Hawaii Island Palm Society sponsors Kona Cloud Forest Tour

At 1 p.m. March 20, Hawaii Island Palm Society is inviting palm enthusiasts to a tour of the unique Kona Cloud Forest of Kaloko Mauka. The tour will include two sites. First is the Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary just 3 miles up Kaloko Drive at 3,000 feet elevation. The second stop will be the home and gardens of Dean and Angela Ouer. There they have planted one of the best collections of palms in Kona and have collected palms that have become almost extinct in their native habitat. For detailed information, call president Mary Lock at marylock@sbcglobal.net. It is important to RSVP because space is limited.

The Hawaii Island Bamboo Society is also having its monthly meeting in North Kohala at the farm of Jim Parker. There he has gathered and tested many rare bamboo species. Call president Jacqui Marlin for details about the meeting and tour at 966-5080.

Global warming is no longer a theory and is being accepted as fact by most scientists and governments. This will affect our islands by causing more extremes like drought, floods and severe storms. Many of Hawaii’s forests and forest watersheds are threatened, even with all the rhetoric about saving rainforests. In East Hawaii, many forest areas are subdivided into small lots of 1 to 3 acres. Unless the owners of the land really commit to protecting the forested lots, they are bulldozed and flattened. In West Hawaii, the same situation occurs with private lands being subdivided and cleared. One exception is the Kaloko cloud forest that is one of the most accessible native forests in West Hawaii. It, among other high elevation areas of Hawaii, is being developed for agriculture and residential activities. However, county planners have made an effort to encourage developers to protect the forest by placing requirements that the lots remain in forest. The county is also requiring forest management plans and is allowing owners to dedicate to native forest or tree crops, thus reducing their tax burden.

Some developers are concerned about forest protection and are incorporating these requirements into their plans. They have set an example of Hawaiian land stewardship that others throughout the county are beginning to follow. It was also just announced that Parker Ranch is leasing 10,000 acres for commercial forestry. Although the main plantings will be eucalyptus species, it is hoped they will also continue efforts to include other species like koa for long-range high quality forest products. Those folks opposed to eucalyptus might consider that this genus is very closely related to ohia. Our native honeycreepers utilize the nectar of these trees as well as our native species. In West Hawaii, much of Kaloko Mauka is still covered with native forest. Although it is sparsely populated, the gardens of residents are a fascinating mixture of hydrangeas, hoawa, calatheas, camellias, koa and kopiko. The area abounds with ancient ohia (Meterosideros polymorpha) and gigantic tree ferns, some of which are 30 feet or more in height. These ferns may be more than 100 years old because the trunks only grow 2 to 3 inches per year. The native forest contains many rare and endangered species that local residents are committed to protecting through the Hawaii Forest Stewardship Program. This program allows residents to dedicate and manage their properties to enhance this important and unique watershed. It is administered by the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources Forestry Division. In the heart of the subdivision, the 75-acre Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary has been set aside for testing palms, tree ferns, bamboos, bromeliads and other plant materials. Observations are being made as to their adaptability for reforestation, agricultural and landscape use. Sixty acres are being preserved as native forest. Five acres were damaged by cattle grazing and removal of ohia and hapuu in the 1960s and has been reforested in native and non-native trees to create a pan tropical forest. The upper 10 acres were totally cleared in the past and are now reforested as a montane tropical forest.

Efforts at the sanctuary are to protect and preserve native plants and animals. At the same time, the sanctuary is testing and using nonindigenous plant materials that are “environmentally friendly.” That is, plants that will not displace native plants, but are able to exist in harmony, adding fruit, fragrance and color where it is desired.

Kaloko Mauka is the home of the Hawaiian hawk, apapane, iiwi, elepaio, amakihi and many other endemic and exotic birds. It has been identified as essential wildlife habitat and forest watershed. It is the goal of residents of Kaloko Mauka to set an example that they can live in harmony with the forest and still have homes and some “forest friendly” agriculture activities. This is essential if our island is to have the rainfall and watershed needed to supply communities at lower elevations.

Some folks feel that East Hawaii has plenty of rain, so forests are not necessary. However, forests are like big sponges. They slow down flooding rains, and give up moisture so that streams continue to run when rainfall is light. Without forests, flooding and drought, as well as severe erosion, becomes the norm. Also, grassy weeds are notorius fire hazards during drought. Because of global warming and a strong El Nino, Kona has had one of the driest years on record. Even the tree ferns in the cloud forests are withering and dying. Ohia forests are also being threatened by rapid ohia death caused by a new fungus disease, so if you come from an area affected, be sure not to spread the disease by car tires, shoes and ohia wood from diseased trees.

Tropical forests include not only trees but under story palms, bromeliads, orchids, ferns and bamboos. Many palms worldwide are endangered because of the destruction of rainforests. Fortunately, Hawaii is becoming a kind of Noah’s Ark thanks to the efforts of the Hawaii Island Palm Society, Bamboo Society, Sierra Club and other groups.

Not only is it vital to protect our remaining Hawaiian forests, but to reforest those abandoned cattle and sugar lands with bio-diverse forests thus ensuring valuable resources for future generations.