Adding a touch of GREEN to BLACK

Article Photos

POLIPOLI – Just above the swollen clouds on the leeward side of Haleakala was a sight Friday right out a WWII battle in the Pacific Theater.

Still, the scene at 7,000 feet elevation – in the vicinity of the ballpark junction – looks a lot better than it did eight months ago, said Lance DeSilva of the state Division of Forestry and Wildlife.

In late January, a wildfire spread across 2,300 acres of the Kula Forest Reserve, flaming out of control for nearly a week after a careless smoker threw away a lit cigarette.

“It was all black, everywhere,” DeSilva said.

DeSilva, a resource protection forest-er, is helping to lead the ambitious attempt to reforest the slopes that include most of the Polipoli Springs State Recreation Area as well as bird and game hunting units.

Green grass is spreading tendrils and new mamane shoots are sprouting from blackened trunks. But it will take a human effort to restore the forest.

On Friday, more than 40 sophomores from Seabury Hall volunteered to assist, planting 1,000 aalii seedlings.

It was the first step in a coordinated effort involving state, professional contractors and volunteers to plant 1,500 acres with 207,000 seedlings by May 1 – hopefully taking advantage of a wet winter season. In addition to aalii, which grows into a shrub or small tree, Native Nursery is raising koa and ohia to help restore the native forest that had been displaced by ranchers.

Seven thousand of those seedlings have been set aside for any group, of between five and 20 people that wants to volunteer with the plantings.

The area destroyed by the fire was a mix of native Hawaiian dryland forest alongside nonnative evergreens, eucalyptus and similar fast-growing trees planted for erosion control.

On the upper slopes, the forest comprised largely natives such as mamane, a small tree with golden pealike flowers and tough four-sided seedpods, The lower slopes were planted in pines, cypress and eucalyptus, most of which will be replaced with natives.

In three or four years, the aalii may grow up to 6 feet tall and provide cover for the park’s game birds, DeSilva said. The students also planted two ohe makai. The native Hawaiian dryland trees can grow to be 50 feet wide and 30 feet tall.

“It’s something we can look at in the future and be proud of,” said Michael Sugimura, 15, of Kula.

Sugimura handled a hoedad, a sort of heavy pickax designed specifically to dig into the chunky earth for tree plantings. He and the other students, teachers and parents with shovels carefully planted the aalii, resembling little sprouts of sweet basil, in 14-by-14-foot grids.

“Because of the fire we have a chance to return the natives,” said Mike Kahula, a state forestry technician.

Native Nursery in Kula grew what state forester Michael Molina applauded as hearty seedlings. However, he still asked the students to say a prayer to help each of plants grow.

While much of the Polipoli access road is covered in dried pine needles from the dead or dying trees, regrowth already hides some of the charred trunks of Monterey pine, cypress and redwoods.

A salvage harvesting effort took out some of the fallen trees. The foresters will leave the rest of the pine and cypress to fall and rot.

They will have 57,000 new redwoods planted, with most of that work handled by Summit Forest Inc., out of Oregon. The towering trees are nonnative, but effective in collecting moisture from the clouds that form at 5,000 to 7,000 feet. Fog drip from the trees will run down to the soil, DeSilva said.

Originally planted in evergreens in the 1930s as part of a federal Works Progress Administration, the forest provided a stable watershed on what had been turned into cattle pasture, DeSilva said.

“It’s really sad,” parent Jill Cost said as she looked at the landscape. “They will be 40 years old before this is a forest again.”

One day a year, Seabury Hall requires each of its classes to participate in a community service day, in which students volunteer for projects off the private school’s campus.

The sophomores working under the shadeless sun moved quickly and weren’t afraid to plop down on the ground and get dirt under their nails to get their tender seedlings planted.

Kaikona Hendershot of Haiku was one of the fastest.

“I’m just trying to get done so we can eat lunch,” the 15-year-old boy said.

Chris Hamilton can be reached at chamilton@mauinews.com.

RESPONSES TO THE WORK

’It was all black, everywhere.’

Lance DeSilva, state Division of Forestry and Wildlife

’It’s something we can look at in the future and be proud of.’

Michael Sugimura, 15, of Kula

’Because of the fire we have a chance to return the natives.’

Mike Kahula, a state forestry technician

’I’m just trying to get done so we can eat lunch.’

Kaikona Hendershot, 15, of Haiku

RESTORINGTHE FOREST

The state forestry division is accepting volunteer groups to assist in restoring 1,500 acres of the Kula Forest Reserve.

To volunteer, call resource protection forester Lance DeSilva at 873-3980.