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 Forest Reserve).

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

Laupāhoehoe forest is located 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 Laupāhoehoe Advisory Council 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 council serve a 2 or 3-year term (staggered within each category). Applicants with appropriate backgrounds who are interested in representing community stakeholders in these categories are now being sought. Meetings are held in Laupāhoehoe from 6 to 8 p.m. on the first Wednesday of odd-numbered months.

The Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a Advisory Council 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. 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). Applicants with appropriate backgrounds who are interested in representing community stakeholders in these categories are now being sought. Members meet quarterly at Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a forest reserve in North Kona.

Persons interested in serving on either council may submit an application for review 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 must be received by May 18, 2016. Application forms including submittal instructions can be found at the following website: https://www.hetf.us/page/home/  Hard copy applications may also be obtained at the Division of Forestry and Wildlife office in Hilo at 19 E. Kawili St. Hilo, HI and in Waimea at 66-1220A Lalamilo Road.

For more information on either the Laupāhoehoe or Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a Advisory Council and the application process, contact the DOFAW Hilo office at (808) 974-4221.

 

# # #

Media Contact:

Deborah Ward

DLNR Communications specialist

Phone: (808) 587-0320