Peace Garden at
Diamond Head to
feature native plants

By Harold Morse
Star-Bulletin

Members of the University of Hawaii Biology Club and Rotary Club of Honolulu are working with other volunteers to establish a Peace Garden at Diamond Head.

The 1-acre site -- across from Bark Park at Diamond Head Road and 18th Avenue, and near the entrance to Diamond Head State Park -- is being transformed from a plot of dead grass and haole koa into a public site for native Hawaiian plants.

Preparation work goes on from 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays through Oct. 16.

Initial planting of native plants will be Oct. 23.

Up to 500 young people are expected to take part, from among an estimated 1,000 youths from 193 countries who will gather here for the Millennium Young People's Congress Oct. 21-29.

The international youth meeting will concentrate on human rights, peace and environmental concerns.

"The garden is a gift to Hawaii and a legacy of the Millennium Young People's Congress," said Sean Casey, executive director of Youth for Environmental Service. "It's a native Hawaiian dry-land restoration and part of the master plan for Diamond Head."

The garden is being sponsored by his group and Rotary District 5000, Casey said.

Claude Thompson, president of the Rotary Club of Honolulu, said from 40 to 70 volunteers are working Saturdays, providing the manpower to "weed and clean the area to prepare for the planting."