About Waikoloa Village

Waikoloa Village is located on the Big Island of Hawaii, 6 miles from the Kohala Coast. Although just over 10 years old, Waikoloa Village Outdoor Circle has made quite a difference for the village. Its first project, the beautification of the median that serves as the entrance to Waikoloa Village, turned an ugly eyesore into a community asset. While the Waikoloa Village Association has agreed to take over maintainance of the median, the Waikoloa Village Outdoor Circle continues to pay for the irrigation water using funds raised from membership fees, its Water Angels donation program, and other fund raising projects.

In 2007, four large and very old wiliwili trees were found on a commercial project that was being developed. WVOC consulted with the developer and arranged to have these trees along with four other smaller wiliwili trees moved safely out of harm’s way. The four small trees were moved to the median and the most beautiful tree was moved to a prominent corner in Waikoloa Village. WVOC worked with local landscaping companies to make this corner into a beautiful park for all the residents and visitors to enjoy.

The most ambitious current project for WVOC is the Dry Forest Recovery Project. With the blessing of the Waikoloa Village Association, WVOC has undertaken the stewardship of 275 acres within Waikoloa. This community-based effort will preserve and restore a very special, unique wiliwili (Erythrina sandwicense) dry-forest that is home to 13 endangered uhiuhi (Caesalpinia kavaiense) trees and approximately 80 wiliwili trees. There are less than 30 wild uhiuhi remaining in the entire world.

To date WVOC has worked on the removal of fountain grass 50 feet from the 11 endangered uhiuhi and 20 of the wiliwili to save the trees from wildfire, one of many threats, and has planted over 2 acres of new dry forest seedlings. Two cost-share reimbursement programs, one Federal and one State of Hawaii, are in place and other funding sources are continually being identified. An extensive network of supporters, both lay and expert, has been growing along with the plans. All generations will have the opportunity to “own” this project. There will be the “Kid Connection” for Waikoloa Elementary and Middle School children and research opportunities for University of Hawaii and other college and graduate school students.

WVOC meets on the first Monday of each month in the meeting room at the Waikoloa Village Community Church, across from Waikoloa Elementary & Middle School.

The 2010 board members are:
President: Ann Cobb, 987-9985, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
VP/Sec: Julia Alos, 883-2666, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Vice Pres: Debra Sue Stutts
Treasurer: Mary Holley
Advisor: Alice Browne, 883-0069, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
WDFRP Chair: Beverley Brand, 883-3362, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)