Our Mission
Malama O Puna is a Hawai‘i non-profit corporation and 501(c)(3) volunteer service organization which focuses on the environment and community capacity building. Our mission is to assure critical habitat for native species and open space for future generations through environmental education, hands-on projects, advocacy, watch-dogging and land trusting. Please browse our website to learn more about what we do and like us on Facebook to receive announcements about our upcoming events!
MOP Garden Tour & Plant Give-away Transitioning to an
Urban Permaculture Garden – Demo Site:
Sept. 11, 2022 at 11:00am
WHAT: Tour of a permaculture-designed, low-maintenance food forest in its early development
WHEN: Sunday, September 11
TIME: 11 AM. Keiki & seeds of both common & unusual plants available after the tour.
WHERE: 15-2881 Pahoa Village Rd, between the former Jeff Hunt Surfboards and the County Council building. Look for our green building, with a gravel parking lot bordered on three sides by garden beds.
PARK: Across the street next to NAPA Auto Parts.
GATHER: Back yard pavilion (come through the side gate.)
Also, we have work parties every Sunday from 10 til 2. If you’re interested in learning hands-on while helping out, please drop by tomorrow or other Sundays, any time during that time window. (Come through the side gate to find us.) And, if you have any scrap metal roofing you’d be willing to donate for use in nursery tables, please contact Norris at norris@aktivix.org or 503-683-3410 MAHALO!
Malama O Puna Science Contest – Puna Schools Grades 7-12 – CASH PRIZES – Entries due May 27, 2022 – Rules & Entry forms attached Science Contest Packet
Maikoiko Park Community Fruit Orchard
PUNA STRONG GRANT PROJECT
Malama O Puna’s Documentary “Revitalizing Lower Puna After Pele Came In 2018”
Mahalo to Dane Dupont of Hawaii Tracker and all the people who agreed to be interviewed for this 8-minute documentary on recovery efforts 3-years out from the event in 2018. Recovery IS possible! Dedicated to the memory of Rene Siracusa.
Memorial for Rene Siracusa (May 3, 1938 to June 29, 2020)
Please join us for a Celebration of Life for Rene Siracusa, founder and long time president of Malama O Puna who passed last year. June 29, 4:00-6:30pm at MOP facility three doors down from the 7-11 in Pahoa town.
You can honor Rene by participating in a GoFundMe campaign to benefit Malama O Puna GoFundMe Campaign
MOP’s 1st Garden Tour – Transitioning to
Urban Garden & Permaculture Demo Site:
May 30 2021
This event was the first of many to follow and allowed MOP to showcase efforts to transform an urban space and overgrown citrus orchard backyard into a permaculture demonstration site. Funding for this effort came from Hawaii Island United Way E’leu Grant and a Puna Strong Grant.
Winner of MOP’s SY 2020-21 Science Contest on Biocontrol of Invasives:
1st Place Winner Jacob Markoff
Malama O Puna is pleased to announce the winner of its Science Contest “How to Develop and Apply Biological Control for Miconia Calvescens in Hawai’i”. Jacob Markoff, a tenth grade student at the Hawaii Academy of Arts and Sciences, submitted a narrated slide presentation that provided the history of biocontrols, anecdotal observations on attempting to control this invasive species physically, and a description of the State of Hawaii’s procedures in developing a biocontrol for miconia – the Miconia Butterfly. Jacob won first place along with a cash prize of $500. The State has conducted an environmental assessment on the Miconia Butterfly and anticipates release by the end of 2021. This biocontrol, which has been vigorously researched and tested, will help to control and reduce the spread of this highly aggressive invasive plant species. Malama O Puna hopes to continue this program in the next school year. Funding for this project was provided by County of Hawaii Councilmember Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder.
MOP VIRTUAL Annual Member Meeting
Sunday, May 23rd at 2:00PM
Please click the link above to join us for the Virtual Annual Member Meeting on Zoom
Guest speaker is Franny Brewer of Big Island Invasive Species. There will be a President’s Report, Financial Report and Board Elections at this meeting. We hope to announce winners of our recent Science Contest for local high school students on biocontrol measures for controlling Miconia. Please join us!!
Zoom Link
Fruit Tree Planter’s Foundation Support for Tree Planting Partners – Restoration of Puna’s Lower Elevation Forests
Link to Video
Latest in Hawaii’s Efforts on Biocontrol
Link to Video
News
Malama O Puna recently finished up a Miconia eradication project focusing in 2 locations near Pahoa: the ‘Ginger Patch’ on Post Office Rd and along Ka’ohe Homesteads Rd. See more
- Puna Kai Drive-Thru Halloween - We'll be at Puna Kai on Halloween from 4-6PM with masks and sanitizer paid for thru the Federal CARES Act. Event brought to you courtesy of the Office of Matt Kaneali'i-Kleinfelder, County Councilmember District 5. Click through to see the full poster.
- Mask & Sanitizer Give-Away - Provided from Federal CARES Act funding through the Office of Councilmember Matt Kaneali'i-Kleinfelder. We will be giving out free Kuleana masks and hand sanitizer from Malama O Puna facility Monday Sept 28 at 2:30pm until 4:00pm and Tuesday Sept. 29 at 2:00pm until 4:00pm. If you can't make those times, please call 965-2000 to set up more pick up times later this week.
- Malama O Puna Assists in Distributing Masks and Sanitizers in Puna under COVID 19 CARES Funding - Keeping healthy and safe during this pandemic is of great concern to all individuals and businesses on the Big Island...
- Support us when you shop on Amazon - Malama O Puna always supports buying local first, however, if you're shopping on Amazon anyway, you can make a donation to us at no additional cost!
Visit Us In Pāhoa
Stop in at our office in Pāhoa to use our Environmental Resource Center or just to say hi!
