David Y. Ige

HILO – The Department of Land and Natural Resources’ (DLNR) Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW), in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, is now accepting applications for vacant seats on the Laupāhoehoe Advisory Council (LAC) and the Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a Advisory Council (PAC) on Hawai‘i island.

Laupāhoehoe Advisory Council members are expected and encouraged to provide guidance to DLNR and the USDA Forest Service on issues related to management, research, education and public access in the Hawai‘i Experimental Tropical Forest and state lands in the Hamakua District (Laupāhoehoe Natural Area Reserve and the Laupāhoehoe Section of the Hilo Forest Reserve).

Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a (PWW) Advisory Council members are expected and encouraged to provide guidance to DLNR for state lands in North Kona, including the PWW Forest Reserve, PWW Forest Bird Sanctuary, Kīholo State Park Reserve, and the makai lands of Pu‘u Anahulu.

Laupāhoehoe Forest is on the windward side of Hawai‘i island and includes 12,300 acres of wet tropical forest in both forest reserve land as well as a natural area reserve. The ‘ahupua‘a of Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a is 40,711 acres of state land and includes the forest bird sanctuary, Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a Forest Reserve, and Kīholo State Park Reserve. Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a is on the leeward side of Hawai‘i island on the northern flank of Hualālai and includes tropical dry and wet forests, grasslands and coastal ecosystems, including anchialine ponds.

The LAC consists of 14 members with two members representing each of the following categories: cultural resources, natural resource management, recreation, education, Laupāhoehoe community, Hawai‘i community at large, and scientific research. Members of the LAC serve a 2- or 3-year term (staggered within each category).

For the LAC, applicants are now being sought to fill four open seats in the following categories: cultural resources, education, Laupāhoehoe community at large, and recreation. All applicants should have an appropriate background in the category area as well as an interest in representing community stakeholders related to their respective categories. The LAC currently meets every two months in Laupāhoehoe on Hawai‘i island from 6 to 8 p.m. the second Wednesday of even months.

The PAC consists of 14 members in the following categories: natural resource specialist and recreation use specialist (three members each), Hui ‘Ohana mai Pu‘u Anahulu a me Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a representative and grazing specialist (two members each), cultural expert, neighboring landowner, business/ecotourism specialist, and grant writing expertise/coastal zone management (one member each). Members of the PAC serve for a 2- or 3-year term.

For the PAC, applicants are being sought to fill two positions in the following categories: Hui ‘Ohana mai Pu‘u Anahulu a me Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a representative (one seat), and grazing specialist (one seat).

All applicants should have an appropriate background in the category area as well as an interest in representing community stakeholders related to their respective categories. The PAC meets quarterly at Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a Forest Reserve in North Kona on Hawai‘i island.

Individuals who are interested in serving on either the Laupāhoehoe or Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a Advisory Council may submit an application. Applications will be reviewed by the Division of Forestry and Wildlife, the Hawai‘i Experimental Tropical Forest working group, and current members of the selected Advisory Council. Final selections are made by the DLNR chairperson.

Applications including submittal instructions can be found at the following website: https://www.hetf.us/page/home/. Hard copy applications may be picked up at the Hawai‘i island Division of Forestry and Wildlife office at 19 E. Kawili St. Hilo, HI 96720,  and at the Kamuela State Tree Nursery 66-1220A Lalamilo Road, Kamuela, HI 96743. Completed applications must be received at either of these locations by December 22, 2015.

For more information on either the Laupāhoehoe or Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a Advisory Councils and the application process, contact the DOFAW branch manager, Steve Bergfeld at (808) 974-4221.

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Media Contact:

Deborah Ward

DLNR Communications specialist

Phone: (808) 587-0320