Q:: should i be concerned about my watershed?

A:: A watershed is the area of land that catches rain and allows it to drain or seep into a marsh, stream, lake, river, and/or groundwater. Watersheds in Hawaii are characterized by forested areas thus the Hawaiian Proverb “Hahai no ka ua i ka ulula’au,” meaning “the rain always follow the forest.” Loss of forested areas has a direct correlation to a drop in rainfall.

Pono Pacific can help landowners who have watershed protection concerns. Pono Pacific can aid in protecting watershed areas by: constructing fence line to protect existing watersheds, from destructive animals like pigs, remove invasive plants that might be degrading the watershed on you land, or help replant native vegetation in areas where previously grazing animals had decimated.

Q:: What does LIP stand for and how could it help me manage my land?

A:: The LIP or Landowner Incentive Program was created to provide funding to private landowners to enhance, protect or restore habitats that benefit federally listed, proposed, candidate species, or other at-risk species on private lands. The US Fish and Wildlife services allocated 1.5 million dollars to the Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) last year the first year the LIP program has been instituted.

The LIP program is an excellent opportunity to for landowners who have endangered, threatened or species of interest on their lands to get money to enhance their land and the native species living on it. Landowners can use Pono Pacific to complete the conservation projects that LIP funds provide for. For more information you can contact the Division of Forestry and Wildlife or log onto www.state.hi.us/dlnr/dofaw/LIP/



Q:: i have this plant on my land, What kind of plant is this and is it HARMFUL?



A:: This plant is Miconia calvescence and it is native to Central and South America. Miconia is one of the most destructive plants to Hawaii’s native forest and eco-systems. Miconia disperses a huge amount of seeds at one time. Miconia’s large broad leaves shades out the under story and small trees. If left unchecked Miconia can become the one of the predominant plant in the forest. Since the root system of Miconia is very shallow it does not hold the earth very well and during times of heavy rain, can create huge landslides. These devastating effects have already been seen has in Tahiti which has a very similar environment as Hawaii. What happens in Tahiti could happen here if we don’t prevent the spread of Miconia and other invasive plants.

Pono Pacific can help landowners manage, and even eradicate Miconia and other invasive plants+ from their property. Pono Pacific can replant these areas with native plants that hold the earth better and prevent erosion.

Q:: What type of bird is this and is it native?



A:: This is an I’iwi or Vestiaria coccinea. The I’iwi is a native forest dweller that feeds on the nectar of flowers. The I’iwi is fairly common on the uplands of most of the islands. On Oahu they are almost extinct; a small group survives on the upper slopes of Mt. Kaala. The native Hawaiian honeycreepers range in size shape and color, but are all descendents of a finch like bird that arrived many hundreds of thousands of years ago. These native forest birds are becoming threatened from all sides including, human encroachment, and predation by cats, rats, and mongooses, and from mosquitoes that infect the birds with diseases like avian malaria, and avian pox.

There are many threats that face the native forest birds or Hawaii. Some of these problems like avian malaria and pox are very hard to treat. However, Pono Pacific can help create successful nesting season which are vital for these birds survival. Pono Pacific works with landowners to solve one of the largest problems during nesting season, predation from small mammals. Pono Pacific is skilled in setting up predator control devices to catch the animals that are preying on these birds and their eggs. Pono pacific uses diphasinone poison to eliminate rats and mongooses that haven’t been caught by other methods.

Q:: this bird is on my property, what is it?



A:: This is the Ae’o or Himantopus mexicanus knudseni. The Ae’o is an endangered water bird that lives in many of the wetlands of Hawaii. These birds lay their eggs on the ground and therefore are very susceptible to predation by mongooses, cats, and rats. There are three other native water birds found only in Hawaii and all of them are on the endangered species list. Pono Pacific is experienced in wetland restorations, and wetland predator control. Pono Pacific will work with landowners to formulate a management plan to protect the endangered native water birds.