During a class service trip to Waimea Valley on Friday September 28, twenty students from Associate Dean Denise Antolini’s Day and Evening Environmental Law classes, and Lecturer Emily Gaskin ‘17, helped native forest restoration efforts at Waimea Valley on the North Shore of O’ahu.  After hiking up to scenic Kalahe’e ridge, an area closed to the public, the class weeded invasive grasses and planted over 200 seedlings of the Alahe’e (Psydrax odorata) tree and the flowering shrub Ulei (Osteomeles  anthyllidfolia) in an area where previous classes planted Koa (Acacia Koa) and A’ali’i (Dodonaea viscosa). The class learned about native ecosystems, invasive species, the Kawailoa Wind Farm, endangered species, land  conservation easements, the history of saving Waimea Valley from private development, and the challenges of restoring hawaii’s Native ecosystems.  The class enjoyed a day of working hard in the sun, collaborating, and enjoying being outside in this special ahupua’a.

RR 9/29/19