(Lihue, Kaua‘i) – During the four-day-long annual meeting of the Pacific Seabird Group this week, ten researchers detailed the results of programs aimed at reducing the deaths of endangered and threatened native Hawaiian seabirds. They also explained how introduced predators, like cats and rats, continue to decimate seabird populations around the globe.
Natural Area Reserves
(Honolulu) – An irreplaceable parcel of coastal land on O‘ahu’s northwestern shore has been donated to DLNR to protect it forever. The Tom family owned the roughly ½ acre parcel for decades, and they partnered with the North Shore Community Land Trust to transfer it to the State. DLNR plans to designate this iconic coastal area as an extension of the Kaʻena Point Natural Area Reserve (NAR).
(Honolulu) – Maintenance workers with the Dept. of Land and Natural Resources begin the process today of cleaning up from the weekend’s powerful winter storm. Heavy surf and high winds broke nine vessels away from their off-shore moorings on Maui and Molokai. At the Lahaina Small Boat Harbor on Maui six boats ended up on rocks on the shoreline. Two boats came ashore in Kihei one on Molokai.
(Honolulu) – The DLNR Division of State Parks has or is closing the following units due to the impending storm: Ka‘ena Point State Park (O‘ahu) – Both Keawa‘ula & Mokulēʻia access closed due to potentially dangerous surf and water conditions Kaiwi State Scenic Shoreline (O‘ahu) – Tidepools trail closed
(Honolulu) – Albatross numbers at Kaʻena Point Natural Area Reserve continue to climb to record highs after being protected in 2011 by a predator-proof fence. In the 2018 season, 106 albatross pairs attempted to breed, and the number of wedge-tailed shearwater chicks have more than tripled in the last seven years.
(Kahului) – Wet and windy weather caused trees to fall across the road corridor in the Moloka‘i Forest Reserve on Moloka‘i. The DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife closed the reserve this morning and due to the weather, repair crews are unable to get into the area with heavy equipment and machinery to clear debris.
(Hilo) – The DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) will conduct animal control activities next month for trapping mouflon/feral sheep hybrids and for; staff hunting, and/or aerial shooting from helicopters for feral goats, feral sheep, mouflon and mouflon/feral sheep hybrids within palila critical habitat in the Mauna Kea Forest Reserve (Unit A), Mauna Kea Ice Age Natural Area Reserve (Unit K), palila mitigation lands, and the Ka’ohe Game Management Area (Unit G) on the island of Hawai’i.
(Honolulu) – Forests for Life, is a comprehensive, one-hour documentary that chronicles the life-giving importance of Hawai‘i’s native forests. Set to debut on KFVE-TV (K5) on Friday, January 18th at 7 p.m., the special, produced by the Hawai‘i Dept. of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), is the culmination of five years of taping and conducting interviews in stunning and remote parts of the state.
(Na‘alehu) – It took a few months to celebrate the milestone, but last night staff and dozens of volunteers for the Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund (HWF) marked reaching 250-tons of marine debris collection just off Hawai‘i island. The group also received a DLNR & You Citizen Conservationists Award in recognition of their efforts.
(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.