This month we are highlighting the work our volunteers do at Queen Liliʻuokalani Botanical Garden. The property used to belong to Queen Liliʻuokalani, and it was her favorite picnic grounds. She donated her land to the City and County of Honolulu to be used for the public's enjoyment. Today it still offers a calm and peaceful respite in a busy urban area, however it is in need of consistent care and repair.
What began as casual cleanup walks by Deb Cadiente, longtime volunteer, and Kimeona Kane, Director of Public Outreach, has grown into a regular cleanup event. Increased frequency at the site has helped reduce the amount of bulky waste found in the area, but it remains one of our most challenging locations due to the large number of discarded syringes and needles found there.
In the last few years, 808 Cleanups has strengthened our relationship with the Botanical Gardens staff who have limited resources to care for the space. We've tried to make ourselves available to better understand and to assist with their needs. Something as simple as raking leaves can free up time for the sole horticulturalist to focus on cultivating plant species in all five Honolulu Botanical Gardens in the county. Because of this relationship building, we have slowly expanded our work into two other Botanical Gardens - Foster and Koko Crater.
Most recently we have had the opportunity to do more work in the stream bank at the Queen Liliʻuokalani site. It's a wonderful opportunity to build a better ecosystem and give volunteers another way to engage with the space. The work has more impact when you realize we are not just cleaning up a stream in a beautiful garden, but we are building a better environment before the water runs off into Honolulu Harbor. Eventually we would love to see a return of loʻi in the area.
Come join us in this important work. It is a serene way to spend a Sunday afternoon, and there are ways for people of all ages and abilities to get involved.
