Earth Day Fair at Pālamanui happening Saturday, April 22

Students in an Environmental Science class at Hawai‘i CC – Palamanui.

Hawai‘i Community College – Pālamanui (Hawai‘i CC – Pālamanui) is pleased to announce it will host “Earth Day Fair at Pālamanui” at the Kailua-Kona campus on Saturday, April 22 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“Hawai‘i Community College – Pālamanui is focusing on science, culture and conservation, and what better way to celebrate those themes than bring the community to campus for Earth Day,” said Dr. Marty Fletcher, the director of Hawai‘i Community College – Pālamanui. “This event will have something for everyone, including hands-on activities led by students and a very engaging lineup of speakers.”

There will also be displays, a koa tree giveaway for those who help remove invasive fountain grass, and opportunities to see the campus.

Attendees are encouraged to bring their own water bottles.

Hawai‘i CC – Pālamanui is launching a new Associate of Science in Natural Science degree in Fall 2017, and faculty will be at the event to talk about the new program and provide tours of the new science labs.

Hawai‘i CC – Pālamanui lecturer Dr. Richard Stevens will be leading an excursion to plant koa trees at the Maka‘ula O’oma Tract of the Honua‘ula Forest Reserve. Those who are interested should meet at the head of the Makahi Trail at the end of Makahi Street at 9:30 a.m. with a small digging tool and an extra bottle of water for their tree.

Speakers at the event are as follows:

• Kyle Datta, Ulupono Initiative, presents "Food Sustainability"
• Bruce Andersen, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources, presents "Coral Reef Bleaching Recovery Plan”
• Karen Eoff, District 8 Council Member, County of Hawai‘i, presents "The Ahupua‘a System"
• Keith Olson, NELHA Water Quality Lab Manager, presents "NELHA's Tenants" panel

For more information about Earth Day Fair at Pālamanui, please contact Christina Hoffman at quinlan@hawaii.edu.

Photo Caption: Students in an Environmental Science class at Hawai‘i CC – Pālamanui pose for a photo after learning about and removing invasive fountain grass at the campus recently. Earth Day Fair at Pālamanui will provide opportunities to learn about invasive species and much more on Saturday, April 22 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the campus in Kona.

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