PONC seeks suggestions for conservation
The County of Hawaii Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Commission (PONC) is seeking suggestions from the public regarding lands that should be preserved because of cultural or historical significance.
The PONC funds are derived from 2% of Hawaii County’s annual real property tax revenues. Recent land acquisition consists of 12.639 acres in Puapua’a, North Kona. The purchase will ensure the preservation of numerous prehistoric and historic cultural sites, including a burial complex and the Kauakaiakaola Heiau, which is among the most important historical and cultural sites in the state.
Properties might qualify for preservation because they offer education, public access to beaches or mountains, cultural significance, natural resources, and outdoor recreation. Such nominations for conservation could be beaches, coastal areas, forests, places of natural beauty or involve the protection of natural resources, lands, and watersheds for general benefits to the public.
The 2021 Suggestion Forms must be received by 4:30 p.m. Feb. 26.
To obtain the form, contact Maxine Cutler by calling (808) 961-8069.
Palila habitat
protection planned
The palila, an endangered, native Hawaiian forest bird, is receiving assistance this month from the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW).
DOFAW will conduct trapping of mouflon/feral sheep hybrids, and 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 Big Island.
Aerial shooting is required for compliance with a federal court order mandating the removal of sheep and goats from the critical habitat. Control work is scheduled for Feb. 17 and 18. Public access to affected areas and the Mauna Kea Hunter Access Road will be restricted and allowed by permit only for animal salvage purposes those days.
Telephone calls to the DOFAW Kamuela Office for receiving salvage permits will be conducted Feb. 10 to 16. One permit will be issued per call, per vehicle, for one day only. Applicants can have their names added to a stand-by list for additional days, should all slots not be filled by other applicants. No standbys waiting at the gates will be allowed access. The driver, occupants, vehicle license plate, and make/model of vehicle are needed when calling in to (808) 887-6063
A maximum of 15 permitted vehicles will be allowed at each salvage location.