Appendix:
Hawai‘i Island Strategies

1998 ERP Strategic Summary

The 1998 ERP summarized strategies for the specific needs of each of the conservation areas defined by the large native landscapes of each major island. The directives established then have largely been realized and continue to evolve. In 1998, the Hawai‘i Island Program, did not yet exist, and we managed no preserves there. The ERP recommended the following for Hawai‘i: 

• Windward slopes of Mauna Loa-Mauna Kea and Mauna Kea high-elevation areas:
  

  ·        Sustain (lobby Congress for funding, facilitate community involvement, and assist with acquisition/partnership negotiations) active stewardship and restoration at Hakalau Forest NWR and adjoining state, Hawaiian Homelands, and private property to anchor the northern native-dominated vegetation on the windward flank of Mauna Kea. Ensure that this links with protection of high-elevation māmane-naio and other natural communities on Mauna Kea (including its leeward upper slopes) and adjoining systems at Pōhakuloa Training Area.

  ·        Sustain active stewardship and restoration at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park and adjoining Kamehameha Schools Bishop Estate, state, and other private lands to anchor the southern end of native-dominated vegetation on windward Mauna Loa.

  ·        Encourage collaborative planning among the above parties, county Board of Water Supply, hunters, and other local community members for the maintenance of native forest linking northern and southern anchor sites on windward Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea.

   Ka‘ū (Southeastern slope of Mauna Loa)

  ·        Establish community-based stewardship program for the Ka‘ū and Kapāpala state forest reserves and adjoining private lands to prevent weed invasion into this vast, relatively weed-free area of high-quality ecosystems.   Ensure that this links with the partnership in the Volcano region to sustain and restore forest connecting the two areas.

   Kona (South Point north to Hualālai volcano)

  ·        Establish a partnership with Kona ranchers, other community members, the State, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and federal and academic research organizations to jointly develop forest restoration tools for private implementation on grazed and logged lands that still support important native forests.  Include state lands at Pu‘uwa‘awa‘a in North Kona by developing a community-organized experimental site for grazing, restoration research, community involvement/education, and compatible enterprise development.

  ·        Through partnerships, develop incentives for private landowners to actively conserve native species through tax reform, matching funds, and private-public habitat conservation plans based on the recently revised state endangered species act.

  ·        Assist owners of key parcels in implementing  forest recovery measures to prevent new breaks in the upland Kona forest belt, and  re-establish forest links where necessary.  This assistance may fund stewardship under cooperative agreement, or may include acquisition of the property for federal or TNC management. Our preference is to assist private owners in managing and retaining their forest lands. 

  ·        Sustain (through Congress) the Army’s ecosystem management program at Pohakuloa Training Area and ensure that this builds appropriate habitat links and partnerships joining the Kona area with the Mauna Kea area.

      Kohala

  ·        Work with our partners at Kahuā Ranch to develop model forest stewardship programs that can be sustained by the Ranch itself, and which demonstrate a workable balance between removing feral pigs from sensitive forests and maintaining a supply of huntable pigs for home use by local families. 

  ·        Help state and private forest owners and community interests in developing a practical stewardship plan for the site. 

  We believe the top priorities for TNCH action are the Kona and Ka‘ū strategies listed above. 

2006 Strategic Update

By the end of 2005, TNC had refined conservation area boundaries for Hawai‘i Island, recognizing Kohala, Mauna Kea, Windward Mauna Loa, Ka‘ū-Kapāpala, Kona, and Pōhakuloa-Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a. See map below.

Selecting Kona and Ka‘ū-Kapāpala as high-priority areas, we made a series of acquisitions on Hawai‘i Island, establishing Kona Hema Preserve (8,061 acres in three contiguous units) in Kona and Ka‘ū Preserve (3,548 acres in four non-contiguous units). Kona Hema units have been fenced and are approaching ungulate-free status. Ka‘ū Preserve is in the process of acquiring NAPP status. A Hawai‘i (Big Island) Program was established  and is growing toward implementing strategies for the high-priority conservation areas of the island, and pursuit of cooperative conservation of all viable portfolio areas with partners.

The Hawai‘i Island Program actively participates as a member of the ‘Ōla‘a-Kīlauea Management Partnership, and its expanded Three Mountain Alliance involving hundreds of thousands of acres from the Kona and Ka‘ū flanks of Mauna Loa and the summit region between them. We were an active agent in the acquisition of Kahuku Ranch, transferring the 116,000 acre parcel (the largest single conservation acquisition in Hawai‘i) to Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park in 2003. We have assisted with management planning with Kamehameha Schools at Keauhou (Ka‘ū) (2004)

From 1999-2001, TNC worked toward a research  and management partnership in the Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a area, but was not able to bring enhanced ungulate control to the area's lowland dry and mesic ecosystems. We maintain an partner/advisory role there. 

Two male hammer-headed picture-wing Drosophila battle for mating territory. This species, anIsland of Hawai'i endemic, has recently been listed endangered.