(Lihue) - Rapid ʻŌhi‘a Death (ROD), a disease killing ʻōhiʻa trees, has been confirmed at two new locations on Kaua‘i. Since ROD was discovered in Moloa‘a State Forest Reserve in 14 trees earlier this year, a collaborative team of scientists from state, federal, and private organizations has been working together to survey the island and develop response plans to an introduced disease threat facing Hawai‘i’s native tree. ʻŌhiʻa is considered foundational to Hawaiian forests and culture.
11/30/18 – 2019 STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION CALENDAR FEATURES THE HAWAI‘I STATE CAPITOL – E KOMO MAI
HONOLULU – The year 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the formal opening of the Hawai‘i State Capitol. Dedicated on March 15, 1969, the 10th anniversary of the passing of the Hawai‘i Statehood Bill by Congress, the building stands unique among the other 49 state capitol buildings, proclaiming Hawai‘i to be part of the United States, but not part of America.
(Honolulu) - Hawaii’s Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, meeting yesterday in Honolulu recognized that ground transportation contributes significantly to Hawai‘i’s share of greenhouse gas emissions. The Commission supports mechanisms to reduce overall vehicle miles traveled as well as converting all remaining vehicle-based ground transportation to renewable, zero-emission fuels and technologies.
(Lahaina) - The Hawai‘i Commission on Water Resource Management has adopted instream flow standards for Kahoma and Kanahā streams in West Maui, aimed at providing mauka to makai streamflow for native stream animals and traditional and customary practices.
(Honolulu) – Mosquitos and rats can be pests for people, but they’re also very harmful to our endangered native birds. The Kauai Forest Bird Recovery Project (KFBRP) is starting an end-of-the-year fundraising and outreach campaign to help the native birds on the island recover their population.
(Honolulu)–Early risers who are planning to hike the popular Makapu‘u trail next Tuesday are advised that the DLNR Division of State Parks is planning maintenance work on November 27, 2018. The maintenance work is planned for both the Makapu‘u parking lot and lighthouse trail. The parking lot will be closed until 10 a.m. that morning.
(Honolulu) – An open hearing will be held to receive testimony on the September 28, 2018 submittal of the Kawailoa Wind Power Draft Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) amendment. Kawailoa Wind, LLC currently operates a 30-turbine, 69-megawatt wind energy generation facility on agricultural lands in Kawailoa on the northern portion of the Island of O’ahu. The facility supplies electricity to Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc.
(Wai`anae) –The Wai`anae Small Boat Harbor comfort station will undergo renovations over the next few months. The project is slated to begin on November 26, 2018 with completion in late February 2019 but could take an additional few months for completion. The project contractor is Maxum Construction of Hawaii, LLC at a cost of $384,215.
HONOLULU – The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of State Parks has received a $100,396 grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Marine Debris Program to install water bottle filling stations in 15 State Parks statewide over the next three years. The goal of the project is to reduce the use of single-use plastic water bottles which can become marine debris and harm Hawai‘i’s environment and marine life.
(Hilo) - Next week staff from the Big Island Invasive Species Committee, the DLNR Divisions of State Parks and Forestry and Wildlife will be working to fell and remove several `ohi`a trees that show symptoms of the fungal disease known as Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death (ROD). After the first suspected detection at Kalōpā State Recreation Area in late July, three trees were sampled in the park and three in an adjacent forest reserve. Five of the six samples tested positive for C. lukuohia, one of a pair of fungi associated with Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death and the most aggressive of the two.