State efforts to control invasive species damaging the critical habitat for the palila will result in closures of several areas of public land over the next three months.
The hunts are to control feral goats, feral sheep, mouflon and mouflon/feral sheep hybrids. The areas involved include Mauna Kea Forest Reserve (Unit A,) Mauna Kea Ice Age Natural Area Reserve (Unit K) and the Kaohe Game Management Area (Unit G.)
The control efforts will include trapping, staff hunting and aerial shooting.
“Aerial shooting is required for compliance with the federal court order mandating the removal of sheep and goats from critical habitat for palila, a bird endemic to Hawaii,” the Department of Land and Natural Resources wrote in a press release.
The palila is a honeycreeep exclusive to the 6,000 to 9,000 feet elevations of the slopes of Mauna Kea, getting 90 percent of its food from green mamane tree pads, according to the federal Fish and Wildlife Service.
The FWS estimates there are 3,000 individuals in the wild, 95 percent on the southern slopes.
The control dates are scheduled for Oct. 15 and 16, Nov. 16 and 17, and Dec. 14 and 15.
“Public access to Mauna Kea Forest Reserve from Waikahalulu gulch, north to Kemole, and east to Puu Kole, Mauna Kea Ice Age Natural Area Reserve, the Kaohe Game Management Area and Mauna Kea Hunter Access Road will be by permit only for animal salvage from 7 a.m. on Oct. 15, Nov. 16 and Dec. 14. and from 6 a.m. on Oct. 16, Nov. 17 and Dec. 15.
The Mauna Kea Observatory Road will remain open.
The Hale Pohaku and Kilohana gated entrerances to Units A and G, and the gate behind Mauna Kea State Recreastion Area will be blocked at 8 p.m. the day before each control period and opened at 7 p.m. the day after.
There is a map showing the areas subject to aerial shooting at the Division of Forestry and Wildlife offices.
The interest in salvage permits has lead the DOFAW to arrange for telephone call-ins to the Waimea office at 887-6063. Calls can be made from 9 a.m. Oct. 7 to 10 a.m. before each shoot day. There will be one permit per call per vehicle valid for one day. Applicants can have their names placed on a standby list for additional days. Callers will need to provide the driver, occupants, license plate and make and model of the vehicle.
There will be up to 15 vehicles in the Ahumoa location and a maximum of 10 at the Puu Mali location.
Salvagers planning to go to the Ahumoa site need to meet at the Kilohana Check Station at 7 a.m. Those looking at Puu Mali area need to be at Kuhio Hale at 6 a.m.
Standbys at the gates will not be allow access.
The Division of Forestry and Wildlife in Hilo at 974-4221 or in Kamuela at 887-6063 have additional details regarding meat salvage or access permits.
