Kaʻū News Briefs, Monday, Nov. 7, 2022

On Monday, Hawai'i Wildlife Fund helped to bring a couple of international researchers and island resident kiaʻi loko (pool caretakers) to several pool complexes in Kaʻū to learn more about the water chemistry and small critters that live in the sediment, and to remove some mosquitofish from these fragile ecosystems in order to protect native pool fauna, like the pool shrimp.  Photo from Hawai'i Wildlife Fund

MORE FROM THE ANCHIALINE ECOSYSTEM CONFERENCE last weekend is available on https://www.facebook.com/hianchialine/?ref=py_c. A statement from Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund says the organization "was proud to host this multi-agency, non-government organization, and community collaborative event focusing on anchialine ecosystems that linked scientists, students, managers and caretakers from around Hawaiʻi, Oʻahu, Texas, Maui, Florida, Croatia, Italy, Washington, Oregon, California, Kauaʻi, New York, Massachusetts, Mexico and Canada.
    Hawai'i Wildlife Fund President Megan Lamson said, "Anchialine pools are home to a wide variety of native and endemic wildlife, including the 'charismatic minifauna' of the Hawaiian anchialine pool, the ʻōpaeʻula, or little red pool shrimp, and seven other species of shrimp (including two endangered species), plus damselflies, isopods, snails, and more. In addition, these ecosystems include unique microbial

Hawai'i has one of the largest collections of anchialine  ponds in the world with some  600 on this island alone. Photo by Barbara Siedel, The Nature Conservancy

communities and oftentimes distinct cyanobacterial mats and/ or an aquatic plant, Ruppia maritima. The flora and fauna and waters of these pools in term provide critical resources for migratory shorebirds and resident waterbirds."

Public input for the 2022 Hawai'i Sustainability Summit is sought at  https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/3d3c47aab0804350a1a575cb83a6d09f

    "Decades of inaction have led us to a tipping point, which has only been exacerbated by a global pandemic, growing instability in the world’s political climate, and scathing public unrest caused by grave inequity - both globally and locally.
    "However, I am hopeful that a new Hawaiʻi is upon us — a better Hawaiʻi.
    "To attain that Hawaiʻi, we must act. As leaders, community organizers, and island-based organizations with a heart for Hawaiʻi, we have a profound opportunity to come together to tackle the most challenging issues of our time. Together, we can set the foundation for change. But, it will take courage, audacity, and the willingness to put aside our individual interests to achieve a grander vision.
    "The 2022 Hawaiʻi Sustainability Summit will aim to do just that. To break down silos and drive shared priority agreements that catalyze sweeping policy shifts for all Hawaiʻi. It will be on the backs of our collective advocacy efforts that we truly begin a path for a sustainable island home.
    "The time to act is now — for our keiki and theirs.