Friends of the Pana`ewa Zoo Newsletter
Newsletter April 2010
President’s Message
On Saturday, March 13th, we celebrated our first annual “Jean Curtis Day - A day honoring
volunteerism in the zoo”. We welcomed the sunshine and almost 1200 people in thanking
zoo volunteers from many organizations including the Bamboo Society, The Hawaii Chapter
of the American Rhododendron Society, the Big Island Water Garden Club and the Palm
Society for their extensive and tireless efforts in making the Pana’ewa Rainforest Zoo and
Gardens, the Crown Jewel of Hawaii. The heartfelt proclamation from Mayor, Billy Kenoi,
delivered so eloquently by Desiree Cruz, Public Relations Specialist for the Mayor’s Office,
was received by the Friends of the Zoo and by George Curtis and his Daughter, Ann Moore.
The words of encouragement and support from the Mayor’s Office were greatly appreciated
by the volunteers and serve as motivation for continuing our efforts in support of the zoo.
Four of our Lifetime Members have taken the opportunity to receive personal tours of the zoo
in the past few weeks. Jean Curtis, as past President of the Friends of the Zoo, extended this
offer many years ago, and as her successor, I continue to honor her tradition. Please visit
often, and feel free to contact me at FOZ@Hilozoo.com to schedule your personal tour.
The zoo has four new arrivals (see Zoo Born for a picture of a little male). Please visit and
see him and/or his little sister. They are so cute. Spring is in the air and perhaps more new
arrivals are in the works.
Jan Anderson, member of the Palm Society, has donated (6) new Foxtail Palms for the
petting zoo. She has planted them in their new containers, and when they get overgrown, we
will call her, and she will remove & replace them with new ones. FOZ thanks you Jan.
Over 300 student volunteer hours were spent cleaning the Education Center, the Boy Scout
Pavilion, the Petting Zoo and surrounding areas by HAAS students this past week. HAAS
Student, William Bible, as his senior project, has presented the Petting Zoo with an amazing
turtle/tortoise display. This temporary display is a wonderful addition to the petting zoo.
Please check out the enclosed picture and come see it for yourselves.
Terry Moniz, Information/Education Specialist at Pana'ewa Rainforest Zoo & Gardens,
concluded the 2010 Docent Class this past week. He now boasts 19 graduates and FOZ
welcomes them as new members. We celebrated their graduation with a potluck luncheon on
Thursday, March 11.
I want to thank the FOZ Board of Directors and the entire membership of the Friends of the
Zoo for their support and advise as we progress in our mission. The board has provided
thousands of hours of dedicated time, and continues to “make a difference” here at the zoo.
Without you all, we would not be able to do what we do. Mahalo FOZ.
--Karla Cook, President, Friends of the Zoo
....to read more of the April 2010 Newsletter
Download copy of past PDF Newsletters
News Briefs ...
July 2008
 |
 Max the Catalina Macaw celebrates his 20th birthday on the 15th, while the Zoo celebrates it's 30th Anniversary on the 26th. |
|
 There may be a special treat in the coming months as the amorphophallus titanum or "corpse plant" leaf has withered and after a dormancy period of 2-4 months, the plant may finally emerge with the rare "corpse flower"! |
May 2008
|
 A pair of Cotton-top Tamarins have arrived! They are a gift from the University of Wisconsin Madison. Male "Opus" was born 4-13-2000, and female "Cousteau" was born 3-2-2002. They are enjoying their new enclosure between the kinkajous and the Primadome. You can see more photos of them on the "Zoo Interactive Tour" page of the website. |
|
  A 52lb. female alligator snapping turtle, caught in Lake Wilson on Oahu, is sharing an enclosure with the common snapping turtle. She may be hard to spot hiding under the water hyacinths of her pond. "Ms. Wilson"
|
April 2008
|
  The raffia palm is starting to bloom! This very versatile plant will take many months to complete the opening of the large pendulant stalks, flowering, and fruiting before it dies. This palm is located behind the axis deer enclosure, next to the new shade structure on the Petting Zoo walkway. |
March 2008
|
 Zoey Manu, a very friendly hyacinth Macaw, has finally made her public debut in her new exhibit. She has been working with a group of "Aunties" who have volunteered to be her new family, interact with her and eventually the public.Also on display are two painted honu from artists Dick Mortemore and Hopper Sheldon. |
December 2007
|
 Einstein the white umbrella cockatoo has announced his arrival in his new exhibit next to the Toucans. |
April 2007
|
| The kinkajous, Lilo and Stitch, have been moved to one of the new enclosures next to the Primadome and their new sleeping box should make it easier to see them while they sleep away the day. Their old spot will be used for Igorina the turkey vulture's new home. |
March 2007
|
 We received a common snapping turtle and a bearded dragon from the Dept. of Ag in Honolulu. The turtle has been moved to the pond next to the pigs and the very friendly bearded dragon is across from him, next to the giant day gecko. |
|
