Waimea Youth Wildfire Prep Team

In August of this year, a 4,000-plus acre wildfire threatened a number of homes and businesses in the Kawaihae area. Nearly a week later, heavy rainfall swept the exposed, loose, post-fire soil and debris through stream channels and roads, creating flash flood conditions that caused further evacuations. The clear connection between wildfires, flooding, and smothering of coral reefs during the event led us to create a YouTube video titled: Kawaihae Fire and Flood - Mauka to Makai Impacts. 

Although the current El Niño brought Hawaii a wet summer, very dry conditions are forecasted this winter. Drought during past El Niños has led to some of Hawaii’s largest wildfires on both windward and leeward sides. The next Kawaihae fire could be right around the corner.

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Youth Wildfire Prep Team from Waimea Middle School. From left to right: Zakahry Murakami-Mattos, Jamin-Quinn Lee Rillanos, Zariah River, Kawehi Bell-Kaopuiki. 

With the recent wildfires and El Niño predictions in mind, HWMO assembled a group of five enthusiastic students from Waimea Middle School who were eager to complete a community wildfire prevention or preparedness project. Kyren Martins, Zakahry Murakami-Mattos, Kawehi Bell-Kaopuiki, Zariah Rivera, and Jamin-Quinn Lee Rillanos joined the Youth Wildfire Prep Team in November, working on projects they developed and executed on their own. Mr. Martins and Mr. Rillanos each created their own wildfire prevention signs; Mr. Murakami-Mattos is currently creating a “good versus bad defensible space” video; and Ms. Bell-Kaopuiki and Ms. Rivera teamed up to remove flammable plant debris from the Mālaʻai Culinary Garden. 

The action team was originally inspired by a National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) national call to action for youth from ages 13 to 22. Students from around the country were urged to implement their own wildfire prevention or preparedness project between September 1st and November 15th with the chance of being selected as a $500 “TakeAction” community service funding award recipient.

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Kyren Martins, one of ten national TakeAction community service funding award recipients. 

HWMO is pleased to announce that Mr. Martins was selected as one of ten national recipients. Mr. Martins, whose family was directly affected by the Kawaihae fire and subsequent floods in August, made and installed a wildfire prevention sign at the edge of his home, which is visible from the road. Kyren’s message about preventing cigarette ignitions alongside the road will certainly have an impact considering a number of people drive by their home everyday. Mr Martins has elected to use the reward for future educational costs.

Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization thanks the Youth Wildfire Prep Team for their enthusiasm, hard work, and overall commitment to helping protect their community from the growing threat of wildfire. HWMO also congratulates Mr. Martins for receiving the national award. We plan to work with other students throughout the state on similar projects, using Waimea’s Prep Team as a model for future collaborations.

Malaai Garden Take Action Campaign Recruitment

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Pablo Beimler explains what it takes to apply for a Take Action funding award.

Healthy food, healthy living, community service - all words that come to mind when one mentions Malaai Culinary Garden. The student garden, "a one acre organic garden grown by and for" students at Waimea Middle School, hosted HWMO Education and Outreach Coordinator, Pablo Beimler, for its morning classes on November 10th. Pablo, who also is a volunteer at Malaai, came to speak to the students about an exciting community service opportunity. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) released an award contest for young adults (ages 13-22) who were willing to start and complete a neighborhood project to prevent or reduce wildfire threats in the area. Students could work on a number of projects and once they completed it, they could enter the 2015 Take Action contest for a chance to be a recipient of a $500 funding award. The award could be used for future education costs, or as a donation to their favorite charitable organization.

Five students took particular interest and sat down with Pablo to discuss ideas for projects in their neighborhood. One student, for example, decided to make a fire prevention sign that he could post next to his home, which is situated next to the busy Kawaihae Road. Other student ideas included making a "good v. bad defensible space" video and clearing fuels around Malaai Garden. It was great to see students who were enthusiastic about making a difference in their community and we only hope to grow this enthusiasm with future student events. 

Stay tuned for updates on the student projects!

Kanehoa Firewise Community Hazard Assessment

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Kanehoa is nestled amongst a sea of flammable grasses, but has one of the most incredible views of Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, Hualalai, and Kohala Mountain.

Kanehoa subdivision in Waimea (Kamuela) is off and running towards the Firewise Community Certification, which at this rate would make them the 2nd Firewise Community in the State of Hawaii (after Kohala-By-the-Sea). Becoming a Firewise Community is a multi-step process and relies on the grassroots efforts of the local community members. We're assisting Kanehoa, along with 9 other communities across the State, to help them achieve Firewise Certification (including $5,000 in match to kick-off a Fuels Reduction Day for each community). 

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Although difficult to see in this photo, smoke from a live wildfire near West Hawaii Concrete was hovering below Mauna Kea during the assessment, a clear reminder of the importance of getting prepared sooner rather than later.

On July 18th, HWMO's Pablo Beimler and Troy Scott and HFD Fire Inspector Palani Kurashige joined a couple Kanehoa Firewise Committee members to conduct a community-wide wildfire hazard assessment to update a 10-year-old assessment with new information about the community's wildfire situation. The team drove around the neighborhood stopping at various houses to meet with homeowners about their wildfire concerns and to get a general sense for the wildfire risk around their homes and the neighborhood.

Kanehoa has had its fair share of close-calls with wildfires that have ignited along Kawaihae Rd. (a large number of ignitions in the past decade have occurred along that highway). One such fire in November of 2010 burned with swirling winds and came close to destroying a number of homes and burned down a tractor shed. The wildfire even skipped over the stream on the South side of the village, which was running more like a river that day!

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HFD Fire Inspector Palani Kurashige joined us and noted the hazardous scrapwood below a home.

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Native plants like this ʻilima are trying to make a resurgence in the neighborhood but are having trouble competing with all of the invasive fountain grasses. A successful community work day will change that!

After the assessment update is completed by HWMO, we will present the findings to the Kanehoa Firewise Committee. The Committee will then develop an action plan based on the assessment and decide on a Fuels Reduction Day event. After holding the event, the Firewise Community will be eligible to submit an application to the DOFAW and national Firewise offices for approval. By then, we'll have the next Firewise Community in the State!

Ready, Set, Go! Workshop - Kanehoa Subdivision

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Twenty-two community members discuss wildfire concerns in the area after our RSG! Workshop.

A few years ago, a brush fire swept through Kanehoa subdivision, nearly igniting a few homes along the edge of the wildland-urban interface boundary (WUI for short). In fact, a number of wildfires have threatened the community and with dry conditions on the horizon, community members are taking action. Over the past couple of months, HWMO has been working with the newly-formed Kanehoa Firewise Committee to plan for a series of preparedness and fuels-reduction events, with the goal of achieving Firewise Community Certification in mind. 

Currently, the State of Hawaii has only one Firewise Community - Kohala By The Sea, but over the next two years, HWMO will be working with 10 communities to help them achieve "Firewise Community" status. Being recognized as a "Firewise Community" comes with a number of perks, such as the potential for lower insurance rates and greater access to funding and assistance. Most importantly, the nationally-recognized communities gain a sense of citizen pride in work that in the end protects their community from the growing threat of wildfire. To go a step further, HWMO will be working with these communities to make them "Fire Adapted Communities," a concept that incorporates every level of the community (people, businesses, infrastructure, cultural resources, natural areas, lawmakers, etc.) to prepare for the effects of wildfire. 

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Taking a look at the wildfire hazards in the area and what could be done to minimize them.

As an important first step for the Kanehoa subdivision, Pablo Beimler and Troy Scott met with twenty-two community members (and two HFD personnel) to give a Ready, Set, Go! Workshop covering topics such as defensible space, fire-proofing of homes, evacuation planning, and community fuels reduction projects. After the presentation, HWMO led a field tour around one of the resident's homes to point out potential fire hazards and what residents could do to minimize them. An HFD Fire Captain provided expertise on firefighter suppression capabilities in the area.

Next month, HWMO and HFD's Fire Prevention officials will walk around the neighborhood to conduct a hazard assessment update for the community.

If you're community is interested in funding for fuels reduction projects and assistance for achieving Firewise Community Certification, please contact us!

Palehua Ranch Site Visit

The next two years, HWMO will be focusing attention on sparking communities across Hawaii to start their own fuels reduction projects with seed money provided by HWMO. The bigger picture is to get these communities to become Firewise Communities or Fire Adapted Communities - communities that are active and engaged in protecting the community from the threat of wildfires. 

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Incredible view of Waianae near the Palehua Ranch area.

We caravanned with Clay Trauernicht of UH CTAHR Cooperative Extension to meet with Anuhea, a ranger for Palehua Ranch (Gill Ewa Tract) on Oahu after our media event on May 27th. Anu took us on a site visit to see the fire danger surrounding the community of around 20 households, nested amongst ironwoods, eucalyptus, and tall grasses. The homes have been threatened multiple times from wildfires in the area, including the recent Makakilo fire that came dangerously close to the neighborhood and scorched the surrounding lands. Anu was integral in helping firefighters gain access to the wildfire and has been able to get the community rallied behind him for reforestation projects and defensible space action. Residents, he said, are quite attuned to the wildfire threat and have been taking proactive approaches that include removing invasive vegetation and replanting with native species.

We'll be working with Anu and Palehua Ranch these next two years to provide them funding for community fuels reduction projects and eventually applying for Firewise Community Certification.

Waikoloa Village Association Annual Meeting 2015

Through your help, we can help make communities like Waikoloa safer from wildfires.

Our partnership with Waikoloa Village Association (WVA) has been running strong for the past decade, most recently highlighted by our support for fuels reduction throughout various empty lots in the Village. We are even funding a pilot grazing project within the Village, using the Big Island Goat Dozers as a sustainable way of reducing the fuels among empty lots.

We were able to talk about these recent efforts along with other wildfire preparedness information at an information booth at the entrance of the WVA Annual Meeting at Waikoloa Elementary School on May 9th. Hundreds of residents filtered through the doorway, many of them stopping by our outreach booth. We even pulled in $100 worth of donations from grateful residents. It's through community support that we are able to continue our successful projects, so if you'd like to join in and become a part of the HWMO team, please DONATE. 

Banner photo: Hundreds of residents participated in the meeting, many of whom stopped by our booth to learn about wildfire preparedness.

Waikoloa Firewise Committee April Meeting

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Above: Waikoloa Firewise Committee

We live in exciting times here in Hawaiʻi, as we witness movement forward towards the development of new Firewise and Fire Adapted Communities across the state. One of the prime examples is the Waikoloa Village community, which sits in the middle of the most fire-prone area in the state. 

On April 11th, HWMO facilitated a meeting of community members who have been actively engaged in the wildfire preparedness process. The attendees shared before and after photos of the "Ready" work they and their neighbors have worked on since our Ready, Set, Go! Wildfire Preparedness Workshop in March. 

One of the exciting discussions that came out of the meeting involved the movement towards achieving Firewise Community status for Waikoloa. The group took the initiative to proclaim itself as a Firewise Community in hopes achieving official status as a committee through the Waikoloa Village Association.

We're grateful to have a solid group of individuals who are committed to applying the principles of Firewise and Fire Adapted Communities to their local community. We hope to see the same from other communities across the state. 

Waikoloa Wildfire Preparedness Action Team - First Meeting

In conjunction with Waikoloa Community Development Corporation and Waikoloa Village Association, Hawaii Wildfire is helping to establish a Waikoloa Wildfire Preparedness Action Team to address the dangerous wildfire conditions that the Waikoloa Village community currently faces. Nearly a decade ago, the largest wildfire in Hawaii history consumed over 25,000 acres of grassland, threatening Waikoloa Village. Those same grasslands have grown back to dangerous levels after our recent extended rainy season. With conditions predicted to be extremely dry in the coming season, Waikoloa’s increasing wildfire hazard is of great concern. 

On Wednesday, February 4th, 30 members of the community packed the Waikoloa Community Room to discuss next steps for taking on the wildfire issue. Community members came charged to the event. Although the discussion amongst attendees was initially driven towards Waikoloa Village Association fuels management of vacant lots, the conversation eventually steered toward personal and neighborhood action to reduce the fire risk.

Those interested in neighborhood projects decided that the first step was to become "Firewise-trained." As a result, attendees requested HWMO to provide Firewise training at the Waikoloa Community Room on February 28th at 4:30p. HWMO is pleased to provide the requested training.

The training will begin with a workshop on the "Ready" portion of the Ready, Set, Go! program, highlighting ways to create defensible space around the home and fire-proof structures around the property. After the presentation, HWMO will lead the trainees out to the Waikoloa Dryland Wildfire Safety Park (just next door to the Community Room) to give a hands-on demonstration of the principles of being "Ready." The training will be open to the general public and we highly encourage all those interested in joining the Waikoloa Wildfire Preparedness Action Team to come! 

Banner photo: 30 residents in attendance for the resurgence of the Waikoloa Wildfire Prep Team.

Ocean Warriors (Group B) Waikoloa Garden Cleanup Afternoon

In an ongoing effort to teach middle school students the importance of being prepared far in advance of wildfire season, we took the first of three groups of Ocean Warriors students to the Waikoloa Dryland Wildfire Safety Park for a garden cleanup afternoon. The Ocean Warriors after-school program, part of the Malama Kai Foundation, is an experiential youth program for local middle school students that engages them in "coastal stewardship and protection." We consider the students "stewards of the garden" - the afternoon event was these students' first volunteer action at the garden.

Last month, we introduced the students to the wildfire issue in Hawaii and about the Ready, Set, Go! Program that touts creating defensible space as one of many important ways to be prepared for a wildfire. The students put the core concept into action by helping tend to the demo garden that has taken off with the recent rain events. A great number of the plants that have "taken off" are native, drought-tolerant plants that can help protect one's home from wildfire. A number of non-native weeds such as the never-dying bougainvillea did grow, as well. Students grabbed gloves and hand trowels and set out to take these pesky weeds out of the garden. In addition, they also collected leaves blown-over from a neighboring non-native invasive tree and placed them in trash bags.

Our garden manager, Tom Loomis also chipped in by sawing off the lower branches of the pepper trees on the property to 10 feet off the ground in accordance to Firewise principles. In just a couple of hours, the students managed to beautify the garden while also protecting it from the threat of wildfire. We hope their actions will inspire you to take action on your own home. Find out more of what you can do here: http://hawaiiwildfire.org/ready-set-go2.html.

In April, we will be collaborating with the program for their end-of-the-year showcase where the students will present, in a creative fashion, what they have learned this year (including about wildfire) to the community. Stay tuned for information on the exact date and time of the event!

Banner photo: Ocean Warrior students dig deep for weeds at the Waikoloa Dryland Wildfire Safety Park.

Wildfire Preparedness Day - Waikoloa Dryland Wildfire Safety Park 2014

May 3rd was the first ever National Wildfire Preparedness Day! Communities from across the nation rallied to hold events to help raise wildfire awareness, promote collaboration and bring neighbors together to work on projects that protect homes, neighborhoods and entire communities.

HWMO organized a day of fire preparedness fun and festivities at the Waikoloa Dryland Wildfire Safety Park in Waikoloa Village on Melia Street. HWMO partnered with Hawaii Fire Department, Waikoloa Community Association, Waikoloa Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Waikoloa Dry Forest Initiative, and Malama Kai Foundation to put on the event. 

As part of our prevention efforts, we created the first and only fire preparedness demonstration garden in Hawaii. The Waikoloa Dryland Wildfire Safety Park demonstrates how to reduce the impacts of wildfires through defensible space, Firewise landscaping and fire resistant building materials. This garden is primarily made up of low-maintenance, native Hawaiian species that are resistant to drought, wind, and heat. The garden also exhibits Firewise principles including various landscaping techniques and maintenance guidelines for zones around the home: 10 ft., 30 ft., and 100+ ft. 

The event kicked off with a garden tour led by an Ocean Warriors student, followed by opening speeches from Hawaii Fire Department's Chief Darren Rosario, HWMO's Vice President Sam Patten, and HWMO's Executive Director Elizabeth Pickett. The crowd continued to grow as the opening ceremony progressed as more families arrived. To add to the excitement, Hawaii Fire Department's firefighters arrived in an ambulance and fire truck, segueing into the next activity: tours of the apparatuses. A dozen or so keiki met with firefighters to learn about the ins-and-outs of being a firefighter and the cool tools and devices they get to use. There were waves of smiles from the keiki, who were brimming from the excitement of such a unique opportunity to connect with the firefighting community. 

Following the firefighter meet-and-greet, the crowd gathered in the garden and began to plant the 230+ native dryland plants (including 'ihi, pohinahina, and 'ilima papa) that HWMO hauled in for the event. With the incredible help from our community members, we were able to plant each and every start in the garden - 230+ plants in under two hours of planting! 

After the plantings, the crowd moved under the tents for a craft event - Ocean Warriors, Future Foresters, and other keiki helpers designed and painted signs with wildfire prevention messages that will eventually be placed around the Waikoloa community. During the session, people grabbed delicious, organic Thai food, smoothies, and gelato from Lotus Cafe, who had set up a tent for the event. The event concluded with short talks by Jen Lawson of the Waikoloa Dry Forest Initiative, who explained the importance of restoring the native dry forest, and the Waikoloa CERT team, who ran through evacuation protocols and routes.

On behalf of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and State Farm® Insurance, we received a $500 funding award for the event. The contest for the award was extremely competitive, spanning over 25 states - only 20 out of 84 projects were selected. This was a testament to how much progress has been made in adding Hawaii's wildfire issues to the national radar screen and how much more integrated Hawaii is in nationwide and Pacific-wide wildfire mitigation efforts.

We'd like to send out a special thank you to NFPA and State Farm®, Lotus Cafe, our dedicated partners, and the enthusiastic community members who made Wildfire Preparedness Day a wonderful success! Mahalo!

Another thanks to West Hawaii Today for covering the event on the front page of the Sunday paper!

Read the article:
http://westhawaiitoday.com/news/local-news/helping-mother-nature-fight-fires-native-plant-landscapes-and-other-fire-resistant 

Banner photo: Waikoloa Dry Forest Initiative's Future Foresters, Waikoloa CERT, Malama Kai Foundation's Ocean Warriors, and Hawaii Fire Department team up with HWMO for the event.