Hoof Beat
Axis Deer Run Amok on Maui In 1959, by order of the Legislature, a herd of five axis deer was brought to the island of Maui and introduced above Kihei. In 1960, four more deer were released near Kula. With … Continued
Judge Shoots Down Hunters, State on efforts to Keep Sheep on Mauna Kea
U.S. District Judge Samuel P. King has denied the requests of hunters and the state of Hawai’i to stop the court-ordered eradication of sheep from an area of Mauna Kea, on the island of Hawai’i, that is critical habitat for … Continued
Has the Natural Area System Peaked?
When the state established the Natural Area Reserves System, its sponsors envisioned a growing, dynamic system. By 1978, approximately sixty sites had been nominated for inclusion in the system. Of those, 34 were forwarded by the NARS commission to the … Continued
Eradicating Pigs From The Forests Nothing New On The Big Island
If there was a time when pigs were allowed to roam free and unfettered on the Big Island, it wasn’t during the first half of this century. A glimpse of how feral animals were managed between 1912 and 1946 can … Continued
Snaring: Controversial But Effective
Management plans for Pu’u Maka’ala prepared a decade ago called for controlling pigs through a combination of hunt–ing (including staff hunting) and snaring. Since then, public hunting has occurred, but the first snare has yet to be set. Still, snaring … Continued
Continuing Neglect of Soil Threatens Productive Agriculture Lands in Hawai`i
For the better part of the 20th century, sugar cane and pineapple plantations together sustained Hawai`i’s agriculture industry and supported entire towns. But those long years of intensive use have taken a toll on Hawai`i’s soils. “In most of the … Continued
Letter to the Editor
Climate Change Consensus Doesn’t Yet Exist We appreciate that, in the July 1999 issue, Environment Hawai`i brought the challenge of greenhouse gas emissions and climate change to the attention of its readers. We believe that the Hawai`i Climate Change Action … Continued
The Case of the Missing Muck: Grass Hides Extent of Hamakua Loss
“The effects of benign neglect can be observed by taking a ride along the Hamakua Coast,” says Burt Smith, one of Hawai`i’s foremost experts on soil loss. “There one will see miles of mature Guinea grass waving in the wind. … Continued
Tourism Authority Gives $100,000 To Expand Trout, Bass Fishing on Kaua`i
In the category of “eco-tourism,” the Hawai`i Tourism Authority has approved a $100,000 proposal to expand greatly the opportunities for fresh-water fishing on Kaua`i. The proposal, submitted by the Kaua`i Economic Development Board, would involve the introduction of large-mouth bass, … Continued
Island Watch
Big Island Projects Stall After Judge Finds County Violates Coastal Zone Law The plans of SoBay Hawai`i, Inc., to build a 21-unit condominium building along the waterfront makai of Ali`i Drive in Kailua-Kona came to a grinding halt in late … Continued