Pahoa Roundabout Landscaping

[Carey]

There should be a report on the damage....ask Puna for the report # & keep checking... most of these types of reports go from Puna to Hilo & seem to get lost in Hilo.... unless someone keeps checking....

[Rene Siracusa]

Thanks, Carey -
I'll look into it.

Rene

[Rene Siracusa]

Despite the fact that the roundabout is practically next door to the Pahoa police station and that the cops drive past it many times each day, no one reported that there was damage done except me. So they don't know who the driver was or the insurance company. No way to get reimbursed for the cost of the damages. Shucks.

Good news: Sanford's Cinders has agreed to provide free cinder and/or cinder/soil for the project. Mahalo Sanford's.

[Rene Siracusa]

This SATURDAY, AUGUST 17th from 9 to 11 is our next Planting Day. We will start working on a different median: the small Kalapana sign one. First we will weed it to prepare for the planting. then Dark red ti will flank the sign, large orange bromeliads will will be planted in the sign center, front and back. And then small almost-black bromeliads will encircle the big orange ones to set them off. If time allows, we will add native silver pohinahina as filler.

Bring your cameras to document our progress and share on Facebook.

See you Saturday. A hui hou,
Rene

[Rene Siracusa]

SATURDAY, AUGUST 31 from 9 to 11 is the next scheduled group work day. We have more planting to do at the Kalapana sign median.

GOOD NEWS: Malia Ka'awaloa's 9th grade class will be giving back to the community on the 2nd of our two monthly workdays by weeding at the Roundabout on a regular basis. About 10-15 students will take part in this community beautification project. Way to go, kids! and a BIG MAHALO TO YOU!

[descodave]

I/We don’t know you, but just wanted to say Thankyou SO much for all of the hard work you (Rene) & other workers are putting into this (we used to do landscape maintenance & it’s ALOT of work - especially in the Tropics because of the amount of weeds & the heat!)! P#257;hoa town could use a little “sprucing up” ! THANKYOU so much!

[Rene Siracusa]

It's the positive feedback and community support that keeps us going. Thanks for providing some of that.

Rene

[Rene Siracusa]

We were rained out several times in October, so we have some catching up to do. Next group workdays have been set for Saturday, Nov. 16 and 30 from 9 to 11 am.

Wear gardening attire, sturdy shoes, hat,and bring water. Malama O Puna will provide safety vests, gloves, tools and positive re-enforcement (i.e., hugs).

See you then - a hui hou,
Rene

[laurarice]

Why did they put plant in pots there? I don't think they will thrive.


Laura

[Rene Siracusa]

One of the first plantings we did last January was the Manila Palms in the pots. They have been growing well. The reason: That median was the only place where we could plant trees without obstructing line of sight for drivers.

However, there is not much depth for roots. So the pots are acting like raised beds. The bottoms are cut out of them. There are about 18" from the bottom of the roots (when we first planted them) to the bottoms of the pots, and then another 6" or so of pretty poor soil. We fertilize.

There are site limitations that we have to deal with. (1) All plants need to be able to handle full sun. (2) Because there is very little soil under the wood chips, we are choosing plants that don't have deep root systems. (3) We have to be careful that plant placement will not block drivers' view of oncoming traffic, so tall bushy plants have to be sited carefully for public safety.

If you would like to suggest some plants that fit these parameters, we would be willing to consider them. Thank you for your interest. We would like to invite you to join our next workday on Sat., Nov. 30, so that you can see first hand the situations discussed above.

mahalo and malama pono,
Rene