Photo: Courtesy Of University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Athletics

University of Hawai‘i Football Game

Saturday, Aug. 24, 6 p.m.

Support your Rainbow Warriors at the first football game of the season against Delaware State. Come early to enjoy pre-game festivities, including live music, a keiki play zone, concessions and a beer garden, starting at 4 p.m. at the adjacent Les Murakami Stadium.

BUY TICKETS

Family-friendly, tickets range from $20 to $95, Clarence T.C. Ching Complex, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, hawaiiathletics.com, @rainbowwarriorsfootball

SEE ALSO: Your Insider Guide to the 30th Made in Hawai‘i Festival

Photo: Courtesy of Big Picture Ranch

Common Ground Screening

Thursday, Aug. 22, and Friday, Aug. 23, 7 p.m.

Catch a showing of this applauded feature-length documentary about climate change and sustainable farming this weekend. The sequel to Kiss the Ground features appearances and narration by top Hollywood talent, including Laura Dern, Rosario Dawson, Woody Harrelson and local boy Jason Momoa.

BUY TICKETS

$15, Hawai‘i Theatre, 1130 Bethel St., hawaiitheatre.com, @hawaiitheatre

SEE ALSO: 8 New & Coming Eateries on O‘ahu: August 2024

Photo: Credit Blair Ishitani

Hawai‘i Rock and Mineral Show

Saturday, Aug. 24, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 25, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Gaze into geodes, find out about fossils, touch crystals, learn about meteorites and purchase jewelry at this expo featuring rock enthusiasts and local vendors. You’ll also be able to see a rare collection of minerals from the Rock & Mineral Society of Hawai‘i’s collection—quartz, calcite, opal and agate—all found here on our islands.

Family-friendly, free admission, $10 validated self-parking, Hyatt Regency Waikīkī Hotel, Kou Ballroom, 2424 Kalākaua Ave., hawaiimineralsociety.pohakugalore.net

SEE ALSO: August Shopping: 9 New & Coming Soon Stores on O‘ahu

Photo: Credit Event Photos by Paradise

Battle of the Bartenders

Wednesday, Aug. 28, 4 p.m.

Watch the third and final round of competition as Waikīkī mixologists compete for the title of Top Bartender—part of Mixology Month at International Market Place. Enjoy cocktail samples, listen to lively music and cast a vote for your favorite bartender.

Must be at least 21 years old, free admission, maximum 150 guests on a first-come, first-serve basis, International Market Place, Level 1, Queen’s Court, 2330 Kalākaua Ave., shopinternationalmarketplace.com, @intlmarketplace

SEE ALSO: Saying Goodbye to Glazer’s Coffee

Image: Courtesy of Hawaiian Mission Houses

Leviathan’s Families: The History of Humans and Whales in the Pacific

Thursday, Aug. 22, noon to 1 p.m.

Learn something new on your lunch break by tuning into this free lecture offered in-person or via Zoom. An expert in the chronicles of sea creatures, University of Oregon’s Dr. Ryan Tucker Jones will discuss the giants of the ocean and our interaction with them over the years as well as answer your questions.

Free, Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives, 553 South King St., missionhouses.org, @hawaiian_mission_houses

Hawai‘i Coral Restoration Nursery. Photo: Courtesy of PBS Hawai‘i

On Sand Island, hidden among the hustle and bustle of transport vehicles and industrial businesses, resides the Hawai‘i Coral Restoration Nursery, an organization under the state’s Division of Aquatic Resources dedicated to restoring Hawai‘i’s coral reefs.

Coral reefs, which are vital ecosystems supporting a quarter of all marine species, are under threat from rising ocean temperatures, increased storm intensity, human interaction and local pollution. These factors contribute to coral bleaching, which results from the coral becoming stressed. If allowed to continue, bleaching will lead to coral death and the devastation of local ecosystems and fisheries that depend on healthy reefs.

That is where the Hawai‘i Coral Restoration Nursery comes in. Its mission is to accelerate coral growth beyond what nature can achieve alone. Since Hawaiian corals are known for their slow growth rates, they face prolonged recovery times after disturbances. The organization provides meticulous care and monitoring throughout the growth process and rapidly grows large coral colonies that provide more ecological services, such as more habitats for fish, reduction in wave energy, higher rates of reproduction and higher resistance to water temperature changes or predation. This results in healthier reefs in our state.

Hear from the dedicated team at the Hawai‘i Coral Restoration Nursery and learn what they do from start to finish in monitoring the entire coral reef growth process here.

This story is one of several featured as part of PBS Hawai‘i’s climate change initiative, Mauka to Makai: Our Kuleana. We are highlighting efforts to educate about and combat problems like threats to coral reefs in our climate change initiative. The initiative includes original content created by our Hiki Nō at PBS Hawai‘i students, spotlighting their views on climate change and the issues their generation faces. Our initiative also shares stories of hope, solution-based projects like this one happening in our communities and in-person events for keiki.

For more information, visit pbshawaii.org/maukatomakai.

Every month, HONOLULU publishes a blog written by the folks at PBS Hawai‘i, the only locally owned, statewide television station in Hawai‘i that receives support mainly through donations. Visit pbshawaii.org to learn more about exceptional, locally produced shows and the most prominent provider of educational and national programming. Explore music and the arts, discover in-depth documentaries and learn what makes Hawai‘i so special. Follow PBS Hawai‘i on all platforms: @pbshawaii

Image: Courtesy of PBS Hawai‘i

Climate change is all around us. Hawai‘i is and has been at the forefront of climate discussions, facing challenges like warming waters, coral reef degradation, rising ocean levels and drought-induced wildfires. Efforts are underway by many individuals and organizations working to combat these problems.

Starting this month, PBS Hawai‘i is sharing stories of how our youth are reacting to and dealing with climate change in their own words through “Mauka to Makai: Our Kuleana.” We are hosting in-person events for keiki and providing access to resources on social media and our website for individuals to further engage on their own.

Our effort is part of a nationwide climate change initiative. “Mauka to Makai: Our Kuleana,” is the station’s multifaceted, statewide approach that aims to engage local communities through digital content, educational outreach, broadcast programming and social media.

Image: Courtesy of PBS Hawai‘i

The initiative kicks off with a student storytelling competition via Hiki Nō on PBS Hawai‘i, allowing young voices to share their perspectives and solutions. These stories will be featured on our digital platforms starting May 7 and in a special broadcast on May 21, amplifying youth-led initiatives. National environmental programs will complement local efforts on PBS Hawai‘i’s broadcast.

The digital series seeks to spotlight stories of resilience and action. Social media campaigns will encourage community involvement with easy tips for people to take action to make a difference. In-person events will be held throughout the year with efforts aimed at keiki and their parents.

Through “Mauka to Makai: Our Kuleana,” PBS Hawai‘i aims to inspire, educate and mobilize audiences to embrace their responsibility in combating climate change.

Visit pbshawaii.org/maukatomakai for updates and resources to take action.

SEE ALSO: PBS Hawai‘i Presents Keeper of the Bay

Every month, HONOLULU publishes a blog written by the folks at PBS Hawai‘i, the only locally owned, statewide television station in Hawai‘i that receives support mainly through donations. Visit pbshawaii.org to learn more about exceptional, locally produced shows and the most prominent provider of educational and national programming. Explore music and the arts, discover in-depth documentaries and learn what makes Hawai‘i so special. Follow PBS Hawai‘i on all platforms: @pbshawaii

Red-footed boobies. Photo: Courtesy of the Hawai‘i Wildlife Center

You might have seen the Native Bird and Bat Rehabilitation and Hospital Care van on O‘ahu’s roadways. It belongs to the Hawai‘i Wildlife Center, a North Kohala-based nonprofit that rescues and rehabilitates winged species across the state.

Since 2023, its first O‘ahu satellite has been giving short-term care to native birds and bats on this island. That’s a lot to tweet about: Last year’s 1,016 winged patients were a record for the center. Most were ‘ua‘u kani or wedge-tailed shearwater fledglings blinded by artificial lights as they made their first flights toward the night sea. A good number are manu-o-Kū chicks that fall out of trees in urban and suburban Honolulu. Once in a while, there’s a tiny ‘ōpe‘ape‘a—a thumb-size Hawaiian hoary bat, the state’s only native land mammal.

SEE ALSO: Hawai‘i’s Endangered and Threatened Species

“There’s such great wildlife to be seen on O‘ahu. People don’t realize,” says Linda Elliott, who opened the center in 2012. Back then, she expected a couple of hundred patients a year. “They think everything’s gone from O‘ahu and it’s a lost cause, and that’s absolutely not true.”

For native bird rescue tips or ways to volunteer, contact the Hawai‘i Wildlife Center at (808) 884-5000 or birdhelp@hawaiiwildlifecenter.org.

hawaiiwildlifecenter.org, @hawaiiwildlifecenter

Metrosideros tremluloides. Photos: Courtesy of Bishop Museum

The largest native Hawaiian plant collection in the world can now be viewed online, thanks to the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum’s digitization efforts. The Plants of Hawai‘i database of 180,000-plus specimens is searchable, with entries detailing not only the scientific data but also Hawaiian names and cultural uses.

Image: Courtesy of Bishop Museum

Herbarium Pacificum, as the museum calls its botany collection, was started in 1889, the same year the museum opened, with dried ferns and Hawaiian wood specimens. The museum began cataloging the specimens in a searchable database in 1994, with imaging added to the process in 2012.

Today, the collection contains 600,000 specimens from around the world, with about 500,000 of them in the herbarium’s database. And about 3,000 new specimens are submitted each year from Hawai‘i and across the Pacific.

SEE ALSO: Green Day: Native Plants From a Photographer’s Perspective

The online database housed on plantsofhawaii.org contains most of the Hawai‘i specimens and currently stands at about 180,000 entries. Images of a select few endangered species have not been shared publicly to keep their locations safe. Fungi and bryophytes (lichens, mosses, hornworts, and liverworts) are also not in the database, though the latter are being digitized.

The Plants of Hawai‘i website is not only an impactful tool for scientists and researchers—anyone can use it to look up plants by name, description or island. An entry will list information like taxonomy and distribution and will include Hawaiian names, cultural uses, specimen images and field photos when available.

Pneumatopteris pendens. Photos: Courtesy of Bishop Museum

Under the main search bar is a link labeled Simple Checklist Builder, which features flora statistics. You can drill down to each island and find out how many plants are endemic, indigenous, naturalized or only found in cultivation. Scroll down to find a checklist of all the plant species in Hawai‘i, with each entry linked to the species’s webpage.

“Our hope is that through PlantsOfHawaii.org, we can encourage both experts in their field, as well as citizen scientists, to join in the effort to better understand—and protect—our native flora,” says Barbara Kennedy, Bishop Museum’s Botany collection manager. “Keiki wishing to know more about our ‘āina and the plants in their backyards and gardens are especially welcome to explore our digital resource.”

Photo: Courtesy of Bishop Museum

The Plants of Hawai‘i website will be updated regularly. And since the herbarium receives new specimens all the time, it needs volunteers to help digitize them. If you’d like to give feedback on the website or volunteer with the digitization project, contact Bishop Museum at botany@bishopmuseum.org.

Start exploring the botany collection at plantsofhawaii.org.

Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, 1525 Bernice St., bishopmuseum.org, @bishopmuseum

Earthing is Frolic’s three-part series for Earth Month. Each post spotlights a different way to support local food production on O‘ahu. Part 1 took us through a morning at a local farm. Part 2 brought us into a kalo patch. In her final post, Sarah Burchard wraps up the series on the shoreline in Hale‘iwa.

Photo: Sarah Burchard

Loko i‘a. Fishponds. This is the end of the line for the natural watershed of an ahupua‘a. History tracks Native Hawaiians as likely the first to establish seawater farms of this kind 1,500 to 1,800 years ago. According to the American Institute of Biological Sciences, Hawai‘i had approximately 360 fishponds producing 900,000 kilograms of fish per year when Captain James Cook arrived in 1778. After the Great Māhele in 1848, Hawaiian food systems unraveled and fishponds began to disappear.

Today, dedicated nonprofits are restoring a few fishponds on O‘ahu. Most notable are Paepae o He‘eia—whose rock-walled loko kuapā extends into the ocean along the Windward shoreline—and Mālama Loko ‘Ea, with two loko pu‘uone built on land just off the shoreline. The latter uses an ‘auwai, or open channel, to drive fish in from the ocean.

You can learn how each system works by volunteering. Each organization hosts a Saturday community workday most months: Paepae o He‘eia on the second and fourth Saturday and Mālama Loko ‘Ea on the third Saturday of the month.

Photo: Sarah Burchard

These are not just workdays but a hands-on education in sustainable food systems. You get more out of it, and the nonprofit does too, if you keep coming back. This lets the organization build up a reserve of reliable volunteers who need less training each time. The reward is getting to see the progress on every visit.

Here’s what a morning working at a loko i‘a is like.

9 a.m. I arrive to sunny, blue skies in Hale‘iwa. A schoolbus has just unloaded a group of high school students. There must be more than 50 volunteers in all, including young families with small children and 40-somethings like me. A woman is collecting signatures: Mālama Loko Ea Foundation is trying to purchase this land to prevent further development near its ‘Uko‘a and Loko ‘Ea fishponds.

9:15 a.m. Three community members offer oli, or chants, before we pass through the entrance. Inside, we introduce ourselves and learn about the land, the nonprofit, today’s tasks and safety protocols (which are quite entertaining).

Photo: Sarah Burchard

9:30-ish. Groups split up. Some will break down cardboard for mulch, families with toddlers head to a garden patch to weed and plant, a few head toward the water with weed whackers. I join the majority to build rock walls around three young trees. The rocks’ pores will absorb rainwater, then secrete it with nutrients into the soil. The boulders are far away, so we hali hali, creating a long human chain to transport them by hand. This is how the Kapua pond at Maunalua (now called Hawai‘i Kai) was reportedly built by Native Hawaiians who brought rocks from the Ko‘olau.

Photo: Sarah Burchard

Next, everyone meets by the edge of the Loko ‘Ea fishpond to pull weeds. We are getting off easy today. Often, volunteers will get the infinite chore of shoveling sand out of the ‘auwai. Clogged channels are common to this type of fishpond, but in Hale‘iwa, where waves reach double overhead in winter, a loko pu‘uone makes more sense than a rockwall. At Paepae o He‘eia where the water is calm, a loko kuapā is preferable.

Photo: Sarah Burchard

11:45 a.m. Before we break for lunch, the staff corral us to a garden bed where a long row of tī plants sit in pots. Everyone chooses one. With our hands, we dig holes the depth of the pot and plant our tī. The job is complete with a blessing. We place our hands upon the soil, transferring our mana into the plant so it will flourish.

Photo: Sarah Burchard

12 p.m. Lunchtime. We gather in a circle to reflect on the morning, acknowledge what we’ve achieved and share mahalos. A cafeteria line of chili, salad and freshly sliced papaya and pineapple awaits. We get our mess kits and find a picnic table. We feast and chat with new friends before heading home, tired but feeling good.

SEE MORE IN OUR EARTHING SERIES:

Earthing: What It’s Like to Volunteer at a Local Farm
Earthing: What It’s Like to Volunteer at a Lo‘i