(Honolulu) – The deep, beautiful orange and black hue of Hawai’i’s official state insect is well known by visitors to native forests, and cultural practitioners. It is considered a critical pollinator for numerous native plants. The Kamehameha butterfly, like so many insects, plants, and animals in Hawai’i, is being crowded out of its traditional habitat by ever-encroaching human presence, the introduction of invasive predator species, and global climate change. Although the butterfly is historically known from all the main Hawaiian Islands (Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Lanaʻi, Maui, and Hawai’i), it is no longer found in some areas where it used to be common and it appears to be declining. The Pulelehua Project includes an effort to map current populations of the Kamehameha butterfly using observations submitted by the public, combined with surveys of remote areas by scientists. Pulelehua is the Hawaiian word for butterfly.
Forestry & Wildlife Announcements
KAHULUI - The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) will close the Kula Forest Reserve, Walpoli Access Road, Kahananui Forest Reserve – Papa‘anui Tract, and Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area from Monday, September 12, 2016, through Friday, September 23, 2016, to allow scheduled road repairs, road safety improvements, and fuel mitigation work (such as removing underbrush) and to be completed for both the unpaved and paved sections of the road.
There were 210 available slots for hunters to be selected in our Puu Waawaa Forest Reserve Mauka Ungulate Control Program. To accommodate for the high demand for hunting in this area as shown in previous years, we initially decided to limit the hunting trips to one (1) hunt per hunter. However, we received very few applicants for this year’s program. There were a total of 169 applicants. Consequently, there were several unfilled hunting slots after the first draw. Under these circumstances, we decided to redraw from the overall applicant pool to fill the remaining hunting slots. Therefore, some applicants were selected to hunt on multiple dates.
LIHU‘E, KAUA‘I -- The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) announces the opening of the Kekaha Game Management Area (KGMA) of Hunting Unit A to black-tailed deer hunting season on the island of Kaua‘i. The Department of Hawaiian Homelands (DHHL) has granted a one year license agreement extension to DLNR, extending to to August 31, 2017.
(HILO) – Hawaii’s forestry industry is being encouraged to provide input for a possible Request for Proposals (RFP) for harvest and reforestation endeavors at the Waiakea Timber Management Area (WTMA) on Hawaii Island. The DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) published a Request for Information (RFI) on July 21, 2016. It asks for guiding information on the resources of interest, markets, products, harvest practices, processing, transportation, financing, etc.
(HILO) – The yellow, white-and-gray palila, a highly endangered Hawaiian honeycreeper, is one of the world’s most isolated birds. It lives only in a small patch of māmane forest on the western slope of Mauna Kea volcano on Hawai‘i Island. With the opening today of the new Palila Forest Discovery Trail, visitors will be now able to see palila and other native species that call this distinctive ecosystem home.
WAILUKU -- The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW), pursuant to Chapter 195D, Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes, will hold a public hearing to receive testimony on the Revised Draft Honuaʻula Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). The hearing will be held July 27, 2016 starting at 5:30 at the J. Walter Cameron Center, 95 Mahalani St, Wailuku, HI 96793.
Cut out your own hat bands or color your own.
HONOLULU -- Individuals with an interest in representing the interests of local hunters and actively participating in Hawaii’s game resource management are welcome and encouraged to apply to serve on a new statewide Game Management Advisory Commission.
(HONOLULU) – Kaniakapupu, in the forest above Honolulu, in the Nuuanu district, is central to the story of modern Hawai‘i. Not only was it the summer palace of King Kamehameha III and Queen Kalama, it was the first government building built in western style with mortar and plaster. Completed in 1845, Kaniakapupu was the “scene of entertainment of foreign celebrities and the feasting of chiefs and commoners. The greatest was a luau attended by 10,000 celebrating Hawaiian Restoration Day in 1847,” (from a plaque erected on-site by the Commission on Historical Sites). Earlier it was the site of a notable heiau for Hawaiian royalty.