Maui is First Stop on Organic Land Management Education Tour

Robin Proctor of Weedsteam Hawai’i treating Guinea Grass

Beyond Pesticides launches their Hawaiʻi-wide Organic Land Management Education Tour with its first stop on Maui on Monday, Feb 17.

Organizers will discuss progress Maui has made in recent years to reduce the use of pesticides in public spaces and on coastline hotel and resort properties.

The 11-day tour is organized by Beyond Pesticides Hawaiʻi in coalition with local organizations, agencies and county council members in Maui, Kauaʻi and Hawaiʻi Counties.

The Maui event includes the following schedule:

Free Ocean Friendly Properties and Landscaping Information Session
Monday, Feb. 17, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Westin Kāʻanapali Oceanfront Lawn

Pesticides and fertilizers used on nearshore properties end up in the ocean, affecting aquatic ecosystems. Learn how to move away from those products, by creating organic systems that actually benefit ocean ecosystems and reduce long term maintenance costs.

*Open to all hotel/resort landscaping and maintenance personnel, staff and management of private landscaping companies. Hosted by Duane Sparkman of Westin Kāʻanapali and Chip Osborne of Osborne Organics

Free Film Screening of Groundwar
Tuesday, Feb 18th, 5:30 p.m.
Cameron Center Auditorium, 95 Mahalani St, Wailuku

A documentary about the toxic pesticides we use in parks and landscapes, and how they impact children.  The film will be followed by a discussion on what Maui County is doing to keep pesticides out of parks, sidewalks and other public spaces.  There will also be discussion on upcoming legislation that would make all Maui County owned parks and public spaces pesticide free by law.  Attendees will find out what can be done to make lawns, home-owners’ association, apartment complexes or workplaces pesticide free.

*Lite pūpū provided. Hosted by Council Member Shane Sinenci

RSVP to either of the above events by emailing [email protected]

Beyond Pesticides will also work directly with Maui County Parks and Public Works Departments on reducing pesticide use while they are on island. The tour will continue on Kauaʻi and Hawaiʻi islands, where they will train agencies on organic land management and hold community meetings to kick off pesticide free park pilot programs on both islands.

“I am so proud of the work that has been done over the years by our Parks and Public Works Departments to reduce pesticide use on Maui. Their efforts lead the state, and have created interest for other agencies to do better,” said Autumn Ness, of Beyond Pesticides Hawai’i. “Collectively, we all still have a lot of work to do, and a lot to learn about how to be better stewards of these lands. I am excited to see how we all learn and improve together across the state, as we create healthier systems that eliminate the need for chemicals that ultimately end up in our oceans.”

Beyond Pesticides has organized this series of events in coalition with organizations and representatives across Hawaiʻi including: Maui County Council Member Shane Sinenci, Hawaiʻi County Council Members Rebecca Villegas and Matt Kanealiʻi-Kleinfelder, GMO Free Kauaʻi, Greener Hawaiʻi, Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action, Hawaiʻi Center for Food Safety, Hawaiʻi Seed and the Protect our Keiki Coalition.

Maui County Parks staff receiving training on pesticide free park management by Chip Osborne during Beyond Pesticides previous trip to Maui, 2016