The Hawai’i Service Trip Program (HSTP) conducted a service trip with 12 adventurous volunteers to Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a on the island of Hawai‘i from January 2-9, 2010.  The work was conducted in coordination with DLNR Staff at Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a, and was HSTP’s fourth trip to the preserve.  Thanks to DLNR for allowing us to spend time in this lovely place. 

Dry and mesic forests in the area of Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a were once considered the most diverse forests in all the Hawaiian Islands. Although the native forest communities have been greatly degraded during the past 100 years, a unique assemblage of natural communities and species are still found within the ahupua‘a. Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a represents one of the best places to restore and protect many floral and faunal species that are found only here or in other dry and dry-mesic forest areas of Hawai‘i. Several of these species are rare or restricted in distribution.

According to the DLNR management plan for the ahupua‘a, the most severe threats within Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a are fire, invasion by non-native flora and ungulate grazing. These threats cumulatively exert tremendous pressure on native flora and fauna, many of which are extremely sensitive to changes in their environment. The work conducted by the HSTP volunteer groups – fencing, invasive species control, and outplanting – strongly promotes landscape level watershed protection. Our service trips have focused on several “priority areas” identified in the management plan.

A comfortable house (water, generator for electricity, and hot showers!) near a reservoir at the bottom of the preserve was our home for the week. We enjoyed fabulous clear skies, and a number of participants braved the cool January temps to sleep outside on the lanai under the stars.  

Our first workday consisted of clearing an area near our house of fountain grass and lantana. DLNR has been outplanting native species in this area habituated by nēnē. We were lucky to see several nēnē pairs in the area. The second day was spent at a former protea farm north of the Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a cone, repairing a fence that would allow native species to be planted inside the enclosure and clearing fountain grass from the fence perimeter. A third day was spent at the “Sanctuary Enclosure” at about 4,000 feet elevation, removing weeds and invasive grasses from around the base of native and endangered plants. Our final work day was spent back at the protea farm to complete our assignment. 

Of course, HSTP trips are not all work, and we enjoyed good food, evening card games, spectacular night skies, and lots of laughter and new friendships. On our day off, we witnessed the big surf at Hapuna Beach, and spent the afternoon enjoying beautiful Kīholo Bay (part of the Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a ahupua‘a. It was especially rewarding to have so many young adults on this trip, which bodes well for the future of HSTP and conservation efforts in Hawai‘i.

HSTP trips accomplish valuable work and provide participants with a fun experience and an opportunity to visit Hawai‘i’s wild places that may not usually be accessible. Please take a look at www.sierraclubhawaii.com/hstp if you’re interested in learning more or would like to be added to our email trip notice list.