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

Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge
Comprehensive Conservation Plan
NWR (1997), the KFU was established “. . . to protect, conserve, and manage a portion of the native
forest in south Kona, primarily for the benefit of the ‘alalā and other endangered and threatened
species.”
Until 2003, the Refuge maintained dedicated staffing and a local office across Māmalahoa Highway
near the KFU; however, due to prolonged access disputes and pending resolution of legal issues,
staffing was discontinued on the unit. The KFU is currently unstaffed and is managed from the
Refuge complex office in Hilo, 2.5 hours away. Adjacent land uses in the vicinity include ranching,
farming, residences, and ecotourism ventures. Keālia Ranch is located approximately 3 mi north of
the KFU, and McCandless Ranch is found to the south of the Refuge. The KFU is 4 mi from the
Waiea Transfer Station, managed by the County’s Department of Environmental Management, Soil
Waste Division. This station was selected as one of six sites prioritized for coqui frog control on the
island due to its potential to threaten high-value resource areas (ISCs, AIS Team & CGAPS 2005).
Various kuleana lands are present immediately outside the Refuge. Other land uses adjacent to the
Refuge include Kalāhiki cemetery and Ho‘okena School. The South Kona Forest Reserve and
Kīpāhoehoe Natural Area Reserve are to the south of the Refuge.
Figure 3-4. Land Use District Boundaries- Kona Forest Unit.
The South Kona District encompasses 146,685 ac. This district is primarily classified as Agricultural
by the State of Hawai‘i and zoned as Agricultural by Hawai‘i County (County of Hawai‘i 2007). The
KFU is designated as Agricultural by the State of Hawai‘i Land Use District Boundaries Map. Areas
3-16 Chapter 3. Physical Environment