Program seeks volunteers to help remove invasive plants

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park is launching a “Stewardship at the Summit” volunteer program, which gets underway today and continues through June.

Volunteers will help remove invasive, nonnative plant species that prevent native plants from growing.

The program begins at 9 a.m. at the park’s Kilauea Visitor Center and ends at noon on the following dates: Jan. 2, 8, 15, 23 and 30; Feb. 5, 13, 20 and 24; March 2, 11, 19 and 26; April 1, 9, 15, 22 and 30; May 6, 14, 18 and 28; and June 3, 11, 17 and 22.

Wear sturdy hiking shoes and long pants. Bring a hat, rain gear, day pack, snacks and water. Gloves and tools are provided. No advance registration is required and there is no cost to participate, but park entrance fees apply.

Also, to celebrate the park’s centennial in 2016, a special After Dark in the Park program titled “What Makes a Species Invasive” is scheduled for 7 p.m. April 26 at the Kilauea Visitor Center.

“We encourage all who care about our public lands to lend a hand in making sure its natural and native beauty is around for future generations to enjoy,” said project leader and volunteer Paul Field. “It’s fun and fairly easy work. We have people who range in age from 8 to over 80 helping out.”

Since 2012, volunteers have dedicated more than 5,000 hours and have restored more than 35 acres of native rain forest within the Hawaii island national park. Himalayan ginger, faya, strawberry guava and other invasive, nonnative plants that threaten the native understory near the summit of Kilauea volcano have been removed.

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Star-Advertiser staff