Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge
Encyclopedia
Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge is a protected area on the Big Island of Hawaii
. It is one of two units, along with the Kona Forest National Wildlife Refuge that is managed as part of the Big Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex
. Access to the Kona Forest is restricted since it contains several endangered species
.
) trees form a closed-canopy forest. Further upslope, above 6000 ft (1,828.8 m), rainfall decreases to 100 in (2,540 mm) or less and native forest merges into abandoned pasture
land where alien grasses and weeds, introduced as forage for cattle
, are the dominant vegetation. Since 1989, over 400,000 koa, ōhia, and other native plants have been planted in this area as part of the refuge's reforestation
program.
The Pua Akala Cabin, located within the refuge, was nominated to the National Register of Historic Places
in August 2008.
In 1985, 32733 acre (132.5 km²) on the eastern slope of Mauna Kea
were established as the Hakalau Forest Unit.
In 1997, the Fish and Wildlife Service purchased an additional 5300 acre (21.4 km²) of land to create the Kona Forest Unit of Hakalau Forest NWR. The Kona Forest Unit includes lands within the Hookena and Kalahiki land divisions on the western slopes of Mauna Loa
, at elevations of 2000–6000 ft (609.6–1,828.8 m). One of the primary purposes for the creation of this unit was to protect the habitat of the [[ʻAlala|Alalā]] (Corvus hawaiiensis), which is now extinct in the wild
.
The Kona Forest Unit is located about 23 mi (37 km) south of Kailua-Kona, coordinates 19°22′58"N 155°51′5"W. The Kona Forest district is somewhat drier than the Hakalau Unit.
, goat
s, and European pigs were released into the forests, and hundreds of additional alien plants, animals, and insects have subsequently been introduced. Most lowland plants seen today like the orchid, ginger
, and plumeria
are aliens or nonnative. Introduced animals such as Mosquito
es, wasp
s, Small Asian Mongooses, cat
s, and rat
s have also harmed Hawaiian habitat and native species.
Grazing pressure by cattle and pigs has resulted in the replacement of Hawaiian plants by more competitive alien grasses and shrubs within the upper portions of Hakalau Forest. Below this pasture area, the native tree canopy is still intact, but the native understory
has been replaced by alien grasses, blackberry
(Rubus spp.), Banana Poka (Passiflora tarminiana
), and English Holly (Ilex aquifolium). The replacement process may have been accelerated by efforts to create more pasture land through bulldozing and burning, and by logging mature trees for timber and fence posts.
Eight of the 14 native bird species occurring at Hakalau are endangered. Thirteen migratory bird species and 20 introduced species, including eight game birds
, as well as the endangered opeapea (Hawaiian hoary bat
, Lasiurus cinereus semotus) also frequent the refuge. Twenty-nine rare plant species are known from the refuge and adjacent lands. Twelve are currently listed as endangered. Two endangered lobelias have fewer than five plants known to exist in the wild.
Access to Upper Maulua is permitted on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays between sunrise and sunset. Every visitor to Upper Maulua is required to have a reservation. Reservations can be made by calling the Hakalau Forest NWR office at least one week prior to entry.
Hawaii (island)
The Island of Hawaii, also called the Big Island or Hawaii Island , is a volcanic island in the North Pacific Ocean...
. It is one of two units, along with the Kona Forest National Wildlife Refuge that is managed as part of the Big Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex
Big Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex
The Big Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex is a protected wildlife refuge administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service located on Hawaii Island in the state of Hawaii. It consists of Hakalau Forest on the windward side of Mauna Kea and Kona Forest on the western side of Mauna...
. Access to the Kona Forest is restricted since it contains several endangered species
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
.
Description
Hakalau Forest NWR contains some of the finest remaining stands of native montane wet forest in Hawaii. The slopes below 4000 ft (1,219.2 m) feet receive very high rainfall - 250 in (6,350 mm) annually. Bogs, fern patches, and scrubby forest dominate this area, which is dissected by numerous deep gulches. Rainfall decreases to about 150 in (3,810 mm) at elevations above 4500 ft (1,371.6 m), where majestic koa (Acacia koa) and red-blossomed ōhia lehua (Metrosideros polymorphaMetrosideros polymorpha
The ōhia lehua is a species of flowering evergreen tree in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, that is endemic to the six largest islands of Hawaii. It is a highly variable tree, being tall in favorable situations, and much smaller when growing in boggy soils or on basalt...
) trees form a closed-canopy forest. Further upslope, above 6000 ft (1,828.8 m), rainfall decreases to 100 in (2,540 mm) or less and native forest merges into abandoned pasture
Pasture
Pasture is land used for grazing. Pasture lands in the narrow sense are enclosed tracts of farmland, grazed by domesticated livestock, such as horses, cattle, sheep or swine. The vegetation of tended pasture, forage, consists mainly of grasses, with an interspersion of legumes and other forbs...
land where alien grasses and weeds, introduced as forage for cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
, are the dominant vegetation. Since 1989, over 400,000 koa, ōhia, and other native plants have been planted in this area as part of the refuge's reforestation
Reforestation
Reforestation is the natural or intentional restocking of existing forests and woodlands that have been depleted, usually through deforestation....
program.
The Pua Akala Cabin, located within the refuge, was nominated to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in August 2008.
In 1985, 32733 acre (132.5 km²) on the eastern slope of Mauna Kea
Mauna Kea
Mauna Kea is a volcano on the island of Hawaii. Standing above sea level, its peak is the highest point in the state of Hawaii. However, much of the mountain is under water; when measured from its oceanic base, Mauna Kea is over tall—significantly taller than Mount Everest...
were established as the Hakalau Forest Unit.
In 1997, the Fish and Wildlife Service purchased an additional 5300 acre (21.4 km²) of land to create the Kona Forest Unit of Hakalau Forest NWR. The Kona Forest Unit includes lands within the Hookena and Kalahiki land divisions on the western slopes of Mauna Loa
Mauna Loa
Mauna Loa is one of five volcanoes that form the Island of Hawaii in the U.S. state of Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean, and the largest on Earth in terms of volume and area covered. It is an active shield volcano, with a volume estimated at approximately , although its peak is about lower than that...
, at elevations of 2000–6000 ft (609.6–1,828.8 m). One of the primary purposes for the creation of this unit was to protect the habitat of the [[ʻAlala|Alalā]] (Corvus hawaiiensis), which is now extinct in the wild
Extinct in the Wild
Extinct in the Wild is a conservation status assigned to species or lower taxa, the only known living members of which are being kept in captivity or as a naturalized population outside its historic range.-Examples:...
.
The Kona Forest Unit is located about 23 mi (37 km) south of Kailua-Kona, coordinates 19°22′58"N 155°51′5"W. The Kona Forest district is somewhat drier than the Hakalau Unit.
Wildlife and habitat
Much of Hawaii’s native lowland habitat was degraded following the Polynesians’ arrival over a thousand years ago. In the late 18th century, cattleCattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
, goat
Goat
The domestic goat is a subspecies of goat domesticated from the wild goat of southwest Asia and Eastern Europe. The goat is a member of the Bovidae family and is closely related to the sheep as both are in the goat-antelope subfamily Caprinae. There are over three hundred distinct breeds of...
s, and European pigs were released into the forests, and hundreds of additional alien plants, animals, and insects have subsequently been introduced. Most lowland plants seen today like the orchid, ginger
Zingiber
The genus Zingiber contains the true gingers, a set of plants with medicinal and culinary value in many parts of the world. The most well-known is Z. officinale, garden ginger.-Culinary:...
, and plumeria
Plumeria
Plumeria is a genus of flowering plants of the family that includes Dogbane: the Apocynaceae. It contains 7-8 species of mainly deciduous shrubs and small trees...
are aliens or nonnative. Introduced animals such as Mosquito
Mosquito
Mosquitoes are members of a family of nematocerid flies: the Culicidae . The word Mosquito is from the Spanish and Portuguese for little fly...
es, wasp
Wasp
The term wasp is typically defined as any insect of the order Hymenoptera and suborder Apocrita that is neither a bee nor an ant. Almost every pest insect species has at least one wasp species that preys upon it or parasitizes it, making wasps critically important in natural control of their...
s, Small Asian Mongooses, cat
Cat
The cat , also known as the domestic cat or housecat to distinguish it from other felids and felines, is a small, usually furry, domesticated, carnivorous mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship and for its ability to hunt vermin and household pests...
s, and rat
Rat
Rats are various medium-sized, long-tailed rodents of the superfamily Muroidea. "True rats" are members of the genus Rattus, the most important of which to humans are the black rat, Rattus rattus, and the brown rat, Rattus norvegicus...
s have also harmed Hawaiian habitat and native species.
Grazing pressure by cattle and pigs has resulted in the replacement of Hawaiian plants by more competitive alien grasses and shrubs within the upper portions of Hakalau Forest. Below this pasture area, the native tree canopy is still intact, but the native understory
Understory
Understory is the term for the area of a forest which grows at the lowest height level below the forest canopy. Plants in the understory consist of a mixture of seedlings and saplings of canopy trees together with understory shrubs and herbs...
has been replaced by alien grasses, blackberry
Blackberry
The blackberry is an edible fruit produced by any of several species in the Rubus genus of the Rosaceae family. The fruit is not a true berry; botanically it is termed an aggregate fruit, composed of small drupelets. The plants typically have biennial canes and perennial roots. Blackberries and...
(Rubus spp.), Banana Poka (Passiflora tarminiana
Passiflora tarminiana
Passiflora tarminiana is a species of passionfruit. The yellow fruits are edible and their resemblance to small, straight bananas has given it the name banana passionfruit in some countries. It is native to the uplands of tropical South America and is now cultivated in many countries. In Hawai'i...
), and English Holly (Ilex aquifolium). The replacement process may have been accelerated by efforts to create more pasture land through bulldozing and burning, and by logging mature trees for timber and fence posts.
Eight of the 14 native bird species occurring at Hakalau are endangered. Thirteen migratory bird species and 20 introduced species, including eight game birds
Game (food)
Game is any animal hunted for food or not normally domesticated. Game animals are also hunted for sport.The type and range of animals hunted for food varies in different parts of the world. This will be influenced by climate, animal diversity, local taste and locally accepted view about what can or...
, as well as the endangered opeapea (Hawaiian hoary bat
Hawaiian Hoary bat
The Hawaiian Hoary bat or Ōpeapea is a subspecies of the Hoary bat that is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands...
, Lasiurus cinereus semotus) also frequent the refuge. Twenty-nine rare plant species are known from the refuge and adjacent lands. Twelve are currently listed as endangered. Two endangered lobelias have fewer than five plants known to exist in the wild.
Recreation
Only the Upper Maulua Unit of Hakalau Forest National Wildlife is open to the public for wildlife-dependent activities such as hiking, bird watching and photography. All other units of the refuge are closed.Access to Upper Maulua is permitted on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays between sunrise and sunset. Every visitor to Upper Maulua is required to have a reservation. Reservations can be made by calling the Hakalau Forest NWR office at least one week prior to entry.