Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 32, Number 7, 1 July 2015 — The Molokaʻi Gorilla Ogo Survey and Control Project [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The Molokaʻi Gorilla Ogo Survey and Control Project

Trustee's note: This month's eolumn is written by Chetyl Corbiell, a eommunity volunteer.

The Moloka'i Gorilla Ogo Survey and Control Project was launched on Saturday, June 6, 2015, at Kūlana 'Ōiwi. Seventy-five people with passion, knowledge and love for the reef and oeean attended the five-hour meeting and learned about the threat and distribution of the invasive algae (gorilla ogo) on Moloka'i's south shore and

what other communities have tackled the invasive algae. The project partners involved are Kua'āina Ulu 'Auamo, OHA, DLNR's Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Ke Kua'āina Hanauna Hou and Kahina Pōhaku Loko I'a. Kimo Franklin of Mālama Maunalua discussed the lessons learned from the ongoing invasive alien algae (IAA) eleanup at Maunalua Bay. Over 200 acres of the 8-mile bay was invaded with IAA. The IAA smothers coral reefs and native algae communities. Since 2007, 3,000 volunteers have cleared 27 acres. Franklin said, "The main lessons for Moloka'i are: the impossible is possible, start small and get visible success, get community involvement and partnerships, logistics are important from how to remove the algae to where to dispose it, and science play s a critical role in the survey and monitoring of the areas." Manuel Mejia of TNC shared about ogo removal. "One hundred volunteers over a four-hour event ean remove 30,000 pounds of invasive ogo," said Mejia. Another option is TNC has a large underwater vacuum called the "super sucker" that literally vacuums up the ogo, but it requires the right seafloor conditions to use it.

Via Skype, Charlie, Paul and Fred Reppun, taro farmers from

Waiāhole Valley, O'ahu, described how they use invasive ogo as a soil amendment on their 10-acre farm. The ogo is a potassium source for taro and sweet potato crops. They are also experimenting with a homemade digester to retain more ogo nutrients. Sarah and Lily Jenkins, Moloka'i High School students, provided a historical perspective about mangrove introduction and

gorilla ogo. Sixty-six percent of Moloka'i's fishponds are covered with mangroves, and over the next 100 years over 64 percent of the reef will be covered if nothing is done. Mangroves change water quality and produce sheltered mudflats, whieh are prime IAA habitat. Sarah Vasconcellos, a doctoral Botany student at the University of Hawai'iMānoa, described her success with native limu propogation. The research was eonducted on the reef fronting the Waiklkl Aquarium. Quarterly cleanups remove the invasive algae and native limu is planted in its plaee. Hoaka Thomas, Biology student at UH-Mānoa, presented his research about the introduction of red urchins into areas where gorilla ogo was cleared. "The urchins ean do the mueh harder, tedious work of grazing the little bits of algae," said Hoaka. The strategy has worked in small test plots. This is a possibility for Moloka'i. The next phase is July 11-13,2015, when Moloka'i volunteers will participate in the south shore survey. Approximately six teams of half-a-dozen people will survey and GPS the south shore for gorilla ogo and mangroves. Call the Office of Hawaiian Affairs on Moloka'ito volunteer: 808-560-3611. ■

Cūlette Y. Machadū Trustee Muluka'i and Lāna'i