Help care for a rain garden and native plant project in Kaanapali

Volunteers care for the Wahikuli Rain Garden. PHOTO BY LIZ FOOTE.
KAANAPALI – On Friday, Nov. 13, join a team of volunteers at the Wahikuli Rain Garden in Kaanapali for a morning of caring for native plants at this important polluted runoff reduction project of the West Maui Ridge to Reef Initiative (www.westmauir2r.com).
This workday will be hosted by Malama Maui Nui and the West Maui Kumuwai campaign.
In March 2013, over 70 community members gathered at Wahikuli Wayside Park and participated in the installation of this demonstration rain garden, the first of its kind on Maui.
A rain garden is an intentionally created flat bottom depression planted with natives positioned to receive, treat and infiltrate runoff from impervious surfaces – in this case, the shower and parking lot at the park.
Rain gardens have been identified as a priority practice for addressing land-based pollution to reduce stress on coral reefs.
This garden provides a visible example of a low-impact design practice that homeowners or businesses can implement with minimal expense and time. More and more rain gardens are appearing on Maui, thanks to community support and partnerships with many organizations and agencies.
Rain gardens, like any gardens, require periodic care and maintenance. Volunteers can help by pulling weeds and generally caring for the plants, and West Maui Kumuwai and partners such as Malama Maui Nui coordinate regular volunteer work days.
On Friday, Nov. 13, meet at the rain garden at Wahikuli Wayside Park at 8 a.m. (below the shower at the north end of the park).
The group will later head to Hanakao’o Beach Park (Canoe Beach) to care for another West Maui Ridge to Reef demonstation project: the native plants on the slope above the cemetary under the highway.
West Maui Kumuwai will provide water; bring any favorite gardening tools and sun protection. For those wishing to collect and take home some clippings of native plants for their own gardens, please bring an appropriate container.
For more information, e-mail westmauikumuwai@gmail.com, visit www.facebook.com/WestMauiKumuwai or call/text Campaign Manager Liz Foote at (808) 283-1631.