FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                 October 27, 2006

CITY LEADS ‘MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY’ IN WAIPAHU AND NANAKULI 

            More than 500 volunteers from local businesses, civic groups, watershed associations, schools, churches, scouts and the military will help their communities and the environment tomorrow, October 28, in national Make A Difference Day projects.

            “I’ve  always said Oahu is our home,” said Mayor Mufi Hannemann, “and we are very grateful indeed to these volunteers, who are helping to clean up and care for our home. They certainly are making a difference.”

            Established by USA Weekend magazine and the Points of Light Foundation, Make A Difference Day is the largest national day of volunteer work.

            In Waipahu, volunteers will clean up Kapakahi Stream along Depot Road and work on Pouhala Marsh Restoration nearby. In Nanakuli, volunteers will see first-hand how their work can help improve the quality and appearance of local streams, parks and beaches.

The City Storm Water Quality Branch will provide trash bags, gloves and “Protect Our Waters … For Life” t-shirts. The City Department of Facility Maintenance and Environmental Services Department’s  Refuse Division are providing trucks to haul the opala away, and Department of Transportation Services is providing the paints and brushes for graffiti removal at City bus stops in Nanakuli.

WAIPAHU: Kapakahi Stream Cleanup and Pouhala Marsh Restoration
            The City and County of Honolulu Department of Environmental Services’ Adopt-A-Stream and Adopt-A-Block Program, in coordination with the City Department of Facility Maintenance, State of Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife, Hawaii Nature Center, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pacific Regional Visitor Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Services, Oahu Resource Conservation and Development, Inc., Waipahu High School, Moanalua High School, State of Hawaii Department of Transportation Highways Division Oahu District, StarBucks Hawaii, NSA/CSS Hawaii, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force and area residents will lend a helping hand to clear out water lettuce, floatables, fast food restaurant debris, automobile tires, parts and batteries, and shopping carts from Kapakahi Stream.  Volunteers will also help plant kou trees and remove mangrove seedlings from Pouhala Marsh.

Time:  8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Meeting place: Blue canopies near the Pouhala Marsh green entrance gate across from the Honolulu Police Training Academy on Waipahu Depot Road

Points of contact:

·    Iwalani Sato, City Department of Environmental Services Storm Water Quality Branch

·   Christina McGuire, State Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife

·   Pauline Kawamata, Hawaii Nature Center

NANAKULI MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY

          The City Department of Environmental Services’ Adopt-A-Stream and Adopt-A-Block Program, in coordination with the City Department of Facility Maintenance, City Department of Parks and Recreation, State of Hawaii Department of Transportation Highways Division Oahu District, Nanakuli High and Intermediate School, Nanakuli Elementary School, Nanaikapono Elementary School, Naval Station Pearl Harbor and U.S. Army will be walking in and around Nanakuli and Haleakala avenues stenciling storm drains to communicate an important message, “E Malama E Ka Wai Ola” or “Protect Our Waters … For Life”; removing opala (rubbish) along sidewalks, curbs and gutters; distributing educational materials and a limited amount of cleanup items such as free oil change boxes or absorbent mats to some of their neighbors.  The students are working with the City to educate their neighbors about simple cleanup materials for home use and proper disposal practices that will help keep their neighborhood clean. Refreshments provided to volunteers by MacDonald’s Nanakuli.

Nanakuli Adopt-A-Block Neighborhood Cleanup
Time:  8:30 am to 10:30 am
Meeting Place:  Nanakuli High and Intermediate School, Nanakuli Elementary School, Nanaikapono Elementary School
Point of Contact:   Gerald Takayesu, City  Department of Environmental Services, Storm Water Quality Branch

Nanakuli Beach Cleanup
Time:  8:30 am to 10:30 am
Meeting Place:  Nanakuli Beach Park
Point of Contact:  Clinton Jamile, City Department of Parks and Recreation

            In addition to the Nanakuli and Waipahu efforts, the City is providing trash bags and other supplies to volunteers who will be clearing Kawainui Marsh near Coconut Grove tomorrow.

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Media contact:

             Iwalani Sato, Storm Water Quality Branch, 780-8872