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Hawai‘i Conservation Alliance Awards

The Hawai‘i Conservation Alliance strives to recognize achievements in the Hawaiian conservation community at all levels, from high school students to seasoned professionals. Each year the HCA presents a variety of awards, the recipients of which are honored at the Hawai‘i Conservation Conference.

Distinguished Service Award

Given to a person who has excelled by reason of exceptional service, personal effort, and unselfish interest, thereby making distinguished contributions beyond the immediate responsibilities of their position. This individual has reached the highest esteem within the conservation community and embodies the spirit of hope, the dedication of purpose, and the tenacity of firm belief that our native ecosystems are a valued component of our heritage and our gift to Hawai‘i’s children.

Charles P. “Chuck” Stone , Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park

The 2009 Distinguished Service Award was presented to Charles P. “Chuck” Stone who was a Research Biologist at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park from the early 1980s until 1990. During this period he was a major champion for conservation efforts in Hawai‘i, leading many important initiatives using his skills in scientific research and outreach to help others expand their values to include conservation of Hawai‘i’s unique biological resources. He was instrumental in conducting research on the impacts and control methods for feral pigs, expanding the successful National Park Service goat control strategies into getting rid of pigs in wet forests. Additionally, he helped establish a strong linkage between conservation and public education. Chuck authored many scientific publications but most people will remember the many books he, in conjunction with others like Cliff Smith and Linda Pratt, published to pull together scientific information in a form that was more accessible to not only scientists but also the general public. One of his most popular publications is Conservation Biology in Hawai‘i, co-authored with his wife and colleague Danielle B. Stone, Linda W. Cuddihy, and Martha E. Lane. This seminal book is a must-read for all who are starting out in the conservation field in Hawai‘i. Finally, Chuck and Cliff Smith collaborated in putting together an annual conference that highlighted research and management in Hawai‘i’s National Parks, which was the precursor for the Hawai‘i Conservation Conference. Although Chuck retired from federal service in 1995, his research, publications, and outreach products remain at the core of conservation biology in Hawai‘i.

Outstanding Leadership Award

Given to a person who has demonstrated exceptional leadership in advancing environmental conservation in Hawai‘i over the short to medium term (several years to a decade).

Lea Hong, Trust for Public Land

Lea Hong was honored with the Outstanding Leadership Award for her significant impact on Hawai‘i’s environmental and cultural heritage through her compassionate and articulate advocacy, conservation ethic, and overall philanthropic spirit. Since graduating from the University of Hawai‘i’s William S. Richardson School of Law in 1991 as one of the Environmental Law Programs first participants, Lea’s tireless work has had far reaching consequences in environmental and Hawaiian rights jurisprudence from the tops of Mauna Kea, down the streams of Waiāhole/Waikāne, and to the ocean that she loves. Before joining the Trust for Public Land (TPL) Hawai‘i, Ms. Hong litigated complex land, water, and cultural preservation and access disputes on behalf of Hawaiian and environmental groups first an non-profit litigation firm Earthjustice and then in private practice as a partner in the Honolulu law firm of Alston Hunt Floyd & Ing where she founded their Environmental Practice Section. Since leaving her law practice, Lea has relied on her leadership skills, experience, and “street cred” at TPL Hawai‘i to build bridges and conservation partnerships among Native Hawaiian, conservation organizations, grassroots community groups, and government agencies at all levels to advance some of Hawai‘i’s most inspiring land conservation efforts. Simultaneously, Lea serves as an adjunct professor at the UH Law School, teaching courses in Environmental Litigation. There are few environmental and Native Hawaiian organizations that have not been touched by her work, whether through her practical legal advice and pro bono generosity as an attorney, or her reliable support as a concerned community member. All the while, she has managed to remain an avid long boarder and hiker keeping one foot in the ocean and the other on land. Modest to a fault, Lea helps to preserve our environment and cultural heritage by contributing to a growing aloha ‘āina ethic today, laying a greener path for generations yet to come.

Student Awards

Each year at the conference, the HCA awards prizes to the top student oral and poster presenters. Monetary awards were sponsored by the Hawai’i Conservation Alliance and The Wildlife Society-Hawai’i Chapter.

Best Student Oral Presentation:
Sheldon Plentovich, University of Hawai‘i, Honolulu, HI
Effects of Eradication and Control of Two Species of Invasive Ants on Offshore Islets in the Hawaiian Archipelago

Invasive species eradication and control are vital components of the conservation and management of many native ecosystems.  Invasive ants, which are notoriously difficult to eradicate, have been largely overlooked despite the fact that many species have expanding ranges, can reach exceptionally high densities, and often cause catastrophic changes in ecosystems.  We experimentally tested the effects of hydramethylnon on two species of invasive ants (Pheidole megacephala and Solenopsis geminata) on two pairs of offshore islets.  In year one (i.e., 2002), P. megacephala was the most abundant arthropod on islets in pair 1 while S. geminata was the most abundant arthropod in pair 2.  Following treatments with hydramethylnon, P. megacephala was not detected on the treated islet in pair 1 from 2003-2008.  In pair 2, S. geminata numbers declined, but the species remained present on the treated islet from 2003-2005.  During these periods ant densities remained high on untreated islets.  Reduced densities resulted in increased weight and fledging success of wedge-tailed shearwater (Puffinus pacificus) chicks and increased leaf cover in the native plant Ilima (Sida fallax) on pair 2.  Substantial changes in the ant community were observed from 2003-2008 following the eradication of P. megacephala, including the appearance and spread of the yellow crazy ant (Anoplolepis gracilipes).  This invasion coincided with declines in number of seabird chicks.  We conclude that hydramethylnon can be used to effectively eradicate P. megacephala; however we recommend it be used cautiously, as part of an adaptive and integrated plan that includes continued monitoring and management.

Runner-up:
Heather Spalding, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI
Deepwater Halimeda Meadows in Hawai‘i: The ‘Ōhi‘a of the Ocean

The green alga Halimeda kanaloana forms expansive meadows over soft sediments, but little is known about its ecology in Hawaii. We used technical diving, ROVs, and submersibles to describe spatial and temporal variation in distribution, abundance, demography, and growth of H. kanaloana. We found H. kanaloana meadows occurred to 90 m and covered a substantial area of the ocean floor, linking soft sediments to coral reefs. The meadows formed a unique habitat for cryptic organisms, and were used as a hunting ground for large, predatory fish and Hawksbill sea turtles. Halimeda were long-lived (> 27 months), but fluctuated greatly in segment number and height over time. Densities peaked at 20 m (342 ± 13 SE individuals per m2), but varied seasonally and among locations. Halimeda growth was rapid (9.8% ± 1.4% SE new growth per plant per week) and generally decreased with increasing depth. Episodic abundances of other green algae (e.g., Caulerpa filicoides) and cyanobacteria (Lyngbya majuscula) were observed overgrowing Halimeda. Manipulative clearing experiments (mimicking observed anchor scars) showed Halimeda could quickly regrow from the intact holdfast, but was slow (> 20 months) to recolonize areas cleared of both holdfast and thallus. The perennial nature and rapid growth rates of H. kanaloana appear to contribute toward the broad success of this species and serves to inform management of deeper reefs. As an example, disturbance removing entire individuals over a large area, e.g. repeated cruise ship anchoring, would require years for recovery.

Best Student Poster Presentation:
Lisa Ellsworth, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI
Fuel Loading and Fire Parameters in Nonnative Grasslands on Military and Surrounding Lands on Oah‘u, Hawai‘i

Lisa Ellsworth 1, Creighton Litton 1, Boone Kauffman 2
1 University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, United States, 2 USDA Forest Service: Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry, United States

Recurring wildland fires in landscapes dominated by the invasive guinea grass (Urochloa maxima) pose a significant threat to surrounding native ecosystems, landowners, and military preparedness. To more effectively manage Hawai‘i’s natural resources while maximizing military training opportunities, the invasive grass-wildfire cycle must be aggressively managed, and ultimately eliminated. Predicting and managing fire behavior is commonly done with fire models (e.g., BehavePlus), but their realistic use requires a better understanding of spatial and temporal changes in the parameters that most drive fires – fuels and climate. This initial study was conducted to quantify the spatial and temporal variability in fuel parameters. We hypothesized that fuel moisture, total aboveground fuel loads, and live:dead biomass ratios would vary with land use history (grazing, fire history), topographical position, and overstory cover. To address this hypothesis, we quantified these variables across military lands and surrounding areas along the Waianae Coast and North Shore areas of O‘ahu. Fuels in guinea grasslands exhibited a wide range of biomass, live:dead ratios, and fuel moistures. Low elevation sites with no tree overstory exhibited the lowest live and detrital fuel moistures at 28% and 9%, respectively. Schofield Barracks sites exhibited the highest live and detrital fuel moistures at >50% and >30%, respectively. Initial results will guide continued sampling efforts to quantify how fuel parameters vary both spatially and temporally. Relating these parameters to climatic data will substantially improve future predictions of the probability of ignition and potential fire behavior, which will be of widespread use to fire managers.

Runner Up:
Cheyenne Perry, University of Hawai‘i, Hilo
Effects of Light Availability on Biomass and Reproductive Organ Production of the Invasive Rangeland Shrub Ulex europaeus L. on Mauna Kea, Hawai‘i

Cheyenne Perry 1, Cheyenne Perry3, Mike Robinson2, Rebecca Ostertag1, Pat Hart1
1 University of Hawai‘i, United States, 2 Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, United States, 3 US Forest Service, United States

Ulex europaeus (gorse) are thorny shrubs found in degraded pasturelands, an extreme fire hazard, and noxious weeds in Hawaii. They form monotypic stands infesting thousands of acres and alter native ecosystems, produce highly acidic soils, and suppress native plant germination, such as at Mauna Kea, Hawaii. However, gorse is light demanding so the addition of forest canopy over gorse stands may be an effective bio-control.  I seek to determine the percentage light availability provided by forests and plantations that produce significant decreases in gorse biomass accumulation and reproductive organ production.

I surveyed forests and plantations on the eastern slopes of Mauna Kea to determine light availability under different species’ canopies, then tested whether artificial shading (shade cloth structures) that mimics these forests would limit gorse growth and reproduction. I created and applied five light treatments to gorse individuals/cohorts: ambient light (control), 73%, 80%, 90%, and 98% shade and measured basal area, height and volume of 80 plants for 12 months. Following the final measurement all plants were harvested to determine dry mass. I used allometric modeling (16 individuals of differing size) to estimate initial biomass and actual dry weight of harvested plants for final biomass to compute Relative Growth Rates. Results show that the 73% shade treatment decreased biomass accumulation to 1/3 that of the control and that this trend continued up to 98% where gorse individuals/cohorts died and biomass was reduced to just 1/10 that of the control. These initial results suggest that planting native forests and/or plantations with contiguous canopies in gorse stands will reduce biomass accumulation.

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