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

Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge
Comprehensive Conservation Plan
This species occurs on the eastern slope of Mauna Kea and south across the Waiākea Forest Reserve
and into the lands of the Kūlani Correctional Facility on the southeastern slope of Mauna Loa, in
montane wet „ōhi„a and mesic koa/„ōhi„a forest habitat. The elevational range is 5,400-6,200 ft.
Additional native species that have been observed with C. shipmanii are kōlea and kāwa„u. In 1840,
approximately 50 individuals were found and only one was mature. In the late 1990s a single plant
was found in a ravine in the Upper Waiākea Forest Reserve. A small fence was constructed to protect
the plant from pigs (USFWS 1996a, Mitchell et al. 2005). Another single individual was known in
the Mauna Loa Forest Reserve (Federal Register 2003b). Five C. shipmanii were found in the Pua
„Ākala and Hakalau Tracts of the HFU in 1993 (USFWS 1996a, Van Driesche and Van Driesche
2000, Jeffrey et al. 2001, Mitchell et al. 2005). All but one individual had died by 2000 and the
remaining plant was too young to reproduce. Using seed from Waiākea, 109 C. shipmanii were
outplanted at the Refuge (HFU) from 1999-2001 (Jeffrey et al. 2001). From 2002-2008, an additional
602 C. shipmanii were outplanted (USFWS, unpubl.).
Of the 6,088 ac of critical habitat designated for C. shipmanii, over 64 percent occurs within the
HFU. This area encompasses Pua „Ākala and portions of „Āwehi, Honoli„i, and Kapue streams. Two
additional units were designated on land within the „Ōla„a-Kīlauea Partnership (now the Three
Mountain Alliance) and in the Mauna Loa Forest Reserve (Federal Register 2003b).
Pigs are known to impact the reproduction of this species and destroy the natural seed bank (Van
Driesche and Van Driesche 2000). Existing populations are also threatened by invasive plants and
rats. In the early 1990s rats were known to have eaten all of the fruit and seeds from the known
individuals of the endangered C. shipmanii at the HFU (USFWS 1996b). Although sporadic rodent
control has been employed, these remote areas are difficult to access (Jeffrey et al. 2001). Due to the
small population size, the species is also in danger of extinction from random events, loss of
reproduction vigor, or reduced pollination (Mitchell et al. 2005).
4.9.8 Cyanea stictophylla
The endangered Cyanea stictophylla is a small tree or shrub with a height from 2-20 ft. The stems
often possess sharp projections and have few branches. The long and narrow leaves have lobed or
toothed blades that are 7.8-15 in long. Five or six large, deeply lobed flowers cluster at the tip of the
main flower stalk. The hypanthium is oval and slightly hairy. The petals are yellowish white or
purple, while the berries are orange (USFWS 1996a).
Historical records show that C. stictophylla occurred on the western, southern, and eastern slopes of
Mauna Loa. Three existing populations occur in montane wet „ōhi„a and mesic koa/„ōhi„a forests
between 2,500-6,400 ft. These population contain about 15 individuals and are located at Keauhou in
Ka„ū, Kohae in South Kona, and Pu„u Wa„awa„a in North Kona. Six plants occur at Kukui o Pa„e
and 10 at Olelomoana (USFWS 1996a). An additional 46 have been planted in enclosures at the Ka„ū
Forest Reserve and Pu„u Wa„awa„a (Mitchell et al. 2005). Alani and opuhe occur in association with
this species (USFWS 1996a).
Two C. stictophylla were known from lava tube skylights at the KFU. Both were thought to have
died from rat damage in 2007 (Jeffrey, pers. comm.).
Four critical habitat units have been allocated for the C. stictophylla, of which two are occupied.
These areas include the South Kona Forest Reserve, Kīpāhoehoe NAR, Ka„ū Forest Reserve, and
4-64 Chapter 4. Refuge Biology and Habitats