitants, making these wetlands culturally and archaeologically significant.
The Department of Land and Natural Resources and Kailua community organizations present “Caring for Wetlands - An Answer To Climate Change “from 8:30 a.m.to 2 p.m.Saturday (Feb. 6) in celebration of World Wetlands Day in Hawaii with marsh tours, educational exhibits, family activities and live music to jazz things up on the makai side of the Kailua Longs parking structure.
DNLR World Wetlands Day in Hawaii coordinator Michelle Jones said she’s hoping to raise community awareness of our unique wetlands and their inhabitants.
“I’m really looking forward to engaging with not only the Kailua community,but the surrounding Oahu communities,” said Jones. “There are four endangered birds in the marsh and people don’t even realize it. They walk right by them. This is the only place in the world you can see them.”
Ramsar World Wetlands Day, which commemorates the first wetlands convention held in February 1971 in Ramsar, Iran, is celebrated worldwide each year. World Wetlands Day in Hawaii is held in recognition of the 2005 designation of the KawainuiHamakua Marsh complex as a Ramsar wetland of international importance. The marsh is Hawaii’s largest remaining wetland and provides habitat for Hawaii’s endangered waterbirds, including the ‘alae ula, ‘alae ke’oke’o, ae’o and koloa.
Exhibits feature information about Hawaii’s wet-lands along with interactive activities. Bus tours of Kawainui-Hamakua marsh complex and old Kailua, which depart at 9:15 and 9:45 a.m., and 12:30 and 1 p.m., will be ledbyChuck “Doc” Burrows , founder of the Kawai Nui Heritage Foundation, and Dr. Paul Brennan of the Kailua Historical Society.Ati JeffersFabro of the Division of Forestry and Wildlife will lead walking tours of Hamakua Marsh from 10 a.m.to 1 p.m., while the band Hawaii Loa provides the entertainment from 11:45 a.m.to 12:30 p.m.
For more information, call Jones at 587-4188.
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