MLK Day Huki Draws 180 Volunteers

January 17, 2018

The first community huki of the year brought 180 volunteers to Maunalua Bay on Jan. 15 for Kupu’s 10th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of volunteer service.

“This is one of our favorite events each year because it’s an opportunity for us to gather the community and work together to mālama ‘āina,” Kupu CEO John Leong said. “We’re honored to partner with Mālama Maunalua and Pono Pacific this year to help beautify Hawai‘i Kai’s Maunalua Bay.”

In partnership with Mālama Maunalua and Pono Pacific, Kupu coordinated the event in which volunteers of all ages helped huki or pull nearly 10,000 pounds of invasive alien algae from near shore waters of the Bay.

“Mālama Maunalua hosts a few hommunity huki each month, but this has been the biggest turnout we’ve had by far,” Mālama Maunalua Executive Director Doug Harper said. “The success of our organization is dependent on our volunteers and community support and we’re grateful to organizations like Kupu for supporting our efforts to restore Maunalua Bay.”

Also making an appearance at the event were Ed and Jonas Otsuji of Otsuji Farm, one of Mālama Maunalua’s farm partners that recycle the invasive algae pulled from huki and use it as soil amendment to improve soil quality.

Sponsored in part by Locations Foundation, La Tour Café, Shaka Tea and Kona Brewing Company, the event also included information booths hosted by partners promoting ways to improve the environment, communities and personal well-being: Blue Zones Project, Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), ‘Ewa Limu Project, Koolau Mountain Watershed Partnership and KUA.

Courtesy of Locations Foundation