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

Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge
Comprehensive Conservation Plan
vicinity are also classified as Conservation and Agriculture along a similar elevational gradient
(Figure 3-3). Conservation District designations are under the jurisdiction of DLNR, while all other
land use designations (such as Agriculture, Urban, and Rural) come under the County of Hawai‘i.
There is no Special Management Area for HFU according to State Coastal Zone Management.
Figure 3-3. Land Use District Boundaries - Hakalau Forest Unit.
3.6.2 Local Land Use Designations: Kona Forest Unit
The KFU is situated in the District of South Kona on the leeward slope of Mauna Loa (Figure 1-1). It
is located roughly 8 mi from the town of Captain Cook and 23 mi south of Kailua-Kona. Other
communities in the vicinity of the Refuge are Kealakekua, Kainaliu, and Hōnaunau. The unit is
accessed through a 17 ac permanent easement across private property. Keālia Ranch borders the
property to the north and McCandless Ranch lies near the southern boundary.
The KFU of the Hakalau Forest NWR was purchased in 1997. Approximately 5,300 ac were
acquired from the Kai Malino Ranch section (Les Marks Trust) of the former McCandless Ranch, a
private cattle ranch. Two easements were purchased from the Les Marks Trust in March 2005. As
part of the Hakalau Forest NWR, the KFU is administered and managed by the Refuge according to
the Administration Act. According to the Final EA for the Proposed KFU of the Hakalau Forest
Chapter 3. Physical Environment 3-15