Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 31, Number 9, 1 Kepakemapa 2014 — Grant to protect endongered Honuʻea [ARTICLE]

Grant to protect endongered Honuʻea

The federally endangered honu'ea, or hawksbill turtle, will be getting additional help thanks to a grant Hawai'i Volcanoes Nahonal Park received from the National Park Foundation for $19,200. The low number of honu'ea has

been further jeopardized by the erosion of their nesting beaches and by invasive plants that are taking over the sands where the fragile eggs mature. The funds will provide training and resources for park volunteers who monitor and elean the Hawai'i Island's south coast beaches where these turtles nest. It is currently the peak of honu'ea monitoring season and park biologists and volunteers have documented 21 nests at four beaches, including two in the national park. While they are out monitoring, they rescue distressed females and hatchlings, and relocate threatened eggs to safer locations, and provide information about their efforts to the community, especially beachgoers. For more information about Hawai'i Volcanoes Nahonal Park, visit www.nps.gov/havo. To learn more about the National Park Foundation or heeome a part of the national park community, visit www.nationalparks.org.