NATIVE FOREST RESTORATION PROJECT
PU‘U HULUHULU TREE SANCTUARY
Where:Pu‘u Huluhulu Native Tree Sanctuary, Saddle Road, Big Island.
What:The Pu‘u Huluhulu cinder cone contains an easily accessible remnant example of the dry montane Koa forest that once was common on the Big Island between 5000 and 7000’ elevation. This forest type is habitat for rare forest birds, including the ‘akiapola‘au and ‘akepa. Most of this upland koa forest has been severely disturbed by logging, fire and cattle ranching. It now exists in less 10% of the original range. Most of the remainder is being grazed by feral sheep and goats. This prevents the establishment of young trees, and will eventually result in the conversion of the forest into non-native grassland.
The Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) fenced an area of approximately 38 acres around Pu‘u Huluhulu in the 1970’s, to allow the forest to regenerate without animal grazing. Unfortunately, feral animals are not the only threat to this area. German ivy (Dellaria odorata), a vine introduced to Hawaii (from South Africa) in the early 1900’s has become a serious pest in the dry areas of Hawaii and Maui.
This vine forms thick mats that choke out native understory vegetation, and eventually climbs into the forest canopy where it can strangle even the largest trees.
What do we want to do:Attempts to control the German ivy on Puu Huluhulu began in 1996, and appear to be working. As this weed is removed, we hope to replant the cleared areas with native plants grown from seed collected on the Puu. Several endangered plant species, including Solanum incompletum, the “spiny popolo”, once occurred here, and we hope to reintroduce them to the area.
Because the Puu is so close to a paved road, and is crossed by hiking trails, it provides an excellent venue for environmental education. It would be a shame to allow this prime example of an increasingly rare plant community to be smothered by introduced weeds.
How do we want to do it: The Puu is easily accessible, and the ivy is not difficult to remove; it just requires a lot helping hands. Our strategy so far has been to first cut the thick ivy out of the trees with machetes. This kills most of the vines; once they dry out, we apply herbicide to the remaining mat of vines on the ground. Several months later, after the treated vines have died, we hand weed any new growth of ivy. Volunteers are needed for the initial hand clearing and the final weeding.
As trees become available, and when the weather cooperates (need rain!) we will be planting native trees in the most disturbed areas of the hill.
Logistics: Puu Huluhulu is at the 28 mile marker on Saddle Road; about 1 hour drive from Hilo. DOFAW can provide van transportation for a small group.
We have been scheduling work days for the third Saturday of every month. The plan has usually been to meet at the Hilo DOFAW baseyard (corner of Kilauea and Kawili) at 8:00 am for those needing a ride. Otherwise meet at the Pu‘u at 9:15 am. We generally work till lunch time, eat and talk story on the hill, then back to Hilo by 2:30 pm.
Bring: Lunch, water, long pants, good work shoes/hiking boots, sun screen, rain gear.
DOFAW will provide work gloves and machetes. Volunteers are welcome to bring their own; sickles are very handy for clearing ivy.
Contact: Hawaii Natural Area Reserves Program at 974-4383