FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                             February 22, 2006

WASHINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS

TEAM UP WITH THE CITY AND JACK IN THE BOX

ON STORM WATER EDUCATION EFFORT

                Nearly 70 Washington Middle School students have signed up to be volunteer monitors in the City's Adopt-A-Stream cleanup project from 8:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday, February 25, at Makiki Stream, next to the Jack in the Box restaurant at the corner of South King Street and Kalakaua Avenue.

            The students will remove litter from the stream and start plans on a simple beautification project for Earth Day under the coordination of the City's Department of Environmental Services and the Department of Parks and Recreation. Jack in the Box will provide refreshments.

            "This is a great opportunity to help young people and adults make the connection between their actions at home or in the work place and the impact that each can have on Makiki Stream, the Ala Wai Canal and the ocean," said Iwalani Sato, of the City Storm Water Quality Branch. "It's also a positive way to empower and educate young people and adults on how to help protect our water resources by providing relatively simple, yet important opportunities to take action."

            This year, the City's Storm Water Public Education Program is targeting trash and used motor oil. "The City is trying to get the word out that even day-to-day activities, such as throwing fast food restaurant containers in trash cans rather than in the storm drains and properly disposing of used oil can have a cumulative effect throughout an entire watershed and contribute to improved storm water management," said Sato. "Although it may take years of sustained effort to restore Makiki Stream to healthier conditions, we're off to a good start.  We need to keep looking for ways to make it easy for people to do the right thing."

            Interested persons are invited to attend an Adopt-A-Stream Workshop on Saturday, March 4, 2006, from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Meet at the University of Hawaii St. John Plant Science Building, Botany Department, 3190 Maile Way, Room 011. The workshop includes lectures and streamside training, where everyone will practice sampling protocols first-hand. 

            Makiki Stream cleanups are scheduled for April 22, August 12, and October 21.  Washington Middle School will promote environmental awareness and inter-agency solutions through a three-pronged program:  1)  involving volunteer monitors in the City's Adopt-A-Stream project;  2) educating public and private policymakers through sign waving and educational materials; and, 3) inviting the general public to its annual Earth Day cleanup on April 22.

            Makiki Stream is approximately 3.5 miles long, and its tributaries include Kanahâ Stream, Kanealole Stream, Moleka Stream, and Maunalaha Stream. 

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Contact:

       Iwalani Sato, Environmental Services Department, Storm Water Quality Branch, 429-4112