In 1905, the government of Hawai`i began the process of setting aside forested areas of the islands as reserves, to be protected for their watershed value. By that time, hundreds of thousands of acres of the islands’ forests had already … Continued
After more than a century of abuse by cattle ranching, Kahikinui, meaning “the great rising,” is on an upswing. Although still isolated, rugged, and dry, the land there managed by the state Department for Hawaiian Home Lands has for the … Continued
This summer’s meeting in Hilo of the Society of Conservation Biology focused on island ecosystems. Not surprisingly, many of the sessions addressed issues with a strong local angle. This is our third and final report on highlights of the conference: … Continued
With the right set of ears, you could dive in the ocean and hear a full symphony of sounds: The chirps and moans of whales, the growls and grunts of seals, the background din of wind and waves, the far-reaching … Continued
Since taking over management of Midway Atoll in 1996, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been attempting to rid the island of the last vestiges of waste from years of commercial, military, and industrial use. Apart from scientific research, … Continued
July 7 marked the opening of the 2001 hunting season for big game – pigs, sheep, and goats – at three areas in the ahupua`a of Pu`uwa`awa`a on the island of Hawai`i. The presence of these ungulates, along with the … Continued
Intended as a tool to study the subtle effects of global warming, the North Pacific Acoustic Laboratory (formerly known as ATOC) has received far less attention than its noisy big brother, SURTASS LFA. In fact, many of the comments sent … Continued
The state of Hawai`i is paying for cleaning up much of the mess left behind by F. Newell Bohnett, former holder of the lease of state lands at Pu`uwa`awa`a. According to Harry Yada, head of the Department of Land and … Continued
FADs – short for fish aggregating devices – have long been an important part of fishing in Hawai`i. These buoys, placed in the open sea, seem to attract fish in the same way that floating logs or rafts do. For … Continued