LIHUE — Hawaii Invasive Species Awareness Week kicked off Monday and brought with it a lot of news — some welcome, some a bit more somber — for the island of Kauai.
The good — Katie Cassel, program coordinator for the Kokee Resource Conservation Program, took home the 2014 Kauai MVP award from the Hawaii Invasive Species Council.
On the other hand, Keren Gundersen stepped down after 12 years as project manager of the Kauai Invasive Species Committee.
Both women were honored this week during an awards ceremony at the state Capitol for their efforts to rid Kauai of invasive pests.
Kauai Reps. Derek Kawakami, Jimmy Tokioka and Dee Morikawa presented Cassel with her award, while Gundersen received a certificate of recognition from Sen. Mike Gabbard.
Cassel said her award “really belongs to all the wonderful volunteers, great staff and amazing partners” KRCP has had over the years.
“We, in Kokee, have been so blessed with such a strong volunteer program because God has blessed Hawaii with beautiful natural resources,” she said. “I believe the volunteer labor pool for conservation is kind of endless. People want to give back when they experience the beauty that is here.”
Cassel arrived in Kauai in 1992 to help with cleanup efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Iniki. And she “hasn’t stopped cleaning since,” Kawakami said.
“Katie’s work has led to over 27,000 volunteers in the removal of over 10 million invasive species plants in Kokee and Waimea Canyon,” he said. “And for that, we say thank you.”
In 1998, Cassel started the KRCP after recognizing the need for a dedicated, volunteer-based program to help control invasive species in Kokee State Park.
Rep. Dee Morikawa said Kauai’s natural resources must be protected from invasive species and that Cassel is the island’s “front line defense.”
Like Cassel, Gundersen has been a warrior when it comes to preventing, controlling and eliminating threatening invasive species. But her time to give to that cause has come to an end, she said.
Later this month, Gundersen will return to Oregon to be closer to her family. She admitted it was a difficult decision to leave Kauai.
“I love this place. I’ve formed so many wonderful relationships,” she said.
Nevertheless, Gundersen said she is confident about the future of KISC. Her last day as a full-time employee was Friday, but she will continue writing grants and managing and advising KISC from afar.
“I’m still going to be here in spirit,” she said.
