Rare Plant Main

Projects for the island of
Maui

Plant Population Management
Olinda Rare Plant Facility

Extended Projects
Plant Facilities Construction - Kanaio Natural Area Reserve Fenceline

Plant Population Management
Olinda Rare Plant Facility, Maui

Objectives: Propagate and outplant species of the Maui Nui island complex that are rare, endangered or threatened to prevent extinction and to maintain genetic diversity of island species.

Grant Relationship to Other Projects: This project is jointly funded by Section 6 of the Federal Endangered Species Act and by Ecological Services section of the USFWS (66% Section 6 funding and 33% from USFWS).

Performance:
Approach:
1. Construction of greenhouse will be accomplished by USFWS.
2. Funding of a full-time horticulturist working with land managers in Maui County for seed collection and propagation for reintroduction will be jointly funded by USFWS and by this proposal.
3. Office space could be provided by the adjacent state-owned Maui Bird Conservation Center with the possibility of permanent greenhouse and office/bunkhouse construction in the future.

1. Construction of greenhouses***

• Topographical survey done by NRCS, completed August 2004
• Water meter installed by Dept. of Water Supply Sept. 2004.
• Hoophouse obtained, the last building to be added to the propagation structures.
• Bids obtained for grading and building contractors.
  ***The Olinda Rare Plant Facility is located next to the Maui Bird Conservation Center; during the bird nesting periods from April to July noisy construction work of any kind is not feasible.

2. Funding for Full-time horticulturist for seed collection and propagation for reintroduction

• Collections/surveys have begun for targeted Maui Nui plants via contract with Bob Hobdy
• Genetic Safety Net (GSN) meetings contracted to prioritize species of greatest need for Maui County.

The agreement with USFWS for joint funding of this project assumed the employment of a full-time horticulturist after one year. Unfortunately, the project has been delayed numerous times due to ownership issues, issuance of a county water meter, and the limited time any construction can occur due to the nesting periods of the birds at the Maui Bird Conservation center. With these delays, the hiring of a full-time horticulturist was excessive and the project was funded solely with Section 6 funds until FY05. Funding for this project was cut in FY05 to allow a 'catch-up' time for funding, allowing USFWS moneys allotted to the project to be expended. The reduced Section 6 funds were directed at establishing a list of plant species in most need of propagation so when the nursery is in operation, the target species will be established via GSN meetings with propagules available. This prioritizing process will be accomplished by the end of 2005 by a series of Genetic Safety Net meetings coordinated by Maui Nui Botanical Gardens.

Additional Information: Mid-elevation nurseries on the islands of Hawaii, Kauai, and Oahu have been extremely successful in acting as catalysts for outplanting threatened and endangered plant species in addition to illustrating the necessity of having secure habitats to use for outplanting. Thirty-five plant species, all native to the Maui Nui island complex, have been identified by Hawaii's Rare Plant Task Force as being at risk of extinction by having less than 20 individuals remaining in the wild or having a single population with less than 50 individuals. Twenty-six of these species are listed as endangered by the USFWS.

Extended Projects - Interim Reports
Plant Facilities Construction - Kanaio Natural Area Reserve Fenceline, Maui

Objectives:
1) Construct deer-proof perimeter fence around approximately a 750-acre portion of the Kanaio Natural Area Reserve and adjacent unencumbered lands to the north of the Reserve.
2) Develop methods for restoration of native dry forest, and associated rare plant species.

Grant Relationship to Other Projects: Fence construction to be accomplished in conjunction with USFWS grant to Ulupalakua Ranch to fence the east portion of the exclosure on private lands.

Performance:
1. Exclosure fence

• State Parks archaeologists provided supplemental archaeological survey for variations from original fence route and for additional unencumbered state lands that will be included within the fenced area. The Natural Area Reserve Commission is considering this additional area as an addition to the Kanaio Natural Area Reserve via public hearings and review.
• Environmental Assessment process is completed with a Finding of No Significant Impact to the surrounding areas.
• Invitations to bid on the construct of various combinations of the fenceline and a contractor were selected for the northern and eastern portion of the fence.
• Actual construction of the fence is anticipated commencing by late 2005.

2. Restoration

• Invasive weed control continues in test exclosure along with control of incipient castor bean infestation in the rest of the Reserve.
• Rodent control discontinued within test exclosure to change in labeling to restricted use.
• Coordinated 12 volunteer days- labor for weed control and outplanting in test exclosure.
• Ouplantings in exclosure this year included:
  4 Alphitonia ponderosa
  3 Eragrostis atropioides
  6 Bonamia menziesii
  1 Rauvolfia sandwicensis
  6 Nesoluma polynesicum
  12 Erythrina sandwicensis
  4 Caesalpinia kavaiensis
  1 Acacia koaia
  12 Hibiscus brackenridgei
• Continued to collect seeds of a variety of species for later outplanting at test site.

Actual construction of the Kanaio Natural Area Reserve fence has been delayed over four years due to the state Environmental Assessment (EA) process, completion of an archeological survey/cultural assessment, changing of the fenceline to facilitate inclusion of additional acreage while decreasing fencing costs, and expansion of the Kanaio Natural Area Reserve. These processes and changes were not anticipated in our planning process. However, the EA has been approved and public hearings have been held for the Natural Areas Reserve expansion as well as for the fence construction. We have obtained a grubbing permit from the County of Maui to begin grading of the fenceline. Other unforeseen permits from the state or county may be required before construction can begin. We anticipate construction of the fence to begin late 2005. Federal moneys will not be expended except for enacting a fencing contract.

Publications/Reports: Environmental Assessment for Natural Area Resources Conservation Project, Kanaio Natural Area Reserve.

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