The club has two programs:

    Malama Ka ‘Aina is an environmental stewardship program.  In cooperation with a volunteer from Malama O Puna, groups of members have worked on mangrove eradication at the Wai Opae tidepools.  The red mangrove is threatening the delicate tidal ecosystem, including the beautiful corals to be seen there.  For Malama O Puna’s page on mangrove eradication, click here.

    The Malama Ka ‘Aina members have also ventured into the Nanawale Forest Reserve to work on miconia eradication.  During two trips, they uprooted almost a thousand seedlings of this very invasive South American tree.  A follow-up project will be adoption, weeding, and trail making in a particularly beautiful tract of the Reserve which contains several species of rare native trees.  Here is Malama O Puna’s miconia page.

    Finally, the Malama Ka ‘Aina members have been sewing re-usable shopping bags for their own use and for sale.

    The Earth, Our Sustenance is a plant cultivation program.  Members have tested and poisoned for Little Fire Ants in the garden area, and have successfully grown corn, sweet potatoes, turmeric, ginger, jacon, and cucumbers.  Spring plantings are geared to a June harvest celebration to share with family and friends a meal prepared entirely out of the garden.

To see more photographs from the Malama Ka ‘Aina program, click here.

To see more photographs from the Earth Our Sustenance program, click here.

DELC has cooperated with Hawaii 4-H on several past and present programs.  In the past, 4-H sponsored Dragon’s Eye Theater in fundraising for the children’s theater production, “We Can Make a Difference.”

Currently, the Kids of Koa’e 4-H Club operates at the Dragonfly Learning Environment.  Projects include environmental stewardship, plant cultivation, animal husbandry, personal growth, and cultural literacy.  More is on the Dragonfly page.

AmA

‘Apono   = acceptance

Mahalo  = appreciation

Aloha     = allowance

For over two years, DELC has been sponsoring AMA, a local nonprofit engaged in papaya field restoration and canoe culture.  AMA has been active developing sustainable agricultural practices effective for growing taro on fallow papaya fields.  In addition, AMA has spearheaded the building of a fleet of canoes.  AMA is working actively towards the construction of a canoe-launching facility local to Kapoho.  For more information on AMA’s activities, including photographs and video, click here.