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State honors Swink's kokua in Kula Forest

The Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife's 2008 outstanding community service awards were presented for efforts contributing to the reopening of the Kula Forest Reserve after a wildfire and a severe storm in 2007. The awards were sponsored by the Na Ala Hele Trails and Access Program and the Maui Na Ala Hele Advisory Council.

The individual award went to Bert Swink, owner of Maui Masonry and Concrete, who donated more than $6,300 worth of materials, crew labor and expertise for the critical reconstruction of the roadside barrier along Waipoli Road near the reserve's entrance. The outstanding group was the Kahikinui Game and Land Management Ohana for 100 hours of labor to reconstruct headwalls and culverts along Waipoli Road.

Austin Montgomery, a sixth-grader from Puohala Elementary School, received the grand prize, a Nintendo Wii game system, in the Polynesian Cultural Center's Iosepa Canoe Keiki Artwork Contest. Seven other winners were Joshua Coulson (kindergarten) of Parker Elementary School; Hikialani Kaohelaulii (first grade), Puohala Elementary; Kekaimailino Lake (second grade), Puohala Elementary; Bransen Peterson (third grade), Parker Elementary; Hanohano Pamatigan (fourth grade), Puohala Elementary; Cylee Tuimaunei (fifth grade), Laie Elementary; and Keanu Chun (sixth grade), Kawaihona Public Charter School.

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