The Hawai‘i Service Trip Program (also called HSTP) was started in the early 1970s and is an activity section of the Sierra Club’s Hawai‘i Chapter.

HSTP is the action arm of theSierra Club and as such hasrun nearly 100 one- to two-week service trips to Kaua‘i,Moloka‘i, Maui, Lana‘i, andHawai‘i.

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We have also coordinated the construction of trails on O‘ahu,including ‘Aihualama, Nahuina-Moleka, and Maunawili.These trails were built mostly on weekends and involvedhundreds of individual volunteers.

Off- O‘ahu service trips into Hawai‘i’s backcountry, however, are the backbone of HSTP, what we are most proud of, andwhat we are inviting you to participate in.

A service trip offers theexperience of a lifetime,helps the environment,teaches cooperation,gets you to places fewpeople ever get to see,teaches outdoor skills,and lets you learn a lotabout yourself.

It is a rare person who returns from a service trip NOT feelinglike a better human being.

HSTP service trips fall into three main categories:

1) trail-building and repair,

2) fence-building, and

3) exotic plant control.

The first step in building a new trail is to flag the route, takinginto account the topography, rare plants along the way, andthe stability of the slope.

Next, a brushing crew comes along to clear a swath thatextends both above and below the trail route. A narrowservice trail is usually cut at this time as well.

The real trail building begins next, with workers spaced apartfor safety, cutting their own little niches of full-width trail.

The niches soon begin to merge and be blended together.

…and the final result is a new finished section of trail!It is hard to describe the feeling of satisfaction you get fromwalking on a new trail that YOU helped to construct.

It is fun to think about all the people who will use the trail inthe future, how they will enjoy the scenery, and how theywill appreciate the folks (you folks) who did all this hard work.

Most of the trail-building service trips have been in rain-forest areas…

…giving ample opportunitiesto enjoy the wetter parts ofHawai‘i’s natural environment.

The second main type of HSTP service trip involves buildingfences to protect areas of native plants from goats, pigs,deer, and cows.

As seen in this photo, feral animal infestations can denudeeven the steepest slopes, increasing the potential of rapiderosion. Feral animals are also effective at introducing plantand insect pests, so keeping them out of natural areas isessential.

Fence building requires fence poles, fence wire, wire clips,and if you’re working in a rocky area, drilling equipment.

Drilling holes for fence poles is often slow work…

…and many times becomesa multi-person task.

Poles are pounded in using a pole-pounder, a heavy piece ofpipe with a cap welded to one end.

The first wire, usually a bottomstrand of barbed wire todiscourage pigs from diggingunder, is clipped to the polesand tightened.

Hogwire is then stretched along the line and the crew goes towork attaching it to the poles with wire clips.

Although a completed fencemight be considered aneyesore to some folks…

…there really is no other way to protect large areas ofthreatened native ecosystem.

This fence line across Kaupo gap was built by HSTP and theNational Park Service. It keeps goats and pigs out of Haleakala, delineates the park boundary, and serves as afire-break.

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Most HSTP fence-building trips have been in the drier areas ofHawai‘i, where you can see the sun, the moon, and the sky.

The third type of HSTP tripinvolves eradicating noxiousplant pests. We have spentmany weeks removing, andcounting for scientificpurposes, clidemia, flax, blackberry, thistle, gorse, lantana, christmas berry, andother plant horrors.

It is important to realize that a service trip is not all hard work, though.

We try to make sure that as much time is spent on enjoyingand learning about Hawai‘i’s unique environment as is spenton helping it.

We take days off just to relax and rest weary muscles…

…make backpacking trips to nearby areas…

…and take trips to cultural, geological, and biological sitesin the area. These all help to make a service trip much more than just hard work.

Getting the trip organized and on its way is a group effort.All the pre-trip logistics give the crew a chance to get to know each other.

Setting up the campsite provides more opportunitiesto get to know your work-mates and the area that you’llbe working in.

Sometimes it is an adventure just getting to the base camp!

And you always have to be ready for random, weird, unpacking events…

Trip accommodations areoccasionally true backcountrycampsites...

…and some folks can’t resist the urge to make the place lookjust like home.

Many times, trips are based out of backcountry researchbarracks or cabins so that after a long day of work you can sleep on a bed!

To sum up, the environment will gain from your efforts, but you will gain a lot more. You will marvel at Nature’s power.

You will marvel at Nature’s small wonders.

You will gain new knowledge that can be passed along tofriends and family.

You will make great new friends who will hold special placesin your heart for life.

And you’ll come back with a sense of renewal, inner peace,and lots of spectacular photos.

We invite you to inquire about all upcoming HSTP trips: http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Trails/1310/hstp/

And what are this year’s trips, you ask? First we’ll head offto the green slopes of East Maui (Waikamoi, to be exact) tocontinue a long-running HSTP/Na Ala Hele project to restorethe Waikamoi trail, install interpretive signs, and controlinvasive species. The dates will be July 25-August 1 (2004).

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Then we’ll head over to the dry slopes of Hualalai (near Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a, to be exact) for some dryland forest restoration work. The dates of this trip are August 8-14.

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