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Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Endangered bird euthanized after being found ‘emaciated,' missing part of its beak
HILO, Hawai'i (KHON2) — A Hawaiian hawk, or 'io, was euthanized after being found 'emaciated' and missing part of its beak on Hawai'i Island. Recently, a woman reported finding the injured bird on her property near Mountain View. According to the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), the bird was missing the upper portion of its beak. 'Examination of the hawk determined the injury wasn't natural, but human caused,' DLNR said. 'No longer able to feed itself, the bird had to be euthanized.' Once-extinct bird species lays first wild eggs in 40 years A wildlife biologist with the Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) retrieved the bird and transferred it to the Hawai'i Wildlife Center (HWC). The week before the injured 'io was reported, the HWC also received a tip about a Craigslist post offering a free hawk in Mountain View. DLNR officials said the bird in the post had similar features to the one that was euthanized, but it had its full beak. Wildlife officials said it is not yet 'determined if the two incidents are related.' Raymond McGuire, a DOFAW wildlife biologist, encouraged community members to report potential abuses of endangered species, including Hawaiian hawks, which have state protection in Hawai'i. That means that it is illegal to harm, kill or disrupt the animals, the DLNR said.'We've received several reports in recent years of shootings and other harmful misconduct aimed at Hawaiian hawks,' McGuire said. 'We can all contribute to the protection of our native ʻio and stop the trend of abuse if we keep our eyes open and speak up.' The Hawaiian hawk, or 'io, is an endangered species of bird that is found only on the island of Hawai'i, according to the (FWS). The species has been considered to be endangered since 1967. If you suspect illegal activity, you can call the DLNR enforcement hotline at 808-643-3567 or use the DLNRTip app. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
This ancient practice is rebuilding Maui's future: Here's how Lāhainā's reclaiming its forests
HONOLULU (KHON2) — From mountain peaks to coral reefs, Hawai'i's natural systems are deeply connected. The ʻāina (land), wai (water), holoholona (animals) and kānaka (people) rely on each other to survive. That idea isn't new. Native Hawaiian practices have honored those connections for generations. But today, groups across the islands, including the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), are putting that knowledge to work in powerful ways. One major effort is happening on Maui, where the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW), along with local nonprofits and volunteers, is helping bring life back to native forests that once shaped rainfall, fed watersheds and supported entire communities. Here's what you should know about the work and why it matters. Healthy forests play a major role in collecting rain. That rain seeps into the ground and becomes the water we use every day. But if the forest is overrun with invasive weeds or rooted out by wild animals, it doesn't work the same. The West Maui watershed, stretching from Honokōwai to Honokōhau, covers more than 9,000 acres of land. The land used to be part of a pineapple plantation. Now, thanks to a conservation easement with Maui Land and Pineapple Company, it's being restored by Aloha Puʻu Kukui and The Nature Conservancy, with support from DOFAW. 'You can't just manage one part of it,' said John Meier, president of Aloha Puʻu Kukui. 'You have to manage the whole, from the peak all the way to the ocean. They're all connected. If you want the ocean to be healthy, the mountain above it has to be healthy.' Not all trees are created equal. Native Hawaiian plants like koa and a'ali'i support the watershed and keep the soil in place. Invasive species like Guinea grass and ironwood do the opposite. They spread quickly, use up resources and don't hold the same value for native animals or the land. At one site in West Maui, volunteers removed invasive plants and planted koa. Meier pointed to a small koa sapling and said, 'This area used to be all invasive weeds and ironwood trees. Now it's going to be koa and a'ali'i forest.' It can take years to see progress; but with time and care, the land year, Kula Kaiapuni 'o Lahainaluna, the ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi language immersion program at Lahainaluna High School, joined the effort. Students come to the forest, begin with pule and work with their hands in the dirt by weeding, digging, planting, learning. 'It's very important,' said student Aina Kapu. 'Because here in Hawai'i, this is where we come from, this is where we stand. This is where we expand our ʻike, our kuleana and our kūpuna did this for thousands of years, and we just want to repeat that same thing.' Kaliko Kalani Teruya added, 'ʻĀina momona [care for the land], choke plants make the rain come more often. ʻĀina momona: So, we can sustain and protect our native forest.' Pomaikaʻi Kaniaupio-Crozier, director of Conservation at Aloha Puʻu Kukui, leads many of the on-the-ground efforts. He works with school groups, nonprofits and other community members to make the restoration possible. 'Having the connection of Hawaiian reforestation and stewardship is really that pilina, that connection of what it takes to mālama, what it takes to be connected,' Kaniaupio-Crozier said. These projects are not quick fixes. They rely on people willing to show up year after year to build something lasting. While DLNR provides the structure and oversight for Hawai'i's land and water resources, much of the restoration work is possible because of collaboration. Groups like Aloha Puʻu Kukui and The Nature Conservancy bring their own experience; and landowners like Maui Land and Pineapple Company contribute through conservation agreements. Kaniaupio-Crozier said, 'We're very pleased. Maui Land and Pineapple Company and the Puʻu Kukui watershed, in collaboration with the DLNR, TNC, and Aloha Puʻu Kukui. It's nice to see community rally around any landscape, but especially a landscape like Honolua.' After the devastating Lāhainā fire, the work of restoring native forests carries even deeper meaning. 'Our forest in Lahaina was destroyed, and it was devastating,' said Kaniaupio-Crozier. 'But it's also an opportunity now, moving forward.' Volunteers are replanting native species using seeds that have been in those areas for thousands of years. The idea is not just to restore the forest, but to reconnect people to the knowledge and values passed down from their kūpuna. 'They're not doing it for a brochure,' he said. 'They're doing it because they're walking in the footsteps of their ancestors as kupa o ka ʻāina of these areas.' This year has been named 'The Year of the Community Forests' by Governor Josh Green, M.D. But what makes a forest 'community' isn't just who plants it. It's who carries its story. Kaniaupio-Crozier put it this way: 'It's a humbling thing to touch ʻāina, to care for ʻāina in places like this. We know our kūpuna and ke akua, that he puts us in places for reasons, not to just pass through, but to make that ʻāina momona.' That's what this work is really about: restoring the ʻāina (land), protecting the wai (water) and remembering that kānaka (people) and place are part of the same system. When you take care of one, you take care of both. Learn more about DLNR programs and how to get involved in forest restoration click . Get news on the go with KHON 2GO, KHON's morning podcast, every morning at 8 You don't need a degree or experience to be kuleana. All you need is a willingness to mālama ʻāina. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Lanikai Pillbox Trail to temporarily close for Little Fire Ant treatment
HONOLULU (KHON2) — The popular Ka'iwa Ridge Trail, better known as the Lanikai Pillbox Trail, will be closed from 6 to 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 7, as crews carry out the first round of treatment to combat Little Fire Ants (LFA) in the area. Panaʻewa Rainforest Zoo & Gardens proposes new admission fees Although the invasive ants haven't been found directly on the trail, recent surveys detected them on the eastern slope of the ridge. Several state and local agencies — including the Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW), the Oahu Invasive Species Committee (OISC), and the Hawaii Department of Agriculture — are teaming up to tackle the issue before it spreads. To reach the steep terrain, the team is using drones provided by Aloha ʻĀina Drones to apply the treatment from the air. 'Drone technology is advancing our efforts to move this site from an active infestation to eradication,' said Erin Bishop, outreach coordinator for OISC. 'It's a faster, safer, and more cost-effective way to cover these large, rugged areas.' Trail stewards from DOFAW's Nā Ala Hele program will be stationed at the entrance to inform hikers and encourage them to return after the trail reopens at 10 a.m. Get Hawaii's latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You This is just the first in a series of eight scheduled treatments planned over the next nine months. Each treatment will involve a short morning closure. Backup dates are scheduled in case of weather delays. Future closures are set for: June 18 (backup: June 20) July 30 (backup: Aug. 1) Sept. 10 (backup: Sept. 12) Oct. 22 (backup: Oct. 24) Dec. 3 (backup: Dec. 5) Jan. 14, 2026 (backup: Jan. 16) Feb. 25, 2026 (backup: Feb. 27) As of April, more than 80 Little Fire Ant infestations have been identified across Oahu. Crews have already successfully treated outbreaks in communities like Mililani-Mauka, Kāneʻohe, Kailua, and Mānoa, thanks to a coordinated effort between public agencies and nonprofits such as Hui o Ko'olaupoko and the KEY Project. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news 'We're thrilled to move forward with this innovative approach with the support of DOFAW,' Bishop said. 'Without it, the threat of LFA spreading into nearby neighborhoods and recreational areas would remain. This is a big step forward in protecting our communities and natural environment.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Little fire ants detected for first time in Hauula Forest Reserve
COURTESY DLNR The tiny ants can deliver painful stings when disturbed, causing welts that can last for weeks—and potentially cause blindness in cats and dogs. COURTESY DLNR The tiny ants can deliver painful stings when disturbed, causing welts that can last for weeks—and potentially cause blindness in cats and dogs. State officials are closing a portion of the Hauula Forest Reserve on Oahu today to begin treating the area for invasive little fire ants. The Department of Land and Natural Resources said parts of the forest, such as hunting unit C and the Ma 'akua Ridge-Papali Trail, will be temporarily closed for LFA containment and removal efforts. Officials did not say how long this would last, but did say eradication efforts could take more than a year. DLNR said the closure is necessary to ensure the safety of hikers, pets, and hunting dogs. The tiny ants can deliver painful stings when disturbed, causing welts that can last for weeks—and potentially cause blindness in cats and dogs. Officials first detected little fire ants on a stretch of the trail and in the forest reserve after a member of the public was bitten Feb. 1 and reported it to the Division of Forestry and Wildlife. A sample collected with peanut butter on a stick was sent to the Oahu Invasive Species Committee, which confirmed they were little fire ants. It is the first detection of the little fire ants in a forest reserve on Oahu, DLNR said. The state is working with OISC, the state Department of Agriculture and Hawaii Ant Lab to determine the full extent of the infestation and come up with a comprehensive treatment plan, which will include surveys and control efforts on surrounding private properties. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. 'This little ant is a big threat to our quality of life and native plants and animals, ' said DOFAW Oahu Branch Manager Marigold Zoll in a news release. 'We don't want it to become established in our communities or forest areas, so we need to take quick action. We urge the Hauula community to help us in testing their homes and treating any infestations, so we ensure it is eradicated from the area.' The little fire ant does not build mounded dirt nests, DLNR said, but dwells in trees, potted plants, around irrigation lines, and in electrical boxes. DOFAW will attend the Hauula Community Association meeting on March 6 and the Koolauloa Neighborhood Board meeting on March 13 to discuss the little fire ants. 3 Comments By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our. Having trouble with comments ? .
