Kawainui Marsh

From dKosopedia

Category: Environmental issues in Hawaii

Kawainui Marsh is on the windward side of the island of Oahu, between the town of Kailua and Kapaa Quarry.

"Sacred to Hawaiians, Kawainui Marsh, the largest remaining emergent wetland in Hawai i and Hawaii’s largest ancient freshwater fishpond, is located in what was once the center of a caldera of the Koolau shield volcano. The marsh provides primary habitat for four of Hawaii’s endemic and endangered waterbirds, and contains archaeological and cultural resources, including ancient walled taro water gardens (lo i) where fish were also cultivated. Kawainui Marsh stores surface water, providing flood protection for adjacent Kailua town, one of the largest towns on the windward side of O ahu. Hamakua Marsh is a smaller wetland historically connected to and immediately downstream of Kawainui Marsh, which also provides significant habitat for several of Hawaii’s endemic and endangered waterbirds." [1]

In the Aug/Sept 2005 edition of Elepaio, in an article entitled, Kawainui and Hamakua Marsh Complex added to List of Wetlands of International Importance under Ramsar Convention:

On February 2, 2005, the United States designated the Kawainui and Hamakua Marsh complex on O‘ahu’s windward coast as one of three new Wetlands of International Importance within the Nation. The new designations bring the total number of U.S. sites to 22, covering more than 3 million acres. The sites are named under The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, more commonly known as the Ramsar Convention after its place of adoption in Iran in 1971. [2]

External Links

• ‘Ahahui Mālama I Ka Lōkahi
• Kawainui Marsh
• Sustainability Hotspot: Kawainui Marsh (Hawaii State Department of Land and Natural Resources)
• Big Plans for the Big Water Environment Hawaii, December 2001.
• Kawainui Marsh Koolau.net.
• Trail will open up Kawainui marsh By Eloise Aguiar Honolulu Advertiser, June 5, 2002.
• Leone, Diana. Funding for marsh at risk -- A project designed for Kawainui waterbirds may dry up due to city and state squabbling Honolulu Star-Bulletin, December 4, 2005.
• Aguiar, Eloise. Kawai Nui Marsh dispute puts restoration on hold Honolulu Advertiser', December 11, 2005.
• White, Doug. Kawai Nui Marsh dispute puts restoration on hold Poinography, December 11, 2005.
• Aguiar, Eloise. Over $950,000 pooled to restore Kawai Nui Marsh Honolulu Advertiser, February 12, 2006.
• Leidemann, Mike. Marsh transfer in holding pattern Honolulu Advertiser, July 9, 2006.
• Aguiar, Eloise. Volunteers to tackle marsh trash Honolulu Advertiser, September 29, 2006.
• Pesky weeds gumming up Kawainui Marsh Honolulu Star-Bulletin, January 25, 2007.
• Leone, Diana. Kawainui Marsh wildlife plan pact reached Honolulu Star-Bulletin, April 11, 2007.
• OUR OPINION: Government delays endangered marsh THE ISSUE: The city and state have agreed on a restoration plan for Kawainui Marsh. Honolulu Star-Bulletin, April 16, 2007.
• Leone, Diana. The rebirth of Kawainui Marsh Honolulu Star-Bulletin, June 4, 2007.
• Leidemann, Mike. 'Ecological treasure' is coming back to life Honolulu Advertiser, July 6, 2007.