Greenies have a cleanup right in town this Saturday: Volunteers are needed to weed, pick up branches, plant, water and fertilize native plants as part of the Makiki WAI, or Watershed Awareness Initiative, a forest restoration project. Volunteers are asked to wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, shoes or boots, gloves. Oh, and don't forget the insect repellent, water and lunch. Cleanup is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; meet at the Makiki forestry base yard (go up Makiki Street and take a left at the fork on to Makiki Heights Drive; before the first hairpin turn, go straight into the Makiki Forest Recreation area). Information: 973-9782.

SAVE THE PLANET

BOTTLE-RAFT SAILORS CLOSING IN ON HONOLULU

Some people might call it a floating pile of rubbish. Others might call it a boat. But Marcus Eriksen and Joel Paschal have been calling their raft made of plastic bottles and found objects home for the last three months. Aboard a craft dubbed "Junk," they are making a voyage from Los Angeles to Honolulu. The raft and its two eco-advocates are expected to tie up here on or about Aug. 27. The goal is to raise awareness of the effect plastic debris has on oceans. Chart their progress at www.junkraft.com.

FINAL WORD

"Sustainable agriculture is right now where organic farming was 20 years ago. It took 10 years to work out organic standards, and it will take even longer for sustainable agriculture to do so, because this is more diffuse group."

Karen Clonsky, Agricultural economist, in UC-Davis magazine