Earth Day: Maui Nui Botanicals

Aloha E, and Happy Earth Day Weekend to You All!

What a wonderful time, when everyone in the community comes together to celebrate the importance and significance of the environment that surrounds us.
This year I again attended the Earth Day celebration at the Maui Nui Botanical Gardens in Kahului. Last year I was working at the booth for the Hawaii PV Coalition (a non-profit dedicated to renewable energy). This year, I was able to walk around, talk story, and hear everyone's mana'o about their project.

I was fortunate enough to be joined by some local high school students:






We learned how to beat kapa cloth, string beautiful lei, and make haku without using any string!

Between all the activites, the wonderful and informational booths, the AMAZING entertainment and all the ono grinds -- every year the Earth Day event at Maui Nui Botanical Gardens is a hit!




Thank you so much to everyone who put their time and effort into making the event what it is each year. I know how hard it is to find time in our busy schedules for non-profit and volunteer work. It is truly rewarding to know that you are giving back to your community, and regardless of the fact that you may have to wake up at 6:00am on a Saturday to get ready...it is more than worth it.


I would especially like to thank Lisa Raymond for all her hard work and dedication to the Gardens. She works so diligently, yet with such grace to make this event as successful as it is. Thank you to Ki'ope for being such a well-spoken and entertaining MC.

Most importantly, thank you to everyone who came out and enjoyed the celebration.

(with Randy Awo, Momi, and Ki'ope)














It's busy Earth Day weekend. What a lovely sign of the times.

Happy Earth Day!

Don't forget, tomorrow -- April 20th -- there will be an Earth Day celebration at Baldwin Beach from 10am to sunset. Come and get your picture taken by a helicopter at 3pm voicing your demand to Congress to cut back our carbon emissions!

for more information on Maui Nui Botanical Gardens check out their website at: www.mnbg.org

For more information on Earth Day, check out:
http://ww2.earthday.net

Waihe'e Dunes Hike: Maui Coastal Land Trust

Aloha Everyone!

First and foremost I would like to thank the staff at the Maui Coastal Land Trust http://www.mauicoastallandtrust.org
for all of their hard work and dedication to preserving Maui's open spaces, and coastal culture.

Every month the Maui Coastal Land Trust offers a FREE GUIDED TOUR of the Waihe'e dunes. The tourguide, Scott Fisher, is a wealth of knowledge. The Maui Coastal Land Trust (MCLT) has, through hard work, acquired the land, which will now be protected in perpetuity. The tour is accommodating for all ages from keiki to kupuna.


This past Saturday I went on the hike with some MCLT staff and a full group of interested hikers. We started off with an informative briefing at the MCLT office (which is a darling , old style plantation home nestled up in Wailuku Town). First, we drove to a site where we were given a beautiful view from on top of the dunes. Being from Upcountry, I am accustomed to looking across to the Kahala Wai (West Maui Mountains). This view is just the opposite, it is the majestic panoramic view from Waihe'e across and up Haleakala. It is absolutely breathtaking.

We were then given a tour of the coastal portion of the land. The stories, the history, the legends, the geology, the archeology, the botany, there is a bounty of information there in that small marsh.
We continued on our educational journey. We hiked down, around, over, and across, and eventually came to a bluff that looked across the coastline. It was absolutely stunning. A gentle squall rolled in from on the ocean and gave us a light rain shower. It was a beautiful blessing to end the journey (and a relief from the heat).

We took a different route back and continued to learn about whatever we questions we could conjure up. Dale Bonar, Executive Director and Scott Fisher, Project Manager are both so personable and willing to share their mana'o about the Waihe'e sand dunes and marsh. They also truly enjoy listening to what others have to share about this lovely place.

I thank the Maui Coastal Land Trust for offering such a great educational service to the community. Moreover, I would like to thank the entire staff for working so hard to protect and preserve our 'aina. Preserving our 'aina is the first step in preserving our culture and our communities.

MAHALO NUI LOA!

Summer Starr

p.s. The event is open to the public, but call (808) 244-5263 for reservations.

E Komo Mai!

Aloha Everyone and E Komo Mai,

Thank you for joining me on 'Summer's Blog'. We here at Na Hoa O Summer Starr (Friends of Summer Starr) headquarters believe that a transparent government is a truthful government, so we have decided to do our part to run a transparent campaign.
We will be updating the blog with news from the campaign trail so you can tune in, receive up to date reports and remain informed.

As this is a grassroots campaign, we would also like to utilize this blog space as a venue to announce upcoming community events. To announce your upcoming event please send an email to info@electsummer.com. We will just need to know:

Where the event is located,
When the event is taking place,
What the event will comprise of,
How much does it cost, if anything,
Who is the contact individual,
In what way do you feel this event will benefit the Island of Maui?


I have been, remain to be, and will always be a person that fights to protect our communities. It's people like YOU who make our communities what they are. Thank you for being an essential part to what makes Maui, Maui and what makes Upcountry, Country!

A hui hou,

Summer Starr