Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan - U.S. Fish and Wildlife ...

Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge
Comprehensive Conservation Plan
The use of water resources in the Hawaiian Islands is regulated by the State Water Code, Chapter
174C and governed by the State Commission on Water Resource Management (CWRM). This
agency issues permits to regulate the use of surface and ground water. Between 1988-1989, water
users in Hawai‘i were required to register their water sources and declare their water uses to CWRM
(CWRM 1992). A water right is a legal entitlement to use a certain amount of water from a particular
source for a beneficial use. Outside designated water management areas landowners have the right to
“reasonable use” of underlying groundwater and riparian water, providing it does not harm the uses
of other users (Miike 2004). Specific water rights for descendants of Native Hawaiians who inhabited
the Hawaiian Islands prior to 1778 are discussed in Section §174C-101 of the State Water Code.
3.3.1 Hakalau Forest Unit Hydrology
The presence of gulches and ravines allows for intermittent surface water flow following periods of
heavy or continuous rain (USFWS 2002a). Some of the streams within the Refuge boundaries are
considered perennial at lower elevations. Nonnative ungulates and other mammals (rats) degrade
water quality of the intermittent streams through soil disturbance and feces deposition. In addition,
disturbance in the upper reaches can result in lack of groundwater retention. Table 3-4 lists stream
and tributaries identified within the boundaries of the Refuge.
Table 3-4. Streams and Tributaries on the Hakalau Forest Unit.
Stream Tributaries
Hakalau
Honoli‘i Pōhakupuka
Kapue
Kawainui
Kolekole
Maulua Makahiloa
Nanue Painui
Pāhoehoe Pāhoehoe
Pōhakupuka
Umauma Nauhi Gulch, Honohina Gulch
Waikaumalo
Wailuku ‘Āwehi, Nukupahu Gulch
Source: Hawai‘i Office of Planning GIS Data.
As required under the State Water Code, the Refuge filed Declaration of Water Use for 12 perennial
streams in May 1989. These streams included: Kalohewahewa, ‘Āwehi, Honoli‘i, Kapue, Kawainui,
Kolekole, Hakalau, Umauma, Painui, Waikaumalo, and Pōhakupuka (CWRM 1989, 1992). The
Refuge continuously uses the water in these streams to maintain the riparian community and protect
habitat for native aquatic insects and crustaceans. This type of use is considered a category two
instream water use because the water remains in the stream channel, rather than being transported
outside the channel (CWRM 1989).
Natural and constructed ponds exist along the upper slopes of the HFU. The constructed water
features were former stock ponds built for cattle, but several still hold water. Many of the naturally
occurring pond and waterholes referenced in historical documents no longer exist. This is likely due
3-10 Chapter 3. Physical Environment