HALEAKALA NATIONAL PARK — The fight to protect Haleakala from invasive plant species just got an infusion of cash to put more boots — and hoes — on the ground.
Under the mountain’s exceptionally bright skies, Haleakala National Park Superintendent Marilyn Parris practically beamed Friday morning as she announced a new partnership, primarily with the nonprofit Maui Invasive Species Committee, that will add $2.23 million to the battle against invasive species over the next two years.
“This is a celebration not of new partnerships, but of old partnerships with new money coming through,” Parris said.
The money will enable MISC to create a new 10-member field team with the mission to eradicate invasive plant species, primarily along the park’s borders, said MISC Manager Teya Penniman.
MISC has 19 people in the field now, with only five covering 35,000 acres in and around Haleakala.
Through years of fencing and weeding, invasive plants and animals, such as goats and pigs, have nearly been eliminated from the national park. However, the fight against invasive plants continues in the lower slopes that get more moisture, Penniman said.
The field team will be focusing on eradicating pampas grass and miconia weed, Penniman said. The team also will restore native plants to the area.
To help commemorate the event, park rangers planted nine young silversword plants, which are only found on Haleakala and are classified as endangered. Park spokesman Dominic Cardea said the plants were cultivated at a nursery on the dormant volcano.
Hawaiian cultural specialist Kahu Charles Kauluwehi Maxwell Sr. offered traditional blessings for the plants and watered them from ti leaves dipped in a wooden bowl. He said it would be 20 years before the plants are mature enough to seed.
Maui County Environmental Coordinator Kuhea Para-cuelles joked as she planted a silversword that she probably just accumulated a $10,000 federal fine for handling it for even a minute.
The plants will only be watered for about a month and fertilized with a B vitamin mixture.
MISC is contributing $1.2 million and the federal government is kicking in about $1 million for the National Park Service Centennial Initiative. Across, the country, 110 projects totaling $50 million have been tapped by the park service for public-private partnerships to improve facilities, flora and fauna.
Other project partners include Maui County, the East Maui Watershed Partnership, Haleakala Ranch Co., Leeward Haleakala Watershed Restoration Partnership, the Nature Conservancy, East Maui Irrigation and Hana Ranch.
County spokeswoman Mahina Martin said it was a pleasure to be on the mountain, saying it was a special, sacred place.
Anyone who wants to volunteer for the project can call Haleakala National Park Volunteer Coordinator Melissa Chimera at 572-4487.
• Chris Hamilton can be reached at chamilton@mauinews.com.
