Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 5, Number 8, 1 ʻAukake 1988 — Barrier Protects Rare Native Plants [ARTICLE]

Barrier Protects Rare Native Plants

Protection of rare native Hawaiian plant eommunities at rugged Ka'ena Point is now taking definite shape at the Natural Area Reserve within Ka'ena State Park. The State Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) has begun construction on a protective barrier that will surround the stands of fragile coastal plants amid the sand dunes at the point. However, say DLNR staff, the barrier is meant only to keep out motorized vehicles whieh over many years have almost destroyed the plant ecosystems and eroded the dunes. Access to the point will remain open for fishing, diving, hiking and bicycling activities whieh do not disturb the natural surroundings. The Natural Area Reserve System (NARS) is a DLNR program to protect the state's native eeosystems. Hawai'i now has 18 natural area reserves on five islands, occupying 108,000 acres. The reserves represent diverse natural ecosystems of Hawai'i — from bogs, grasslands and marine coastal reefs to forests, coastal dunes and alpine terrain. The reserve will comprise 34 acres. In January, 1988, the NARS Commission approved a DLNR plan to construct a protective barrier to close offroad vehicle access to the peninsula. Funding for the barrier was appropriated in the last Legislature. According to NARS coordinator Miehael Buck, there are two native "communities," or ecosystems of vegetation at Ka'ena Point. There is a "rare" (five or fewer in the world) community of naupaka, mixed with other native plants such as aki'aki, pohinahina, hinahina-ku-kahakai and pa'u o Hi'iaka. Another community consists of 'ilima with pa'u o Hi'aka, naupaka and naio, alena, 'ohelo kai, pili grass and ma'o. The extremely rare native 'ohai (Sesbania tomentosa), a low shrub with pale, silvery leaves and red or orange flowers also grows at the point. Hawai'i is the only plaee in the world where this endangered plant is found. While the plants have been heavily impacted by increased off-road vehicle traffic, such as dirt bikes and three-and four-wheel vehicles, and by resulting erosion, Buck said protection from disturbance should give the native plants a ehanee to re-establish themselves. Following the wishes to the Wai'anae eommunity whieh supports the reserve, DLNR staff in

July called for a formal Hawaiian blessing of the site. The ceremony was arranged in cooperation with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, to precede start of construction. According to Buck, eompletion of the 60-foot long lava rock wall and gate on the access road from the Mokuleia side to the Coast Guard lighthouse is expected by mid-Sep-tember. He added that interpretive signs and brochures should be ready by January, 1989. The Hawaii Nahonal Guard is providing manpower for construction. The reserve's protective barrier will enclose only 22 acres of the more than 1,000 acres of Ka'ena State Park, Buck noted. Injuring, removing or disturbing any native plants or wildlife within the reserve is prohibited. Overnight camping or open fires are not permitted. Reserve managers ask the public's cooperation in maintaining the area in its natural state for the enjoyment and education of Hawaii's people. According to legend, Ka'ena, whieh means "red hot", is named after a relative of Pele who eame with her from Kahiki and decided to stay. Ka'ena point is an area of religious and cultural significance. Included within the area of the natural area reserve are the archaeological remains of a prehistoric Hawaiian fishing eamp in the large dune at the point where the Coast Guard light is located. In the past, the site's integrity has been severely damaged by the wheels of dune vehicles. Human bones were recovered by state parks archaeologists on one occasion while investigating damages. This site (No. 1183) was placed back on the Hawai'i Register of Historic Places following action last June 9 by the Hawai'i Historic Places Review Board. (See story in July issue of Ka Wai Ola O OHA.)