Kanaka Council Moku O Keawe Ph. 982-9020
HCR 2 Box 9607 Cell 896-7420
Kea’au, HI 96749
Email: moku_okeawe@yahoo.com
For Immediate Press Release
Opponents to Waiawi Eradication to meet with Scientists
Hawaiian cultural rights group, Kanaka Council Moku O Keawe has joined “Concerned Citizens of Hawai’i and Save the Guava” organizations to form a coalition “Pupukahi I Holomua” (United we move Forward) in their opposition to the proposed release of a scale insect to slow the spread of waiawi, better known as strawberry guava by the USDA Forest Service. A meeting and opposition rally has been scheduled for July 3 at 11 am at the Forestry Division on Kawili and Kilauea Ave.
“They are taking away a food source and still leaving us the problem to clean up. This insect will only kill the fruit and the waiawi tree will continue to grow. The insect does not kill the waiawi tree. Manual labor will still need to be used to clear the waiawi. ” said Kale Gumapac, Alaka’i for the Kanaka Council.
Scientists cannot guarantee that the release of this insect will not affect other native plants in our fragile native eco system. The insect will cause the waiawi, strawberry guava, to develop ugly galls on its leaves and stop making fruit. This will leave scarred waiawi trees on thousands of acres with no fruit and still growing
Gumapac, says that the Hawaiian proverb “Pupukahi I Holomua” United we move Forward is the theme of this coalition, Concerned Citizens of Hawai’i are hunters on Hawai’i island and Save the Guava are members from the Good Shepherd’s Foundation. The coalition will be meeting with the scientists proposing the introduction of the insect on Thursday, July 3, at Forestry Office on Kawili St.
A previous meeting held by State Representative Clift Tsugi on June 5 at UH Hilo allowed only a presentation by the scientists without input or comments from the public. This meeting called by the Kanaka Council will have open dialogue.
Malama aina e malama I ke kai,
Kale Gumapac, Alaka’i