Department of Land and Natural Resources

09/06/22 – PUʻU WAʻAWAʻA VIRTUAL TOUR OFFERS NEW WAYS TO EXPLORE

Posted on Sep 6, 2022 in Forestry & Wildlife, News Releases, slider

DAVID Y. IGE
GOVERNOR

SUZANNE D. CASE
CHAIRPERSON

For Immediate Release: September 6, 2022

PUʻU WAʻAWAʻA VIRTUAL TOUR OFFERS NEW WAYS TO EXPLORE

Highlights efforts to protect the dry forests of the Nāpuʻu area

To view video please click on photo or view at this link: https://vimeo.com/547739843

(HONOLULU) – Hawaiʻi residents have a wealth of natural resources to explore, but in some cases these places can be difficult to visit in person.

The newest tour, in a growing collection of virtual tours, takes users to Puʻu Waʻawaʻa and the Nāpuʻu region of Hawaiʻi Island. As the name suggests, the area is home to a number of puʻu (hills or cinder cones) that host rare dry forest habitats and some of the world’s most endangered plants.

The larger Nāpuʻu area is managed by the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) for multiple uses, including the Puʻu Waʻawaʻa Forest Reserve, the Puʻu Waʻawaʻa Forest Bird Sanctuary, and the Puʻu Anahulu Game Management Area. Modern and historic trails are also present in the area, and are under the management of the DOFAW Nā Ala Hele Trails program.

Within the tour, a series of 360˚ photos provides immersive views at four sites:

a botanical trail at the base of the largest puʻu, the summit of the puʻu, and two locations within a fenced forest restoration site within the forest reserve. Hotspots allow users to click on plants, animal habitats, and mountains to access videos, photos, and text with more information.

“These tours are a way to bring nature to people,” said Josh Atwood, DOFAW Information and Education Coordinator. “Some of the lands managed are closed in order to protect native species, and other sites may simply be challenging to access. If an educator isn’t able to take their class on an in-person field trip, or a resident doesn’t have the physical ability to get to a mauka forest, we still want them to be able to appreciate and learn about natural areas in Hawaiʻi.”

Other tours in the collection include Kaniakapūpū, Kaʻena Point Natural Area Reserve, and Kawainui Marsh.

# # #

RESOURCES

(All images/video courtesy: DLNR)

Virtual tours: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dofaw/virtual

HD Video:

Restoration of Pu’u Wa’awa’a Forest Reserve, May 11, 2021: https://vimeo.com/547739843

Kaniakapūpū Virtual Tour Web Feature, April 20, 2022: https://vimeo.com/697562697

Kaʻena Point Natural Area Reserve, February 5, 2019: https://vimeo.com/315566712

Kawainui Marsh, January 30, 2021: https://vimeo.com/506505059

Photographs:

Pu’u Wa’awa’a Forest Reserve, Hawaii Island, May 5, 2021: