Mahalo nui for joining us for our ‘Āina Stewardship and Cut Back Crew community clean up on Sunday, May 25th as part of Wildfire Awareness Month. With funds from Hawai'i Wildfire Management Organization, we were able to held create non-combustible zones around neighbors' homes, primarily focused on supporting kūpuna homes!

Some exciting shares:

• 30 volunteers contributing over 150 hours of time during the clean up and throughout the week prior and following, for an estimated total value based on the national volunteer rate of almost $5,000;

• Two homes in Kewalo, two homes in Kalāwahine, and five-ish homes in Papakōlea received support from our crew addressing their home ignition zones;

• Three 20ft roll off bins were filled exclusively with home ignition zone waste while they were in community for a week! The one on Moreira was completely full of chipped materials; and 

• Chippers are amazing!!

Since completing this event, neighbors who received support were extremely grateful and have even recommended us to other neighbors in community, encouraging us to set up shop and keep it up! Check out our recap on instagram @homesteadfirewise. 

Although we don't yet have another clean up scheduled YET, we do know DHHL will be doing some tree trimming along the kahawai (stream) and may be pursuing using goat/sheep grazing to address ignitions in some of the open lots from the company that made this project in the Waialae'iki Community possible. 

Special mahalo to the Jr. Leaders After of Kula, HTM, Homedepot Rental Department,  Lanakila Catering, all of our truck drivers who helped transport cut materials, all of our chain saw operators for the big cuts and all of our small kind action sickle peeps, and our trusted fiscal sponsor Kula No Nā Po'e Hawai'i.