Kualoa Ranch.

Sorry I didn't do this last week, but I'm gonna do it now! So this week we worked at Kualoa Ranch Tuesday-Friday, short week due to July 4. Tuesday we worked in the lo'i, Wednesday was in the enclosed funded fence, Thursday was more lo'i (and stream) work, and Friday was at Mo li'i Fishpond! (Sorry I think I spelt it wrong in my journal.) I'd have to say by far, Thursday and Friday were my most favorite work days this week. On Thursday, after finishing clearing up the hill by the running stream and lo'i patches, we planted many native species such as carex, 'awa, 'uki'uki, palapalae, etc... so where there once was reeds, grass, chlamydia, and other invasives, there will now be a thriving spot of beautiful native plants for tourists and locals to enjoy. My favorite part of the day was going to the stream, which before had only one water way going through the lo'i and down through the rest of the property, there are now maybe three or four water ways that channel through two different lo'i patches before entering the main stream again. It was so amazing to watch as our team worked together and dig out trenches for the water, clear out sediment and debris, and move rocks and mud getting down and dirty and wet to help the aina. I was so fascinated by the kalo leaves because water just gathers and rolls off of it. It's hard to explain, and maybe a little strange to hear, but I just wanted to take a leaf home and play with it because it intrigued me so much! Not that I have a kalo leaf fetish or anything, no that would be weird -.-" But I'm so amazed by all these things that I never really noticed before, never really cared to notice actually, but this program has had such a huge impact on my outlook on nature. When I went to Kaua'i this past weekend I was driving around Kapa'a and I saw all these plants that before this summer, would have been just plants to me. But as I was driving around I recognized a lot of the plants and was naming them and saying whether they were native, non native, indigenous, invasive, endemic, etc... And that's something I could never do before so I'm really thankful and proud to be able to do that. Although I think my boyfriend thought it was strange when we went to a lookout and there were invasive plants growing in the ground and I started pulling them out because I was still in "kill mode" ;p Anyway, that's my intake on Thursday's work day. Friday, I just wanted to say how awesome I thought it was that we got to go to Secret Island, for free mind you! It's usually about $20 per person to go there, but it was a nice way to end the week after working long and hard, but having fun at the same time. I had a lot of fun in the two man kayak with Robert racing Chase and Pono and getting boarded by Chase then flipped over by Pono! Haha, it was really fun. We made some good friends this week and our site managers were great (as usual)! It was a really wonderful experience and I hope the rest of my group enjoyed it as much as I did. Oh! And I'll never forget Robynne and I's near death experience when weeding on Tuesday with Kawena, hahaha! :) Alrightey good night guys see you tomorrow.
-Eliseeeeeee, Fa Mulan.