Home - Malama O Puna

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!

Malama O Puna YouTube Channel

Check out the many videos of Malama O Puna activities at our YouTube Channel.

Malama O Puna Science Contest – Puna Schools Grades 7-12 – CASH PRIZES – Below are the 4 winners of the 2022 contest!

Maikoiko Park Community Fruit Orchard

PUNA STRONG GRANT PROJECT

Maikoiko Park Community Fruit Orchard in Hawaiian Shores

We had 21 people show up last Sunday and after 4 hours planted nearly 60 fruit trees and 40 pineapples! Much help from Cem Akin of Fruit Tree Planters Foundation who designed the planting, arranged the order, delivered trees from Plant It Hawaii, and donated irrigation materials.

Also, mahalo to Ann Kobsa & Page Else of Malama O Puna who donated copious amounts of free plants for volunteers and worked hard along with all the volunteers who showed up. This project is funded by a Puna Strong Grant thanks to Malama O Puna. A few people even came over from Nanawale and Papaya Farms Road to help, showing true community spirit. A most rewarding activity, plus got to meet some new people in the hood.

Anyone willing, please join us Sunday afternoon at 3:00pm for a couple hours of fine tuning. We have plenty left over Albizia mulch and the bananas and pineapples still need to be mulched plus a few other minor cleanup activities. We now have dedicated gardening tools, gloves, and wheelbarrows to accomplish tasks.

Again, a huge Mahalo to all who helped put in this community fruit orchard. May it inspire other Puna subdivisions and communities to do the same. Food security is an important issue out here in Puna and across the State!

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.

Video

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.

video

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.

Presentation

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