Aaron Johnson Lowe

"We're looking for volunteers who enjoy being outdoors and making a difference to enhance our native forest project, "Makiki WAI" in Makiki," said Aaron Lowe, trails and access specialist for DLNR-Forestry.

"We can use the public's help, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., with watering and planting native Hawaiian plants, weeding or clearing, painting bridges, and laying gravel," Lowe said.

Aaron Lowe, a trails and access specialist with DLNR, would not comment specifically about the plan, but said more money is needed to maintain public recreation areas on O'ahu and across the state.

"There's definitely a need," Lowe said.

"The land was recently acquired from the Damon Estate, and I inspected the valley along with the cultural practitioner whose lineage dates back here, and (we) felt that the road and trail were suitable for safe public recreation," said DLNR trails specialist Aaron Lowe.
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State trails specialist Aaron Lowe installs a sign for the trail.

State trails specialist Aaron Lowe installs a sign for the trail.

For more information, contact Aaron J. Lowe (voice: (808) 973-9782; e-mail: alowe@hawaii.rr.com). (Info posted 14DEC2006 by LF.) (URL: http://www.malamahawaii.org/get involved/jobs.php#1947)

DLNR GUEST - Aaron Lowe CONTACT OLD MEMBERSHIP UPDATE TO OFFICERS' POSITIONS STATUS, ACTION ITEMS FROM PRIOR MEETING Set meeting schedule

1. DLNR GUEST - Aaron Lowe

Aaron J. Lowe, Trails and Access Specialist, State of Hawaii, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry & Wildlife, Na Ala Hele attended meeting as guest.
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Aaron oversees forestry access, community issues & protection of forestry lands, etc.

Aaron outlined the potential ways in which HETA could work with DLNR on trails.
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Aaron shared a booklet on the construction and maintenance of horse trails, prepared by the Arkansas Trails Council, U.S.Forest Service, Arkansas Trail Ride Association and Arkansas trail construction volunteers. (This booklet will be reproduced in its entirety on this site for the benefit of HETA members).
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NEW ACTION ITEM: HETA to draw up a "wish list" to submit to DLNR re trails and meet with Aaron in April.

Report on Meeting with Aaron Lowe
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1. Report on Field Meeting with Aaron Lowe

Glenn & Liz met with Aaron Lowe, DLNR and his assistant on 4/10/01

As a result, HETA has permission to:

Remove the logs at Waikupanaha St. trail head and put up a steel, "step-over" pipe similar to the one at the Mahiku St. end of the trail. Cut dangerous, projecting metal pieces from the gate hinges, Do some limited grading of the trail in the vicinity of the gate to better direct and sheet the water runoff at the bottom of the trail so that mud does not pour down onto the parking area. Create several tie posts at strategic points along the trail; locations to be chosen and run by Aaron,
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Aaron shared that he is trying to get all of the different types of land jurisdictions collected under the forestry designation with one set of rules and requirements in place of the current mish mash of different rules for each type.

Aaron agreed to provide the key to HETA members for trail work days.

Aaron Lowe, the DLNR's trail access specialist, told HCA members that his one-man office oversees 65 trails throughout the state, 35 of which are on O‘ahu including the 3-mile Hau‘ula Loop and the 3.4-mile Ma‘akua or Papali Ridge trail.Besides limited resources, he focuses mainly on matters of access and commercial use of the trails, which is the new issue our department is faced with..Lowe explained that commercial tour operators are limited by permit to six designated trails with a maximum of two groups of 12 per day, on weekdays only.Some Hau‘ula hikers, however, see commercial tour operators using up limited parking space at the trailheads on Hau‘ula Homestead Rd.Lowe said he would work with the Board of Water Supply to see if additional parking space can be carved out of their facility.He also noted some tour operators are parking at Hau‘ula Beach Park and walking from there.Also, you should never see a tour bus on the weekend, Lowe said.He added that the fees the operators pay are used to help maintain trails through the Nä Ala Hele volunteer program.Lowe and HCA members also discussed trail maintenance, and concerns over mountain bike and dirt bike rider who use the trails.Lowe can be reached at 587-0166.In other HCA business, the members :Took a hard look at whether to recommend banning fireworks, based on health concerns, the widespread use of illegal fireworks and illegal practices.It was noted that the State Legislature has jurisdiction over fireworks, and the HCA members approved sending a letter to the legislature asking for stronger restrictions.Voted to support a proposal by a company trying to establish a center for at-risk youth in the area – if a suitable location can be found – through grants and state contract funds.

Aaron Johnson Lowe Trails & Access Specialist Division of Forestry and Wildlife Department of Land & Natural Resources 2135 Makiki Heights Drive Honolulu, Hawaii 96822 tele: 808 973-9782 email: alowe@hawaii.rr.com fax: 808 973-9781

For example, Honolulu Trails and Access Specialist Aaron Lowe says, "Without the YES program, we would have had to close one of the most popular trails on the island due to overuse.These YES volunteers have allowed us to restore the ecosystem and the trail without limiting safe public access.I recommend YES to any financially strapped agency that needs assistance with environmental field work."

YES not only teaches students about environmental issues, but also what they can do about these problems.YES allows students to move from education to direct action, getting substantive work done for community organizations.Without YES, the gap between students and community groups would remain, and so would the disconnection between youth and community.