3 Events: Kai, 'Aina and Spirit

Got Weeds? Council Member Elle Cochran Coordinates Maui’s First-Ever Large Scale Trainings on Alternatives to Landscape Pesticides

County, state, non-profits and private property managers join forces for two weeks of solution- oriented events

MAUI, HAWAII— Maui County Councilwoman Elle Cochran has coordinated a series of events

including county, state and private property managers. In the county’s first-ever convening of

its kind, the state Department of Transportation, Maui County Parks and Recreation, various

Maui public schools, and several local resorts, condos and golf course management groups will

participate in a series of trainings lead by national pesticide advocacy organization, Beyond

Pesticides. Soil health and alternatives to pesticide use, including the use of goats for weed

management, will be the focus of the events.

“We will teach interested parties how to replace toxic pesticides with management practices

that nurture the ecosystem, build soil health, respect biodiversity, cycle nutrients naturally, and

result in beautiful resilient landscapes,” said Jay Feldman, Executive Director of Beyond

Pesticides.

Local communities have long expressed concerns over the health and environmental impacts of

pesticides. Agencies and private companies who use pesticides have been largely unable to

address those concerns because of budget and skill-gaps. “The events and trainings aim to

provide those tools and management skills in hopes that Maui will become a national leader

that works with natural systems to create beautiful communities,” said Cochran. “A better way

to manage our land and resources is possible.”

The Westin Maui Resort and Spa in Ka’anapali has been actively trying to set a better standard

for resort landscape management since 2014 “Stopping glyphosates, heavy metal fertilizers and

neonicotinoids has changed how we do things here at The Westin Maui Resort and Spa. Using a

locally-produced, sustainable compost and bark mulch has closed the loop on our green waste.

We know that we will have much less of an effect on our ecosystem by truly stewarding our

beautiful 12 acres of resort surroundings on Ka’anapali Beach,” said Duane Sparkman,

Engineering and Landscaping Manager for The Westin Maui Resort and Spa.

There has been an increase in resources and attention given to organic agriculture methods,

but this is the first time efforts on this scale have been made to support organic landscape

management. Beyond Pesticides was eager to help kick-start this initiative here on Maui. “My

30 years of work with organic agriculture has led me to trust groups such as Beyond Pesticides

who look out for the greater good when making suggestions, since they look at the whole

picture and consider the consequences of actions, rather than simply look at the short-term

financial impacts of choices made. Let us continue to work side by side for the health of the

whole and especially the unique ecosystems of Hawaii,” said Colehour Bondera of Kanalani

Ohana Farm and Beyond Pesticides board member.

The series of events kicks off on May 17th, and includes two full-day trainings with the County

Parks Department that will be the start of a one-year pesticide free parks pilot program on four

busy Maui Parks. The State Department of Transportation Highways Division will participate in

a two week pilot program using goats for weed management on designated roadsides.

Two of the events are open to the community:

Free Community Pesticide Free Lawn Care Workshop

Learn how you can have a beautiful lawn without toxic pesticides!

May 17th, 6:00-8:30 pm

Waikapu Community Center

Free One Day Course on Pesticide Free Landscape, Turf and Golf Course Management

Open to Landscape Managers and Staff of: resorts, hotels, golf courses, schools, condos,

apartments, and local landscaping companies

May 19th 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa, Ka’anapali

Space is limited, RSVP early to Autumn Ness at 270-5512 or autumn.ness@mauicounty.us

“I look forward to working with land managers on site and soil biology analyses, organic land

management plan development, practitioner training, product choice, and the successful

adoption of a systems approach to managing the pilot sites,” said Chip Osborne, President,

Osborne Organics.

With this initiative, Maui County joins other successful international efforts like those seen in

France, Reno, Irvine and Washington, D.C., to scale back the use of pesticides on public and

private lands.

“This is a long standing issue in our community and nationwide, and I’m encouraged to see

county, state, non-profit agencies and the private sector work together on solutions. I am

grateful to Beyond Pesticides and Osborne Organics for bringing skills and resources to our

Parks Department and other entities in our community so they can succeed in long term

pesticide-free land management.”

“It’s a beautiful thing when so many people work together for the greater good. A better way to

care for our land is possible, with the right skills and resources. Ultimately, our keiki and our

environment win when we address issues like this in solution-oriented ways,” said Cochran.

For questions about any of the workshops please contact Council Member Cochran’s office at

808 270 5512 or email autumn.ness@mauicounty.us

Hands Across The Sand Beach Clean Up

Surfrider Foundation Maui Chapter will be hosting our Hands Across The Sand beach clean up Saturday, May 20th from 9-12 at Ukumehame Beach Park. Hands Across The Sand is a global event to say no to filthy fuels and marine debris and say yes to clean energy and beaches. We will also participate in the statewide Monk Seal Count. Lunch provided by Leoda's Kitchen and Pie Shop. We have the bags, gloves and water. Please bring a reusable drinking vessel. Mahalo,

Robi Campbell

Vice Chair

Surfrider Foundation- Maui Chapter

808-419-8776

Tempo of the Heart Presents ‘Food for Thought’ June 2 at the Historic Iao Theater A benefit concert for Hawai'i Farmers Union United and Mana‘o Radio featuring local and internationally-acclaimed musicians

The nonprofit organization Tempo of the Heart will present ‘Food for Thought’, a rock-and-roll benefit concert to support the Hawai'i Farmers Union United (HFUU) on June 2 at the historic Iao Theater. An impressive lineup of local and internationally-acclaimed artists will perform from 7:00 - 10:30 pm, including Kanekoa, The Deborah Vial Band, Pat Simmons, Jr., and Steven Von Linne. Tempo of the Heart will donate its proceeds from ‘Food for Thought’ to HFUU, with a portion also given to local broadcaster Mana‘o Radio. ‘Food for Thought’ is the first in a series of concerts to be produced by Tempo of the Heart as a way to call attention to the work of HFUU and its mission to build a vibrant and prosperous farming future in Hawai'i. By focusing on smallholder diversified family farms that implement regenerative techniques in growing and raising food, HFUU envisions a resilient, vital, and productive agricultural system to better feed Hawai'i's people. Tempo of the Heart Founder and Executive Director Corky Byer works to amplify the voices of those he believes are accomplishing great things in the community, which is why he chose HFUU as the principal beneficiary for this inaugural Maui show: "We want to bring awareness to a more healthy and productive farming and lifestyle choice, which is what HFUU does through its promotion of regenerative agriculture. We are excited to support such a wonderful organization that is respected and recognized as a voice for farmers, ranchers, and fishermen throughout the Hawai‘ian Islands." In 2013, Byer held his first benefit concert, the “Rock and Roll Autograph Show” in Los Angeles to great success, bringing 80 rock stars together to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. From that initial project, the idea for Tempo of the Heart as a nonprofit was born. With its mission of "bringing the music community together to make a positive change in the world”, it is only fitting that Tempo of the Heart’s first concert on Maui should also benefit Mana‘o Radio. The local radio station provides multi-cultural programming that reflects the Maui community’s interests and values in a completely commercial-free, listener-supported, and volunteer-driven environment. Beyond believing in the mission of Mana'o Radio, Byer also volunteers as a DJ for his weekly show, "Corx Jukebox with Corky Byer" that airs on Sunday evenings. Local actions that lead to global impacts is at the core of the work Tempo of the Heart does, and is what personally drives Byer to give back to his community. The notion to ‘pay it forward’ was first inspired in him when Byer was homeless for several months in 1976. A stranger offered him a job, a place to stay, and everything he needed for a fresh start, which gave him the opportunity to get back on track. “That act of kindness and generosity contributed greatly to me being the man I have become,” said Byer. “Over the years I have come to believe that music is the heartbeat that drives us all in a positive way, and Tempo of the Heart was a natural progression in my continuing to pay it forward.” Many professionals in the local and international entertainment industry have contributed their time and expertise to make ‘Food for Thought’ on Maui possible, including all the artists performing that night. “My heart and soul are deeply embedded with music at the core, and it is my gift to be able to share it with people," said Von Linne, who has worked with Byer to organize 'Food for Thought' and will take the stage with his band, the Tropical Spice. "I champion the cause of growing and consuming healthy food, and this benefit will allow me to be of service to both factions, the growers and the consumers. I believe we as a community must come back to our roots of sustainable, regenerative farming methods to meet the needs of ourselves and future generations.” Beyond purchasing tickets, attendees will also have the opportunity to give back by bidding in a silent auction the night of the event. High-value items on offer include a Tahitian black pearl necklace, a sunset dinner cruise for 4, and an autographed drumhead signed by over 50 rock stars. General admission tickets to ‘Food for Thought’ are $25; premium seating is available at $40. Tickets can be purchased online at tinyurl.com/FoodForThoughtConcert. For more information on Tempo of the Heart, visit tempooftheheart.org.

About Tempo of the Heart Tempo of the Heart is a nonprofit organization committed to financially supporting entities that are creating a positive change in the world and who are not in the mainstream eye. It does this by bringing together musicians with their fans during meet-and-greet autograph signings and live performances in a rock festival setting. Visit tempooftheheart.org for more information. About Hawai’i Farmers Union United Hawai‘i Farmers Union United is affiliated with the National Farmers Union and is recognized and respected as a voice for farmers, ranchers, and fishermen throughout the Hawai‘ian Islands. Hawai‘i Farmers Union United empowers its members to earn a prosperous living through regenerative stewardship of land, water, and communities, and is active through vibrant, community chapters in all districts throughout the Hawai‘ian Islands. It is a grassroots, producer-driven organization that believes strong family agriculture is the basis for thriving rural communities. Those communities, in turn, are vital to the health and economic well-being of the entire U.S. economy. Visit hfuuhi.org for more information. About Mana’o Radio The mission of Mana'o radio is to inform, educate, and entertain the Maui community with radio broadcasts of multi-cultural and community-related programming, with special emphasis on the interests and needs of older adults. As Maui's leading non-commercial, 100% listener-supported, 100% volunteer-staffed radio station, Mana'o offers a thoughtful, creative, and eclectic mix of music that showcases local artists and exposes its audiences to a broad range of music that is often considered not commercially viable. Visit manaoradio.com for more information.