(HILO) - Researchers in Hawaiʻi, working with national and international specialists, have published a paper providing new insight into the origin and development of the tree disease called Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death (ROD). Scientists at the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and the University of Hawaiʻi worked with colleagues at the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute at the University of Pretoria in South Africa, and Iowa State to describe two new species of plant pathogenic fungi known to cause ROD. Initially noticed by landowners in Puna in 2010, ROD spread quickly across tens of thousands of acres on the Big Island, killing hundreds of thousands of native ʻōhiʻa trees (Metrosideros polymorpha) in a short time. A plant pathology team led by Dr. Lisa Keith at the ARS laboratory in Hilo went to work collecting and analyzing samples of dead and dying ʻōhiʻa.
(Lihu‘e, Kaua‘i) – Following recent successes in both enforcement and management efforts that have substantially reduced the number of illegal campers, the DLNR Division of State Parks will reinstitute the allowance of additional overnight camping permits for the popular Kalalau Trail, within the Napali Coast State Wilderness Park, Kaua‘i.
KAHULUI, MAUI -- A large pile of cargo nets and other debris which came ashore approximately two weeks ago at Wai‘anapanapa State Park will be removed tomorrow morning, in a joint effort by the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) State Parks and Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) divisions, as well as the County of Maui’s Division of Public Works.
MAKENA, MAUI -- On Thursday morning, April 12, 2018, the DLNR Division of State Parks will be conducting maintenance work at Makena State Park to trim overhanging and hazardous branches in the park. For public safety, the first park entrance (first paved parking lot at the north end) will be closed approximately 5 hours, from 7 a.m. through 12 noon. All other sections of the park, with the exception of the project area, will remain open.
(HONOLULU) – Since President’s Day weekend the road system at Ka‘ena State Park has been mostly closed to try and prevent additional resource damage caused by off-road vehicles. The two-mile-long unpaved road is popular with fishermen who use it to access the north shore waters and over the years it’s also been popular with off-road enthusiasts. “Unfortunately,” explained Curt Cottrell, administrator of the DLNR Division of State Parks, “After we clearly marked and designated the only roads in the park where driving is permissible we’re still experiencing some drivers wanting to go off-road – meaning they are not staying on designated routes which were specifically designated to prevent the common practice known as mud-bogging.”
HONOLULU — The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife would like to thank all the wildlife artists who submitted amazing art entries for the 2018-19 Hawai‘i Wildlife Conservation and Game Bird Stamp Art Contest. A committee reviewed all submissions and two winners were chosen last month.
(HONOLULU) – Two men received citations from DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) officers on March 30th at Kahana Bay on O‘ahu’s windward coast.
(Kailua-Kona) Kealakekua Bay is one of the most culturally and historically significant places in Hawaii, and a park planning process is moving forward to balance the preservation of the cultural values and historical sites with the recreational use of the state historical park, especially the very popular Kealakekua Bay.
(LIHUE, KAUA’I) – Monitoring teams are observing more albatross on Lehua Island than they have in a long time. There’s also no sign of rats consuming plants or seabird eggs, something that was commonplace a year ago. These are exactly the kind of early indicators project partners might hope to see – signs of a recovering island ecosystem, due to the removal of introduced, damaging (invasive) rats. But there is still work to do!
(HONOLULU) – The Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA) is a 100,000 acre property on Hawai‘i Island which is used by the U.S. Army for training activities. Approximately 20,000 acres of the PTA are owned by the State of Hawai‘i and have been leased to the Army since 1964. More than 80,000 acres of land are under the direct ownership or control of the U.S Army.