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

Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge
Comprehensive Conservation Plan
near stream vents and in montane dry forest and shrubland dominated by koa, „ōhi„a, and māmane.
The species is known to occur with „a„ali„i and nehe.
On Hawai„i Island, po„e historically occurs in the Kohala Mountains, the northern slopes of Hualālai,
the northwestern slopes of Mauna Loa, and near Kīlauea Crater (USFWS 1996a). There are
estimated to be 24 occurrences of po„e on Hawai„i Island currently. The population in Hawai„i
Volcanoes National Park consisted of 900 individuals in 2003 (Federal Register 2003b). Populations
also occur at the PTA and Parker Ranch. Although no po„e have been found the KFU, plants are
known from the adjacent area.
The critical habitat unit for po„e covers 10,848 ac of Hawai„i Volcanoes National Park. It contains
the Keanakāko„i, Koko„olau, and Puhimau craters, as well as Lele o Kalihipa„a Pali and a portion of
the 1921 lava flow. Roughly 19 ac of critical habitat were also designated for the population on
Lāna„i (Federal Register 2003a, 2003b).
Invasive mammals (goats, pigs, sheep) and invasive plants threaten populations of this species.
Fountain grass and broomsedge are particular threats to po„e as a result of competition. Furthermore,
existing populations occur in fire-prone areas that are susceptible to human impacts (USFWS 1996a).
The coastal Lāna„i population is threatened by invasive plants, fire, and larval herbivory by a
nonnative sphinx moth (Federal Register 2003a).
4.9.15 ‘Ānunu (Sicyos macrophyllus)
Sicyos macrophyllus, also known as „ānunu, is a candidate for the list of threatened and endangered
species. It does not receive protection under the ESA or Hawai„i's endangered species law nor is it
covered in a recovery plan. This perennial vine has long stems reaching almost 50 ft. These stems are
sparsely hairy and have black spots. The leaves are heart-shaped with a notch at the base and
attached to coiling tendrils. Each leaf has 3-5 lobes and the central lobe is sharply pointed. The
flowers occur in hairy, branched inflorescences. The green fruit is rounded and ribbed.
This species is found in montane wet „ōhi„a forests, mesic koa/„ōhi„a forests, and subalpine
māmane/naio forests. It occurs between 4,000 -6,600 ft elevation on the Island of Hawai„i (USFWS
2007c).
The historical distribution of „ānunu includes Pu„u Wa„awa„a, Laupāhoehoe, Puna, and South Kona.
The current distribution of the species encompasses six populations of several hundred individuals in
the Kohala and Mauna Kea areas. One population occurs at Kīpuka Kī in Hawai„i Volcanoes
National Park. The remainder are located in State-owned game management areas in Pu„u Huluhulu,
South Kona, Pu„u Wa„awa„a, Pu„u Mali, and Waika (Federal Register 2007, USFWS 2007c). One
„ānunu is known to occur within the KFU.
The species is susceptible to pigs, cattle, and sheep that degrade and destroy habitat. Nonnative
plants also compete for space, nutrients, water, air, and light. Although pigs are excluded in some
areas by fencing, the fences are not sheep-proof and must be continually maintained (Federal
Register 2007, USFWS 2007c).
Chapter 4. Refuge Biology and Habitats 4-69