Current DevelopmentsPacific Islands Area Summer 2012

Public Meetings Held

150th Anniversary 3Employee Spotlight 4Hispanic/Female Notice 5Maui Watershed Partnership 6Summer Highlights 7

Inside This Issue:

Astor Boozer (right) at the HACD meeting on Maui.

Visiting an EQIP project at Frankie’s Nursery on Oahu.

USDA Hawaii Farm Service Agency (FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Ru-ral Development (RD) State Directors held a public meeting in Hawaii County on:

Wednesday,November7,2012at5:30pmatthePu’u’eoCommunityCenteron145WainakuStreet located in Hilo;

Thursday,November8,2012at12:30pmatthe Kamuela Cooperative Extension Service Confer-enceRoomon67-5189KamamaluRoadinWaimea; Thursday,November8,2012at5:30pmattheKonaIminCenteron76-5893OldGovernmentRoad in Holualoa.

Themeetingpurposewastoprovideproducerswithan update on current FSA, NRCS and RD programs aswellasdiscusstheHispanicandWomenFarmerandRancherClaimsProcess.TheclaimsperiodclosesonMarch25,2013.

Ifyou,orsomeoneyouknow,believestheUnitedStates Department of Agriculture (USDA) has im-properlydeniedyoufarmloanbenefitsbetween1981and2000becauseyouareHispanicorfemale,youmay be eligible to apply for compensation and should contacttollfree(888)508-4429orvisitthewebsitetoobtainaclaimspackageatwww.farmerclaims.gov.

Regional Conservationist Visits

Signature of a Positive Leader:The life we lead creates our Signature.The question is, “Am I creating my highest version?”

Message from the PIA Director

Pacific Islands Area 2 Summer 2012

Current Developments is a newsletter for employees and

partners. You may submit articles and photos to:

Jolene Lau, State Public Affairs Specialist, U.S. Department of Agriculture

Natural Resources Conservation Service

P.O. Box 50004Honolulu, HI 96850

Jolene.Lau@hi.usda.gov

TheU.S.DepartmentofAgriculture(USDA)prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national

origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status,

religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part

of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited

bases apply to all programs.)

Persons with disabilities who require alterna-tive means for communication of program

information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) shouldcontactUSDA’sTARGETCenterat(202)720-2600(voiceandTDD).TofileacomplaintofdiscriminationwritetoUSDA,Director,OfficeofCivilRights,1400IndependenceAvenue,S.W.,Washington,D.C.20250-9410orcall(800)795-3272(voice)or(202)720-6382(TDD).USDAis

an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Mr. Angel Figueroa, PIA Director

ANGELL.FIGUEROADirectorPacificIslandsArea

Fond Farewell to Alan MuraokaOurEastandWestKauaiSWCDsaresad-denedtoannouncethatAlanMuraokapassedawaypeacefullyonAugust3rd,afteralongillness. Alan was committed to conservation, andhasworkedinourLihueFieldOfficeasaConservationSpecialistforourEastandWestKauaiSWCDssince2006.Wewillmisshismany gifts and contributions.

Dear PIA friends,Iamsurethiswasaneventfulyearforyouasithasforme.HavingmyfirstfullyearinthePIAplusgoingonextendedsickleavewasaverychallengingtimeforme.ButI have survived and feel stronger than ever and very motivated to see to it that we are successful in delivering our services and programs to our clients, including our culturally diverse and limited resource farmers and ranchers.WehavebeenworkingwithFarmServiceAgencyandRuralDevelopmentAgencytoinformourHispanicandWomenFarmersontheclaimsprocessestablishedforthosewho believe they were not afforded the same opportunities in accessing certain loans fromUSDA.Wehavebeenoutreachingtostudentsandfarmersandrancherstomakethem aware of NRCS services and programs, including Native Hawaiian, Chamorro, and American Samoan organizations and entities. And we have delivered our services and programs successfully last year, even when we had challenges along the way.IlookforwardtothenextcalendaryearthatiswellintooursecondquarterforFY2013,asanopportunitytomeetourgoalsanddeliverservicesandprogramsfairlyandequitably.OurtaxpayersexpectnothinglessoftheirFederalGovernment.WeneedtoincreaseourconservationplanningwhilewedeliverallofourFarmBillprogram dollars to the PIA. Hopefully, we will increase Easement Program participation andrequestEQIPRegionalEquitysothatthePacificIslandersmayreceivetheirshareofnational services and programs.WeneedeverysingleNRCSPIAteammembertocontributetooursuccessthiscom-ingyearandeachandeveryPartnerteammemberaswell.Wewillcontinueourpartner-ships and build upon our common goals. As I write this piece we still don’t have our Continuing Resolution budget and have curtailedexpensestocriticaltravel,services,andequipmentpurchases.WehopetohaveourCRbudgetandtheannualallocationinthecomingweeksandwewillbeabletoprovidefullservicetoourclientsinFY2013.HavehappyandsafeHolidaySeasonorwhatever you celebrate in your cultures.IwouldliketowelcomeournewNRCSandSWCDemployeestoourfamily.

Pacific Islands Area 3 Summer 2012

by Martin Naputi, Saipan Soil Conservation Technician

Saipan Celebrates USDA’s 150th by Rowena Mendi, Guam Earth Team Volunteer

Guam Livestock Producers

AsanEarthTeamVolunteer,IassistedtheGuamFieldOfficewithflaggingthefencepostsatalivestockranch.Beforeflaggingthe area of the fence, Sam Taylor briefed me and the landowner of the goal. He showed us themapandwhatwewillbeflagging.First,wefoundaknownpoint,whichwasneartheentranceoftheranch.Then,usingthemap,measuring wheel, and string, we were able tofindexactlywherethefencepostwill.Thefencepoststhatwewereflaggingarethecornersofthefence.Samflaggedthefirstpost and he helped me through the next four posts. Along the way, Jocelyn BambatookGPScoordinatesofeachpost.Next,wedidthesametothesidesofthearea.Themapofthe ranch shows where the planned gates will beandalsotheexistinggates.Theranchwillhavetwoholdingpens,tenpasturepaddocks,and a passageway. A measuring wheel (above photo) helped us determine where the posts willbe.Thestringensuresthatthepostswillproduce a good frame.

NRCSSaipanFieldOfficestaffalongwith20EarthTeamVolunteerswhommajorityaremembersoftheEnvironmentalandNaturalResourcesOrganization(ENRO)fromNorthernMarianasCollege,SaipanandNorthernIslandsSoil&WaterConservationDistrict(S&NISWCD),andDivisionofEnvironmentalQuality(DEQ)celebratedtheUSDA150th anniversary by remov-ing unwanted weeds around trees that were planted as partoftheLaolaoBayRevegetationProjectsite.TheLaolaoBayRevegetationProjectisacomponentof a three year, ARRA funded coastal habitat restoration projectaimedatreducingsedimentationintotheLaolaoBay marine environment as well as re-establishing in the area as a forest habitat with native plants.20NRCSEarthTeamVolunteersalongwiththeCNMI,SaipanFieldOfficeStaff,hikeduptotheplantingareaarmedwithsickles,machete,andcutterstoremovegrassgrowingaroundandkillingtheyoungtreesinthearea.Volunteersandstaffenjoyedtheactivityregardlessoftherainandmuddyconditions!Goodjobfolks. Right after the maintenance activity NRCS Saipan FieldOfficestaffalongwiththeETV”sandSWCDcel-ebratedtheAsianAmericanPacificIslander’sMonthbyenjoyingalunchParty-Qstyle(smalllunchbbq)hostedbyNRCSStaff.The“Party-Q”lunchwasheldattheLaolaoBeach.Attendeeswereabletoenjoythediffer-entAsianandPacificIslanddishespreparedbystaffandvolunteers.AsianAmericanPacificIslanddishescontrib-uted included; fresh lumpia, different sausages, eggplant withmarinatedsauce,twokindsofcookedrice,localpastries,anddifferentmarinadestyledBBQ!Thankyouallforhelpingustomaketherecognitioneventaspecialday for all USDA employees.

Pacific Islands Area 4 Summer 2012

Employee Spotlight Personnel UpdateIncoming:Diego Ayala, District Conservationist, American SamoaThomasBrandt,OfficeAssistant,StateOfficeMatthewBull,OfficeAssistant,StateOfficePhillip“Kipp”Cherry,ResourceConservationist,KahuluiAaronJanz,StudentTrainee,KealakekuaTaishaKawamae,StudentTrainee,SaipanRachelMalani,StudentTrainee,HiloShirleyNakamura,AssistantDirectorforPrograms,HonoluluJanReyes,StudentTrainee,HoolehuaTianaSantos,StudentTrainee,KahuluiBenSchmidt,AssistantDirectorforOperations,HonoluluAndrewStout,AreaCivilEngineer,WaimeaBrianTom,FinancialTechnician,StateOfficeShermanWhite,StateConservationEngineer,StateOfficeOutgoing:BrendaCrabtree,OfficeAssistant,resignationKathleen Dobler, Deputy Director, retirementAaronJanz,StudentTrainee,termendedTaishaKawamae,StudentTrainee,termendedPaulLake,ResourceConservationist,transfertoCaliforniaRachelMalani,StudentTrainee,termendedAlbertoMoravia,OfficeAssistant,resignationLex,Riggle,DistrictConservationist,transfertoNevadaTianaSantos,StudentTrainee,termendedAndreaThompson,StudentTrainee,termendedJohnWomack,DistrictConservationist,transfertoTennessee

ExtraEffortAward:GailIchikawa,TedMcAr-thur, and Cynthia Shishido.

TimeOffAwards:LehuananiAngay,KatherineGreene,JorgeGuevara,KoriHisashima,PeleIuta, Jessica Newpher, Bobette Parsons, Nicho-lasSaumweber,JessicaSternfels,andLesterSuehiro.

Length of Service Awards:

10YearsService:CameronDelligatti,JayDoronila,NicholasGallo,LailaJayyousi,CherylLambert,BernardSchmidt,andAntonetteTornito.

20YearsofService:LesterSuehiro

Recognition

Thank you to the 59 Earth Team Volunteers in 11 PIA offices that

contributed 2,073 hours in fiscal year 2012!

My name is Jay Doronila; I am a soil conservationist for the CNMIfieldoffice,Saipan,intheCommonwealthoftheNorthernMariana Island (CNMI). I was born and raised on the island of Guam.BothmyparentsareFilipinofromtheprovinceofIloiloin the Panay Island, Republic of the Philippines. I am married to JoleneDLG.Doronilaandwehavethreechildren;Tiana,KyleandKevin.IhavebeenworkingwithNRCSforalmost10yearsnow.IstartedasanEarthTeamVolunteeronGuam,workingaround the NRCS Barrigada plant materials site. After receiving myB.S.DegreeinAgriculturefromtheUniversityofGuam,IwashiredparttimeasaSoilConservationTechwhereImainlyworkedonNationalResourceInventory(NRI)datacollectionunderthesupervisionofourGuamSoilScientist.Ilateraccepteda full time position as Soil Conservationist in the CNMI Field Office.TheCNMIisadiversecommunitywithmanydifferentethnicgroupsandcommunities.ThetwolargestgroupsareAsianandPacificIslander(mostareofCNMIdescent;indigenousCham-orroandCarolinian).ForeigncontractworkersfromAsia(pri-marily Chinese and Filipino and some Nepalese) comprise over half of CNMI’s population. Many of the farm laborers are foreign contractworkers. Providing assistance to NRCS cooperators in the CNMI has theoccasionalchallengesinlogistics(limitedflights),languagebarriersandlandtenureissues.WorkingforNRCSisagreatandongoinglearningexperienceforme.Learningtobeculturallysensitive is important no matter where you are in the world. Be-ing culturally sensitive helps in the delivery of services and elimi-nates the barriers that may be in place because of ambiguousness. I am excited to begin my service as the new PIA Civil Rights AdvisoryCommittee’s,AmericanIndian/AlaskanNativeSpecialEmphasis Manager. Currently I have a brief idea of what this positionentails.I’msurethatIwillhavemyworkcutoutforme.But none the less I am very proud to have been selected for this importantroletosupportthePacificIslandsArea.DuringmytermlikeothersbeforemeIhopetoprovideessentialoutreach,andpromoteawarenessforthePIAAmericanIndian/AlaskanNa-tive special emphasis group.

(L-R) Chinese translator, Chinese farmer, and Jay Doronila.

Pacific Islands Area 5 Summer 2012

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. June 2011

United States Department of Agriculture

NOTICE TO HISPANIC AND/OR WOMEN FARMERS AND RANCHERS

COMPENSATION FOR CLAIMS OF DISCRIMINATION

If you believe that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) improperly denied farm loan benefits to you between 1981 and 2000 because you are Hispanic or because you are female, you may be eligible to apply for compensation. This means you may be eligible if:

1. You sought a farm loan or farm-loan servicing during that period;

2. The loan was denied, provided late, approved for a lesser amount than requested, approved with restrictive conditions, or USDA failed to provide an appropriate loan service; and

3. You believe these actions were based on your being Hispanic or your being female.

In 2011, a claims administrator will begin mailing claims packages to those who have requested one through the Call Center or website. The claims package will have detailed information about the eligibility and claims process.

If you want to register your name to receive a claims package, access the Hispanic and Women Farmer and Rancher Call Center or website:

Call Center: 1-888-508-4429 Website: www.farmerclaims.gov

For guidance, you may contact a lawyer or other legal services provider in your community. USDA cannot provide legal advice to you.

If you are currently represented by counsel regarding allegations of discrimination or in a lawsuit claiming discrimination, you should contact your counsel regarding this claims process.

Pacific Islands Area 6 Summer 2012

by Ranae Ganske Cerizo, Kahului District Conservationist

East Maui Watershed Partnership

Celebrating 20-Year Anniversary with Tree Planting CeremonyTwohundred–fiftykoaseedlingswereplantedintheMakawaoStateForestReserverecentlytomarktheEastMauiWa-tershedPartnership’s20yearsofconservationworkonMaui.EastMauiWatershedPartnershipawardedCertificateofAchievementtotheUSDA-NaturalResourcesConservationService,KahuluiFieldOfficeandMauiSWCDDistrictem-ployeesfordedicationandsupportinprotectingtheEastMauiWatershed.Inaddition,thepartnershipanditspartnersheldatreeplantingceremonywithorganizationPlantaWish,wheretheyplantedanOhiatree.Participantsalsoreadtheirwishesaloud for conservation and environmental ideas.

About East Maui Watershed PartnershipSinceitsinceptionin1991 EastMauiWatershedPartnershipanditspartnershave40,880acresofactivelymanagedEastMauiwatershedlandswithinthe120,000-acreconservationarea.TheEastMauiWatershedPartnershipisoneofthemostendangered forests in the world and has the highest amount of endemism per landmass. It also provides a source of water, culture, and biodiversity.

Pacific Islands Area 7 Summer 2012

Summer Highlights

Ranae Ganske-Cerizo presents Tiana Malia Santos with a certificate in Kahului.

Aloha, my name is Tiana Malia Santos and I am a student at the University of Hawaii at Hilo pursuing a bachelor’s de-gree in Agriculture; Agro Ecology and Environmental Quality. ThissummerIhadtheopportunitytointernwiththeNaturalResourcesConservationServiceintheKahuluiOffice.Iap-pliedthroughthe7thAnnualGovernorSuniaMemorialCoralReef Conservation Summer Internship and was ecstatic to hear I was chosen. Duringmy12weekswiththeNRCSIwassupervisedbyRanae Ganske-Cerizo who showed great hospitality and a pas-sionforconservation.Mytaskuponcompletionoftheintern-ship was to create a conservation plan of my own. So to even getstarted,Ineededsometraining.ByworkingwithNRCSemployeesIgainedfirsthandexperienceinwhatittakestobea conservation planner. I studied the nine steps of conservation planning to understand the process. I shadowed Soil Conserva-tionists, Kahana Stone and Joe Takai, where I learned to asses properties on their resource concerns. I was able to observe their different styles of connecting to a cooperator, which isimportant.Theyalsotaughtmehowtoaddressresourceconcernswhileincorporatingthecooperatorsobjectivestodevelop a solid conservation plan. I learned what practices to suggest, to eliminate or mitigate resource problems and how to implement them. I was also given the opportunity to shadow Carl Hashimoto and Ryan Woolbright, for more technical and engineeringtypeofwork.Iwasfortunateenoughtobeabletoreceivesomespecifictrainingfromthestateofficeemployees.Greg Koob, the State Biologist,wentovertheEnvironmentalEvaluationWorksheetwithus.TheEnvironmentalEvaluationWorksheetisacrucialpart to creating a conservation plan. Here is where resource concerns are listed and alternatives are mentioned and ex-plainedinhowtheywillfixtheproblemspreviouslyidentified.IspokewithValerie Russell, the Cultural Resources Special-ist, and learned in a nutshell what her responsibilities are

with the NRCS. She explained to me the procedures that arefollowedifaculturalresourceiseveridentifiedonaproperty in different circumstances. Adam Reed,theWaterQuality/Agronomist, also came over to explain programs likeRUSLE2andWinPST.HealsodidasitevisitwhereIlearned how to determine slope and types of erosion. Withallofthistraining,knowledgeandsupport,Iwasabletotackleaprojectofmyown.IchosetodomygrandfatherspropertyintheUkumehameareaofWestMaui. He is running a small goat operation and has an orchardofabout800organicnonitrees.Iwasabletogo step by step in the planning process with him. I did a resourceinventorychecklistofhisfarm,madealltypesofmapsusingToolKitandArcGIS,identifiedusefulappro-priatepracticesandcompletedjobsheetsforeachpractice.Finally, I came up with a simple plan with four practices hecouldimplement.Thesepracticeswouldenhancefeedandforageforhislivestock,andeliminateormitigatethenematode problem throughout his noni trees. It then came timefortheWestMauiSWCDboardmeetingagainandthat was where I was able to present the plan I created. IspenttwoweekswiththeU.SFishandWildlifeService(USFWS)underthesupervisionofTovaCal-lender,theWestMauiWatershedManagementProgramCoordinator.ThegoalforthissectionofmyinternshipwastocontributetotheWestMauiRidgetoReefInitia-tive.TheKaanapali–KahekiliWatershedManagementPlan(KKWMP)isapartoftheWestMauiRidgetoReefInitiative, which was created to help mitigate the decline of coral reefs in the area. Phase I of this Ridge to Reef InitiativeconsistsofHonokowaiandWahikuliwatersheds.PatrickandIweregiventheassignmenttoassesstheconditions of vertical roads in the Agricultural districts ofHonokowaiandWahikuliforerosion.Thistookeveryhourofthetwoweekstraversingtheroads,gatheringandcompiling data and summing up our conclusions. Hope-fullyourfindingswillgreatlybenefittheprojectandguidethe next step of the Ridge to Reef Initiative. TheverynextweekIwasofftoHonoluluforthean-nual Hawaii Conservation Conference. It was my second time attending and in fact exceeded my expectations yetagain.Theroomswerefilledwithpassionaswellasknowledgeforconservation.Thebridgebetweenscienceand culture is continuously being built.OntheFridayaftertheconferenceIhadthepleasuretomeet with and present my internship experience to a group ofimpressivemenandwomeninthefieldofconservation.Gail Ichikawa from NRCS, Wendy Wiltse from EPA, Jen-nifer HigashinofromUSFWS,Tova CallenderfromWestMauiWatershedPartnership,andTakiora Ingram from NOAA,justtonameafew.Itwasagreatwaytowrapupmy experience by sharing it with the people responsible for the opportunity that I was given.Overallthisinternshipwasanincredibleexperienceformeandinvaluableinformationandskillsaddedtomycareerpath.Ideeplyappreciatealltheknowledgeandgenerosity that came from each and every person I had the pleasure of spending time with this summer. I hope to continuetobroadenmyhorizonsinthefieldofconserva-tionandonedaysoon,makeitbacktotheNRCS!

Pacific Islands Area 8 Summer 2012

Irrigation Workshop Held Tinian San Jose Fiesta Outreachby Pamela Sablan Aguon, Saipan Soil Conservationist

Information & Education Booth set up near entrance to Fiesta Grounds. (R) Kendal Hicks, CNMI Field Office District Conservationist explains the common conserva-tion practices shown on the display board to a potential cooperator.

The first weekend of May celebrates the Tinian San Jose Fiesta, the island’s main event. Every year the island of Tinian draws a very diverse crowd including off-island guests to this main event. The celebration is in honor of their patron saint. The event is composed of various vendor booths and activities that include vendors such as local food stands, hand crafted souvenirs, games, and children’s toys, informational and education-al booths, performances by local musicians and various cultural dancers, a royal court and lastly sports activities and competitions. Competing booths were decorated using natural and recycled materials. This year NRCS presence and outreach activity was held alongside the Head Start Program (Federal Funded Program) by the entrance of the fiesta grounds during the event to provide awareness and education of who we are and what we do. The outreach set up included displaying common con-servation practices throughout the CNMI up on the display board including a photo album the entailed before and after NRCS assistance, careers and earth team volunteer program information, NRCS program and technical brochures and pamphlets, and other handouts. Also included was a short video on Dry-Litter System (copy provided by the NMC-CREES), playing on the side as the crowd gathers. NRCS emphasized the importance of the Conservation Planning process to individuals interested in conservation and gave examples of what field data needs to be collected to begin the planning process. Additionally, NRCS staff showed interested individuals samples of conservation practices that may be applicable to their sites based on the natural resource concerns assessed. Other emphasis was to reach out to Historically Underserved Producers and Female Producers and future generations to gain interest in NRCS as a whole. The NRCS staff discussed NRCS Programs and Services to mainly Histori-cally Underserved Producers, passed out brochure/handouts to teachers including Careers in NRCS and Earth Team Volunteer Programs. NRCS briefly met with the Grazing Academy Team and Cattlemen’s Association members, the Mayor of Tinian, Department of Public Lands Director, and Department of Lands and Natural Resources Director while on-site. Overall, the outreach activity was a success. NRCS was able to increase the number of CTA cooperators for the island of Tinian once again.

by Cheryl Lambert, Aiea District Conservationist

Bob Maglasang, Mike Bajinting, and Susan Kubo.

Inspringofthisyear,MichaelBajintingandSusanKubo,workinginpartnershipwithRobertMagla-sangoftheOahuRC&D,conducted2workshopsforPacificGatewayCenter(PGC)farmersattheKuniaAgriculturalPark.PGChelpsimmigrants,refugeesand low income residents of Hawaii gain access to opportunities and services through the building of skillsthatleadtoself-sufficiency.Aspartoftheirincubator programs, they have made available twelve 5-acrefarmlotsintheKuniaAgriculturalPark.ThefarmersareThai/LaoimmigrantswhospeaklimitedEnglish.OahuRC&DhasbeenassistingKuniaAgri-culturalParkwithconservationplanning.

ThesessionswereheldonSundayafternoons.Thefirstsessionsharedwithfarmersconservationpractices planned for their farms. Farmers received a maps of their individual farms showing soils and topographic information, as well as recommendations for terraces, waterways, direction of planting and otherconservationpractices.Apictorialguideofkeypractices for the farms was developed, translated into ChineseandThai,andprovidedtoparticipants.

Thesecondsessionfamiliarizedfarmerswithirrigation concepts and equipment. Farmers were given the opportunity to see and handle irrigation equipment,andtoaskspecificquestionsabouthowtoimprovetheefficiencyoftheirirrigationsystem.DistrictConservationist,CherylLambert,attendedthe second session to meet farmers and observe the training.

Farmers and family members representing each ofPGC’s12farmlotswereinattendanceforbothworkshops.NoraSisounthone,ofPGC,servedastranslator for the sessions.

Pacific Islands Area 9 Summer 2012

Olinda-Kula District Director Retires After 41 Years of Service

Paul Otani volunteered as Olinda-Kula SWCD District Director since 1971. He was the chairman of the board from 1991 to 2001, and 2008-2012.

Olinda-Kula SWCD’s major project is the Upcountry Maui Watershed Project, which was initiated by Elmer Cravalho, former chairman. Paul was on board as district director and continued to oversee the project. The initial intent of this Upcountry Maui waterline project is to provide agricultural water to small farmers.

Paul believes that conservation should be taught at a young age, so Olinda-Kula SWCD adopted Sammy Soil and Ruby Raindrop that were introduced to the board by Ranae Ganske-Cerizo when she was a soil conserva-tionist. In addition to education, he strongly supports the Conservation Awareness Program. The Conserva-tion Awareness Program teaches high school students about the lay of the land, and tests their knowledge through competition.

Mahalo Paul Otani for many years of dedication in the conservation movement.

by Ranae Ganske-Cerizo, Kahului District Conservationist

Paul Otani with Ranae Ganske-Cerizo, District Conservationist and Maggie Kramp, SWCD Secretary.

Happy Holidays!

Wishing you all the

best for 2013!