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STUDENTS AND U.S. MARINES WORK TOGETHER TO CLEAR PĀLAMANUI NATURE TRAIL

Hawai‘i Community College – Pālamanui students and faculty recently teamed up with about 50 U.S. Marines and other community members to build the new Pālamanui Nature Trail that extends south from the campus into an area that was once a dry land forest. 

It’s one of four trails near the campus that have been cleared in the past few years as the campus has been established in North Kona.

“It’s a new trail,” said Hawaiʻi CC – Pālamanui humanities lecturer and trail expert Dr. Richard Stevens.“This is the Pālamanui Nature Trail, a trail to save ancient trees. It goes south from our campus out into the fountain grass and connects a number of ancient lama trees out there. The Marines came to help make this trail and did a huge part of it. It’s going to be a big loop out to connect and save the old lama trees and a few other native trees that are out there in what used to be a dry land forest.”

“The U.S. Marines demonstrated what leadership values look like,” said Assistant Professor of History Sam Giordanengo. “From their commanding officer and sergeant major to the new recruits, the Marines were the very image of professionalism and esprit de core.”

Student government members, including Hawai‘i CC – Pālamanui Student Government Vice President Jonah Poaha-Pali and Hawai'i CC - Hilo Student Government President Treven Mukai, volunteered and helped provide lunch. A local Korean War veteran also donated pizzas for the group.