Environmental
Conservation:
Conservation Biology
STUDENT TESTIMONIAL & RESEARCH
Project:
In the cloud forests of Kauai join a non-profit organization in their
effort to restore native Hawaiian vegetation. Learn firsthand about
the plight faced by native species as a result of deforestation and
unsustainable land management practices. Wildlife protected within this
refuge include: akiapola'au, Hawaiian akepa, Hawaiian creeper, Hawaiian
hawk, ou, Hawaiian hoary bat, amakihi, Hawaiian thrush, elepaio, 'i'iwi,
and apapane. All of these species and more are represented within one
of Hawaii's largest forest reserves and last remaining stands of koa
and ohi'a trees. This reforestation project is as much an effort in
watershed management as it is in botanical restoration. Your contribution
will benefit Hawaii's endangered bird species as well. Eight out of
the fourteen native birds residing in the forest are endangered, and
seven species have already become extinct since Captain Cook's arrival
in 1778. You will play a significant role in advancing the recovery
of this beautiful landscape. According to a local guidebook, "the refuge
is very beautiful, a diamond in the rough, and encompasses an incredible
rainforest like few on the Big Island" (Bisignani, 1999).
Days are spent in the field, assiting in the office, or educating children groups. In addition, there is some work around camp that needs to be done, including maintenance and other odd jobs. Your reward is the knowledge that you are contributing to the long-term benefit of the rainforest.
Location: KAUAI
This internship is located in a major state park rising above 5000 feet in elevation. It is a key area for the restoration of pre-montane and montane rainforest habitats, both of which are scarce on a global scale. You are about forty minutes from the nearest town and an hour and a half from Lihue--the capital city. It is possible to leave the project for a couple of days a week for hiking or travel to the city. However, we suggest that only applicants who enjoy remote locations and who do not feel attached to city living apply for this option.
Weather Conditions
While working in the Park,
be prepared for some wet days and eternally wet grasses. Above 2,000 feet,
you can expect cooler daytime temperatures and cold nights--temperatures
can dip into the 40s up on the mountain. The following items are what your
staff will pack (if you are very sensitive to cold weather, you should add
more layers): one pair of long johns, a pair of lightweight, durable,
waterproof rain pants, and a good rain jacket.
Job Description
You will join a team of
seasoned backcountry workers 3-4 times per week in their trips into
forest. Sensitive areas are targeted fro restoration and you will employ a
variety of means to ensure the survival of the native vegetation. Some
mapping of areas may be undertaken. In addition, some spraying of exotics
is likely included. Along the way you have an opportunity to learn by
asking questions. Yourhosts have logged thousands of hours in the
backcountry working on this project and know the flora and fauna of this
special place intimately. If you would like to spend an equal amount of
time in camp as in the backcountry that can be arranged.
Minimum Length of Stay
4 weeks
Additional Requirements
In your brief letter of
intent on the I.C.E. Application form, please be sure to indicate the
source of your interest in this position, what you hope to contribute to
the program indicated, and what you hope to learn or experience through
your internship--this letter of intent will be distributed to internship
providers. In addition, be sure to submit a resume or acceptable
equivalent indicating any relevant knowledge or skills.
Accommodations
Comfortable government housing with
full facilities. Hot water and your own bed are provided; the house is
fully heated as well. Space is limited and you can expect to share
accommodations, including kitchen facilities, with other staff members.
Previous Intern Experiences
Past interns have
really enjoyed the staff members. Most walk away from the experience
confident that they had made a difference. Some interns enjoyed the fact
that the beauty of the rainforest location was completely opposite any
beachside image that most people think of when they consider Hawaii.
INFORMATION FROM HOST ORGANIZATION
Volunteers will be involved in preserving the spectacular natural
resources of the Koke’e, Kauai region, and is supported by Hui o
Laka~Koke’e Natural History Museum and Kauai State Parks with funding from
the U.S. Fish &
Wildlife Service, the Hawaii Community Foundation,
the US Forest Service, and private donations.
Rustic housing at
the historic Kokee CCC Camp is available for accepted applicants. The camp
is located at the top of the mountain in the Koke’e State Park. This
program is for those who are interested in forest ecology and forest
conservation. We are not involved with the marine sciences and we are
located a long way away from the beaches.
The camp is very nice, a beautiful historic restored facility set in the forests of Koke’e. We have a communal kitchen equipped with pots, stoves, refrigerators. There's a large bunkhouse with bunk beds, We have hot showers, laundry facility, small reading room, and even a VCR. It is a beautiful place to stay for a quiet forest experience. Our workdays are often filled with camaraderie amongst our selves, resident volunteers, and local volunteers. We try to mix up the week so that we work in a variety of areas within the Park and learn more about the different ecological areas of the park.
Our program generally runs like this:
Resident volunteers work 4
days each week and have 3 days off. Generally they work Tuesday through
Friday.
You would need to bring:
Bedding (sleeping bag)
WARM CLOTHES in
the winter (temperatures can get down to 40° F at night in winter, 60
in
summer), raingear
Day pack
Drinking water
bottles
Flashlight
Old work clothes with long pants and long sleeves
(long pants are required
to work). You could bring clothes you wouldn’t
mind leaving and then have room for souvenirs to take back!
Please do not bring:
Valuables (we haven't had any problems but you
never know)
Position Title: Resource Management Volunteer for Division of State Parks, Kaua˙i, with the Köke˙e Resource Conservation Program (KRCP), a program of Hui o Laka/Koke’e Natural History Museum.
Purpose: To perform vegetation management activities in Köke˙e, Waimea Canyon, and Na Pali State Parks, involving primarily alien invasive plant (weed) removal but also sometimes including other management actions such as trail
Qualifications:
· Interest or training in botany and ecology
·
Commitment to preservation of native Hawaiian ecosystems
· Comfortable
and responsible in wilderness conditions, understand healthy camping
·
Willingness to perform hard physical work and use herbicides
· No
allergies, back problems, or other medical conditions
· Team player,
safe worker
· Ability to accept instructions and put them into
practice
Supervised by: Staff of KRCP during field hours
Development opportunities: Can learn and gain experience in the taxonomy, function and management of Hawaiian flora and terrestrial ecosystems, as well as the threats to these native forests and what can be done about them. Receive safety training and training in resource management methods. Spend time in one of Hawai’i’s finest State Parks; can also participate in Köke˙e Museum projects and programs.
Support: Equipment Provided:
· Safety gear such as gloves, safety
glasses, compass and map
· Machetes, clippers, machete belt &
pouches as needed
· Tally meter for counting weeds
· Equipment for
special projects such as weedwackers and their relevant safety equipment
(ear protection, face shields/helmets, chainsaw chaps) for trail clearing.
Strategies are 1) to remove the most disruptive weeds such as Kahili ginger (Hedychium gardnerianum), Strawberry guava (Psidium cattleianum) and Firetree (Myrica faya), from Special Ecological Areas (SEAs), that contain relatively intact ecosystems. The SEAs generally coincide with areas containing rare, threatened, and endangered native Hawaiian plant species; and 2) to target incipient weeds such as Privet (Ligustrum sinense) and Firethorn (Pyracantha angustifolia).
The much-visited Koke’e, Waimea Canyon, and Na Pali Coast State Parks
encompass 12,386 acres on northwest Kaua'i and are bordered by Ku’ia and
Hono’o Na Pali Natural Areas Reserves as well as the Alaka’i Wilderness
Preserve. This ecologically rich area contains several native plant
communities, including the rare Koa/’Ohi’a Montane Mesic Forest. The
relatively pristine, high elevation bogs of the Alaka’i are truly unique
in the world and highly deserve protection. 26 Threatened & Endangered
species and an additional 31 rare plant taxa are found in scattered
locations throughout the State Parks. Indeed, Hawai’i has become the
“endangered species capital of the world” due to the many threats that are
degrading native habitat and the resultant loss of species; one-third of
the federally listed endangered and threatened species are Hawaiian, and
three-fourths of the nation’s extinct plant and bird species once lived
only on our islands.
Kaua’i has been severely impacted by two
hurricanes since 1982, which have caused proliferation of nonnative
invasive species. Biological invasion by alien weed species alters the
population dynamics and community structure of native plant communities.
"Native and endemic species are the true jewels of any ecosystem. The
effects of non-native (alien) plants and animals constitute the greatest
threat to native species and ecosystems in Hawai’i" (Biological Survey for
Koke’e and Waimea Canyon State Parks, Kaua’i, The Nature Conservancy of
Hawai’i, 1996)
Alteration and loss of native habitat is a significant problem for all
components of these ecosystems. US Fish & Wildlife Service Recovery
Plans for Kaua'i endangered plants specify alien plants as a priority #1
threat to the survival of all but 2 of the 49 listed endangered species
discussed in these recovery plans. Remnants of the once extensive native
forests need protection.
The project uses weed control strategies
and methods developed, tested and proven by decades of work by the
National Park Service (NPS), The Nature Conservancy, the State of Hawai’i
Department of Agriculture, and DLNR. Weed removal methods are manual and
mechanical where feasible, but generally involve the judicious use of
herbicides. Generally, alien trees are notched and a small amount of
herbicide applied to the notch; the kahili ginger is cut and herbicide
applied to the stump. These methods have been adapted for volunteer use
and can serve as a model for forest management practices using
volunteers.
Started in January, 1998. During 1998 and 1999, we have provided supervised service projects for over 700 local elementary school students representing 14 schools, over 90 students from 6 different colleges, and many other educational groups such as Girl Scouts, Boys & Girls Club, and the Kailana Program for adjudicated adolescents. A group of 15 graduate students in Tropical Conservation from the University of Biodiversity of Sweden called their participation in our forest weeding program "very pedagogic!"
Staff hours in the field compared to volunteer hours shows 5,428 staff hours and 15,784 volunteer hours. The program has successfully recruited volunteers to the point that its funding has been multiplied three times, leveraged to provide three times the work on the ground that staff have accomplished.
Over the past three and a half years staff and volunteers have found new locations of several endangered species, and discovered many more relatively intact and botanically rich areas of forest that need protection now. We've weeded in the vicinity of 57 different listed Threatened and Endangered species and Species of Concern.
Just in the past year, we have participated in 19 public events centered around conservation work service projects. These were advertised in the local media and attendance added up to over 1,000 people. In two years, we have been featured in 18 different magazine and newspapers articles.
Introduction to your Kauai Contact Person
Meet your ICE Contact on the Island of Kauai
My name is Ellen Coulombe. I reside in Kalaheo, on the south shore of
Kauai, Hawaii, where I have lived for the past four years. I am 46,
married and have two school age children. I come to Kauai from Virginia
where I received an MS degree from the Department of Crops, Soils and
Environmental Sciences at Va Tech, 1988. My research focused on the
identification of variant cells of alfalfa that could tolerate a high
aluminum concentration in the cell solution, searching for alfalfa lines
that could thrive in the aluminum clay soils of Virginia. Subsequently
I worked with soybean breeders and agronomists first in Indiana and
later in Mississippi.
Since coming to the islands I have been able to acquaint myself with the incredible plant diversity that exists here. Because of their extreme isolation, resulting in over 1,000 species of endemic plants most of which are found nowhere else in the world, these islands are a hot bed for the study of plant evolution. I currently work for a conservation group (KRCP) dedicated towards the preservation of these native species, which are continually threatened by introduced plants and feral animals.
Staff and volunteers for KRCP (Kokee Resource Conservation Program) go into the forested montane area of Kauai and through the judicious use of selectively applied herbicides and hand weeding we are removing the aggressive alien plant species which will, if allowed to propagate unchecked, choke out the less competitive native plants. Our goal is to thoroughly weed over 500 acres of the Kokee State Park land and, as it is labor intensive, this could not be accomplished without the help of volunteers.
No matter which of the Institute for Cultural Ecology’s programs you come to the island to support, I look forward doing whatever I am able to make your stay an enjoyable one. Whether to provide an understanding ear, or to attend to any difficulties you may encounter in your transition, I will be here to support you throughout your stay. See you when you land on the Garden Island!
Aloha,
Ellen Coulombe
Hui o Laka Welcomes You To Koke’e’s Historic C.C.C. Camp
In 1990, volunteers and staff of Hui o Laka~ Koke’e Natural History
Museum began renovations, which continue today, at Koke’e’s historic
C.C.C. Camp. The camp’s straightforward, wood framed buildings, left as a
legacy by the young men of the Civilian Conservation Corps who toiled and
played here six decades ago, as well as the men and women who followed
them, is serving in a new era as we develop the historic camp into “The
Joseph M. Souza, Jr. Training Center and Field Station,” Kaua’i’s first
science, interpretive, and volunteer support field station.
If you are staying overnight at the Old C.C.C. Camp, you are part of
history’s sweep in these mountains. We know you will treat these old
buildings, honored in 1996 with placement on the State and National
Historic Registers, with respect and care, and invite you to participate
in our renovation events. Come by the Volunteer Office to learn about
volunteer opportunities and breaking science at Koke’e
Listed below is
information you will find useful in planning your visit and making it as
pleasant and successful as possible. If you have any further questions
call 335-9975.
Check In - 8:30 am-4 pm daily, late arrivals by prior request
only
Check Out - 8:30-11:00 am, bunk area clean and ready for use,
walk through with staff member completed, and key returned before leaving.
Building an Interpretive Library
As you find yourself getting
more deeply involved in the information of Kauai's natural and cultural
history as well as the philosophy and techniques of visitor
interpretation, you may want to gradually build a personal library. Below
follows a beginning list of resource books; most are available in the
Kokee Museum Shop, where volunteers who are also Hui o Laka members
receive a 15% discount. You'll find many other books at the Shop which
will intrigue you, including a section on Myth, Legend & Chant, as
well as Contemporary Pacific Literature (great interpretive material is
often buried in original source material, as well as in contemporary
novels and poetry about Hawaii and the Pacific).
Plants
Ferns of
Hawaii by Kathy Valier (1995) UH Press
Hawaiian Heritage Plants by
Angela Kay Kepler (1998) UH Press
Hawaiian Forest Plants by Mark Merlin
(1995) Pacific Guide Books
Alteration of Native Hawaiian Vegetation by
Cuddihy and Stone
Hawaii's Vanishing Flora by Kimura and Nagata (1980)
Oriental Publishing Company
Alien Plant Invasions in Hawaiian
Ecosystems by Tunison, Stone and others
Plants and Flowers of Hawaii by
Sohmer and Gustafson (1993) UH Press
In Gardens of Hawaii by Marie Neal
(1965) Bishop Museum Press
Native Trees and Shrubs of the Hawaiian
Islands by Samuel H. Lamb (1981) Sunstone Press
Plants and Animals of
Hawaii by Susan Scott (1991) Bess Press
A pocket Guide to Hawaiis Trees
and Shrubs by H. Douglas Pratt (1998) Mutual Publishing
La'au Hawaii,
Traditional Hawaiian Uses of Plants by Isabella Aiona Abbott (1992) Bishop
Museum Press
History
Hawaii, A Natural History by Sherwin
Carlquist (1980) NTBG, SB Printers, Inc.
Kauai Ancient Place Names and
Their Stories by FRederick B. Wichman (1998) UH Press
Islands in a Far
Sea by John Cuddihy, Sierra Club
Kauai, A Separate Kingdom by Edward
Joesting, UH Press
Arts and Crafts of Hawaii by Te Ranghi Hiroa (1987)
Bishop Museum Press
Hawaiian Dictionary by Mary Kawena Pukui and Samuel
H. Elbert (1979) UH Press
Interpretation
Interpreting Our
Heritage by Freeman Tilden (1957) Univ. of North Carolina
Press
Birds
Hawaii's Birds by Audubon Society (1993) Hawaii
Audubon Society
Hiking
Kau’ai Hiking Trails by Craig Chisholm
(1991) Fernglen Press
Koke’e
The Road to Kok’ee by Thelma Hadley
and Kathy Valier (1993) Bess Press
Insects
Hawaiian Insects and
their Kin by F.G. Howarth and W.P. Mull (1992) UH Press
STUDENT TESTIMONIAL & RESEARCH
