The Pahoa High School conservation team got down and dirty Nov. 20 to win the 2015 state Conservation Awareness Program competition at the Wailea Agricultural Group in Hakalau.
The Pahoa High School conservation team got down and dirty Nov. 20 to win the 2015 state Conservation Awareness Program competition at the Wailea Agricultural Group in Hakalau.
The event was hosted by the Hamakua Soil and Water Conservation District.
Though a rainy day, the students from schools representing their respective counties proved to be real troupers as they competed in judging soils at three different sites.
Pahoa was led by Gernel Javier, who recorded the highest individual score for the day. Team adviser Mailei Bumanglag and assistant Janean Stone, both former contest winners, went home proud of their students.
Kamehameha Maui placed second and Honolulu County’s Leilehua (Oahu) High finished third.
Pahoa advanced to the state contest by placing first in the Hawaii County contest hosted by the Mauna Kea Soil and Water Conservation District at Kahua Ranch in Kohala.
Pahoa moves on to the national contest May 3-5 in Oklahoma City.
Contest organizers want to congratulate all participants and send a special thanks to Lesley Hill and Michael Crowell for the use of their farm, Doug and Jill Beaton for graciously providing lunch and everyone who assisted with the event.