Mauna Kea and the myth of multiple use endangered species and mountain management in Hawaii

Author:

Juvik, James O., Juvik, Sonia P.

Title:

Mauna Kea and the myth of multiple use endangered species and mountain management in Hawaii

Periodical:

Mountain Research and Development

Year:

1984

Volume:

4

Pages:

191-202

Subject:

Land use environmental aspects Hunting Endangered species law and legislation United States

Summary:

This document describes how the "multiple use" paradigm has caused a long-simmering dispute between recreational hunters and conservationists over the issue of appropriate land-use priorities for managing the native forests that exist on Mauna Kea and the island of Hawaii. Throughout the years, human transformation of the mountain occurred on Mauna Kea as a result of the introduction of exotic flora and fauna, game hunting, modern technology, and astronomical observation facilities. This eventually led to a severe reduction in the native forests that were made up of endemic trees such as the mamane (Sophora chrysophylla), and the naio (Myoporum sandwicense). This, in turn, caused the endangerment of a small native bird that is known as the Palila (Psittirostra bailleui), as their native habitat was reduced to approximately 10 percent of the 19th century distribution of these trees. Due to the severe reduction of this habitat, the endangerment of these birds occurred as the chief food of the birds -- the green seeds of the mamane and the fruit of the naio, was also greatly reduced. As this occurred, a dispute between the hunters and the conservationists occurred as the conservationists fought to preserve these forests of the Palila and other species. Therefore, this document reviews the history of how the multiple use of Mauna Kea led to circumstances that resulted in a court case known as "Palila versus Department of Land and Natural Resources".

Label:

Ecology

Date:

1984

Collection:

Periodicals