We don’t know when things will get back to some sort of normal. It is even questionable how or when our schools will be opened. With all these challenges, it is a perfect time to think of creative ways to live and learn.
If you want to learn more about the importance of our forests and the benefits they have on our peace of mind, then sign up for the tours to be offered at Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary. Call Janet Britt, Moku O Keawe, at 769-4343 or 937-1694 to reserve your space. Since we are still in the midst of the COVID-19 lockdown, we will be limited in the number of participants for classes and tours so call early. We will be sure to take the recommended CDC precautions thus require the wearing of masks and social distancing to keep visitors safe.
Moku O Keawe Land Conservancy, the group sponsoring the hikes, is a nonprofit conservation organization established to protect land and water resources on Hawaii Island. It works in partnership with other groups as well as accepts conservation easements or fee interests on ecologically important lands and lands of cultural or historical significance. It sponsors educational events and hikes with the goal to educate our community on the importance of the forests, open lands and waters.
Global warming is no longer a theory and is being accepted as fact by most scientists and governments. This will affect our islands by causing more extremes like drought, floods and severe storms. We may not be able to do much about other parts of the world, but here at home we as individuals are either part of the solution or part of the problem. If each one of us on the Big Island, plant only 10 trees this year, we will have planted over two million. Trees not only produce oxygen, they supply shade, act as windbreaks and lock up the carbon that is the main cause of global warming.
Many of Hawaii’s forests and forest watersheds are threatened. Not much can be done to stop foreign governments from forest destruction, but we can do a lot to protect and plant forests here.
In East Hawaii, many ohia forest areas are subdivided into small lots of less than 3 acres. Unless the owners of the land really commit to protecting the forested lots, they are bulldozed and flattened. In West Hawaii, the same situation occurs with private lands being subdivided and cleared. One exception is the Kaloko Mauka subdivision. This is one of the most accessible native forests in West Hawaii. It, among other high elevation areas of Hawaii, is being developed for agriculture and residential activities.
However, county planners are making an effort to encourage developers and landowners to protect the forest by placing requirements that the lots remain in forest. The county is also requiring a forest management plan and is allowing owners to dedicate to native forest or tree crops, thus reducing the tax burden. Information on how to apply for agriculture and conservation dedications may be obtained from the Hawaii County tax office.
Much of Kaloko Mauka is still covered with native forest. Although it is sparsely populated, the area abounds with ancient ohia (Metrosideros polymorpha) and gigantic treeferns, some of which are 30 feet or taller. These ferns may be over 100 years old because the trunks only grow 2 to 3 inches per year. The native forest contains many rare and endangered species that residents are committed to protect through the Hawaii Forest Stewardship and Hawaii Land Trust programs. These programs allow residents to dedicate and manage their properties to enhance this important and unique watershed. They are administered through the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources Forestry Division, Hawaii Island Land Trust and Moku O Keawe.
In the heart of Kaloko Mauka, the 70-acre Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary has been set aside to demonstrate how to protect native forests. Approximately 15 acres that were previously Huehue Ranch pasture lands have been reforested with native and nonnative species supplied by the forestry service, nurseries and plant societies for testing such as palms, tree ferns, bamboos, tropical Rhododendrons, orchids and other plant materials. Observations are being made as to their adaptability for reforestation and for agricultural and landscape use. Even though 80% of the sanctuary is preserved in native forest, the upper portion is now reforested as a montane tropical forest and includes koa, ohia and conifers from the high tropics like New Zealand and New Caledonia. Even California Redwoods and Southeast Loblolly Pines are grown successfully. The lower pasture has been reforested with plants from warmer tropical regions and is referred to as the pan tropical forest. Interestingly, once the aggressive kikuyu grass was reduced by shade from reforestation, many native under-story plants began to reestablish themselves.
Kaloko Mauka is the home of the Hawaiian hawk, apapane, i‘iwi, elepaio, amakihi and many other endemic and exotic birds. It has been identified as essential wildlife habitat and forest watershed and it is the goal of residents of Kaloko Mauka to set an example that they can live in harmony with the forest and still have homes and some forest friendly agricultural activities. This is essential if our island is to have the rainfall and watershed needed to supply communities at lower elevations.
Tropical forests include not only trees but under story palms, bromeliads, orchids, ferns and bamboos. Many palms worldwide are endangered due to the destruction of rainforests. Fortunately, Hawaii is becoming a kind of Noah’s Ark thanks to the efforts of the Hawaii Island Palm Society, Bamboo Society, Orchid Societies, Rhododendron Society and other concerned groups.
Not only is it vital to protect our remaining Hawaiian forests, but to reforest those abandoned cane lands of Hamakua, Puna, Kau and Kohala with biodiverse forests thus ensuring valuable resources for future generations. This is especially critical as we are losing our ohia forests due to a fungus killing trees in many areas of the Big Island. Remember the forests are the lungs of our planet.