| Fast Facts |
location
15 miles from Maui’s Kahului International Airport
ecoregion
High Islands Hawai’i
project size
100,000 acres
preserves
Waikamoi
public lands
Haleakala National Park; Kipahulu, Hana, Makawao, and Ko’olau state forest reserves; Hanawi Natural Area Reserve
partners
National Park Service, Hawai’i State Division of Forestry and Wildlife, Hana Ranch Company, Haleakala Ranch Company, County of Maui, East Maui Irrigation Company
conservancy initiatives
Freshwater, Invasive Species
natural events
East Maui Taro Festival, March; Keanae cultural festival, August | |
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| Although aggressive invasive species are pushing hundreds of Hawaiian natives to the brink of extinction, collaborative conservation work in East Maui is pushing back. |
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Waimoku Falls, Haleakala National Park.
© George H. H. Huey |
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| On the eastern side of Maui, native Hawaiian forest of towering ‘ohi’a and koa trees stretches across the wet windward slopes of dormant Haleakala Volcano. As with all of the Hawaiian islands, life forms here developed in isolation for millions of years, separated from land by thousands of miles of ocean in all directions. From a few specimens that storm and chance sent by air and sea to the Hawaiian archipelago evolved more than 10,000 unique plant and animal species. Fifty-odd species of honeycreeper, for instance—birds of all color, shape and size— evolved from a single common ancestor. Some have curved beaks designed to extract nectar from certain blossoms; others have short beaks made for feeding on insects or seeds. |
Haleakala silversword.
© Chris Johns/National Geographic Image Collection |
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From the rim of Haleakala’s crater to the sea 10,000 feet below, ancient forest envelops a rugged terrain of steep cliffs and deep valleys carpeted with spongy moss and a lush tangle of shrubs, ferns, vines and roots. The misty treetops are spangled with crimson and yellow ‘ohi’a blossoms and colorful native birds like the ‘i’iwi, amakihi and ‘akohekohe, or crested honeycreeper. Copious rains produce 60 billion gallons of fresh water each year—the primary source for island residents and businesses. This forest of East Maui was so sacred to ancient Hawaiians that only those with appropriate spiritual training were allowed to enter. | |
In 1991 The Nature Conservancy joined forces with the area’s six federal, state and private landowners and the county of Maui to form the East Maui Watershed Partnership, bringing 100,000 acres—the core of the watershed—into active conservation management. But the greatest threat to this unique natural system still exists. Non-native species brought to the Hawaiian islands by humans can devastate native forest and birds, which lack natural defenses to fend off non-native predators. Goats and deer denude the landscape; wild pigs plow up the rain forest, spreading weeds and diseases. Invasive weeds like miconia choke out native plants and trees.
Learn more about The Nature Conservancy's work in Hawai`i. |
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| Conservation Profile |
targets
koa and ‘ohi’a forest, Haleakala silversword, Maui natives like the crested honeycreeper and Maui parrotbill
stresses
invasive plants and animals
strategies
combat invasive species, protect water supply, engage community, build conservation alliances, secure conservation easements
results
100,000 acres in conservation management through formation of the East Maui Partnership; five miles of fencing completed; miconia treatment conducted over a 20,000-acre area; community-based hunting program established | | | | |
