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June 1 - 3 , 1978 - University of Hawaii at Manoa

June 1 - 3 , 1978 - University of Hawaii at Manoa

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THE ACQUISITION OF NATURAL AREAS IN HAWAI'I<br />

Kim0 Tabor<br />

The N<strong>at</strong>ure Conservancy<br />

Honolulu, <strong>Hawaii</strong><br />

The N<strong>at</strong>ure Conservancy's acquisition policy in Hawai'i has<br />

been shaped by several factors.<br />

Expert advice from knowledgeable individuals who know<br />

Hawai'i's uniqueness in specific areas <strong>of</strong> biological importance<br />

is critical to selection <strong>of</strong> n<strong>at</strong>ural areas, a process which is<br />

exceedingly intric<strong>at</strong>e. It is desirable to acquire a piece <strong>of</strong><br />

property <strong>of</strong> viable ecological significance after the finanacial<br />

and legal tangles are resolved.<br />

Acquisition <strong>of</strong> a general type <strong>of</strong> system r<strong>at</strong>her than a spe-<br />

cific type <strong>of</strong> biota was the primary consider<strong>at</strong>ion in the acqui-<br />

sition <strong>of</strong> Maulua Nui. Once the preliminary selection was made<br />

from some 40 altern<strong>at</strong>ives, a party <strong>of</strong> three people did a brief<br />

field reconnaissance <strong>of</strong> the property. Steven Montgomery, for<br />

many years scientific assistant to the N<strong>at</strong>ural Area Reserve<br />

Systems Commission, and James Jacobi, a botanist and student <strong>of</strong><br />

Dr. D. Mueller-Dombois with wide experience on the island <strong>of</strong><br />

Hawai'i, provided a quick scientific assessment <strong>of</strong> the Maulua<br />

property during a three-day field trip in early January 1977<br />

(covering a distance <strong>of</strong> 11 miles, or 18.2 km).<br />

The loc<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> Maulua Nui on the slope <strong>of</strong> Mauna Kea pro-<br />

vides a classic <strong>Hawaii</strong>an ahupua'a land form. It faces northeast<br />

against the tradewinds, from sea level to an elev<strong>at</strong>ion (<strong>at</strong> the<br />

boundary) 1 mile high on Hawai'i's highest mountain, on the<br />

St<strong>at</strong>e's largest land mass, the island <strong>of</strong> Hawai'i. This area is<br />

accessible to birds and seeds from the North American Continent<br />

given the wind p<strong>at</strong>terns <strong>of</strong> perceived history. It is an area<br />

which has a high rainfall and sunshine r<strong>at</strong>io thus highly desir-<br />

able from the high growth r<strong>at</strong>es possible; an <strong>at</strong>traction also to<br />

the forest industry. The mouth <strong>of</strong> the ahupua'a is a large fault<br />

valley 21 miles northeast <strong>of</strong> Hilo. The emerging valley stream<br />

provides an interesting, though disturbed, estuarine area. It is<br />

also an area <strong>of</strong> some local historic interest.<br />

Maulua Nui is a unique addition to the inventory <strong>of</strong> N<strong>at</strong>ure<br />

Conservancy lands n<strong>at</strong>ionwide. It provided forest habit<strong>at</strong> for<br />

endangered forest birds <strong>of</strong> the n<strong>at</strong>ive passerines and the <strong>Hawaii</strong>an<br />

Hawk, or '10.

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