Aloha!

Former Kona Hiking Club leaders, Joan Kinchla and Ruby Tzimeas, are charter members of a new Big Island conservation organization, the Open Lands and Public Access Alliance ('OLAPA).  Representatives of well-known groups such as the Sierra Club, PATH, and E Mau Na Ala Hele, as well as numerous smaller local groups and individuals, are working together to address common concerns. It is hoped that we can make lasting improvements through collective action.

Our Mission is to:

Secure the conservation, management and protection of community greenways, cultural and natural resources, open spaces and public access through community action, education, and legislation.

Our Purposes are:

1. To share information and educate the members of our groups on conservation and trails/access issues

2. To identify common concerns and collaborate on projects and legislation

3. To influence elected representatives to enact legislation and improve existing laws regarding land conservation and trails/access

4. To encourage collective action and shared kuleana (responsibility) for access and open space in need of management and care

5. To work with government agencies, communities, and land owners to establish trail/access routes and preserve open spaces

6. To secure complete streets for our communities that will enable safe, attractive, convenient and comfortable access and travel for pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and public transportation uses.

For additional information, please refer to the `OLAPA website, www.olapa.org. Our website is a work in progress. We will be continually adding information to it and developing it into a valuable, thought-provoking resource. We also hope to inspire more participation in OLAPA which, like any group, relies on the strength of its membership.

To be placed on the `OLAPA email list, . We will email you reminders of our general membership meetings and relevant announcements. We intend to use our website to keep people informed, rather than relying on email.

Please come to our general membership meetings to find out more about our plans and projects. We hope you will decide to join us as a group or individual member!