Come to Puna on Saturday for a day of celebrating the district’s resilience of spirit.
Come to Puna on Saturday for a day of celebrating the district’s resilience of spirit.
The day begins with a volunteer event hosted by the Big Island Invasive Species Committee, which will be working side by side with residents to control trees on a stretch of Highway 132 once known as the “tree tunnel” because of its towering albizia.
Hundreds of these trees fell during Tropical Storm Iselle and many more were cut back or removed by the state after the storm to prevent additional damage. A year later, regrowth of the trees along the roadside is visible, while large stands of remaining trees continue to seed the area.
Volunteers who want to join in the community effort to control this threat and become “Albizia Assassins” are invited to meet at 9 a.m. at Lava Tree State Park for training and a half-day of albizia control. Volunteers are asked to wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts and sturdy shoes.
Refreshments will be served and volunteers will receive a free T-shirt.
The Puna Resiliency Block Party is slated for 3-8 p.m. Saturday on Main Street in Pahoa.
Puna residents of all ages are invited to enjoy live music, local craft vendors and education booths.
For more information, visit www.biisc.org or email biisc@hawaii.edu.