Kahuku map (../images/map_kahuku.jpg) The Nature Conservancy in Hawaii Press Releases Search All Press Releases Jim Martin Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park Phone: (808) 985-6026 Grady Timmons The Nature Conservancy Phone: (808) 587-6237

National Park Service and Nature Conservancy Undertake Largest Land Conservation Purchase in Hawai`i History

Kahuku Ranch to be added to Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park

Hawai`i—July 3, 2003—The National Park Service and The Nature Conservancy announced today that they have jointly purchased the 116,000-acre Kahuku Ranch on Hawai`i Island for addition to Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. The purchase increases the size of the 217,000-acre park by fifty percent, and is the largest land conservation transaction in Hawai`i history.  The Park Service and the Conservancy closed on the acquisition today.

The ranch, a sprawling natural wonder of lava flows, koa-`ohi`a forests, ancient Hawaiian archeological sites, and pasture land, was purchased from the Estate of Samuel Mills Damon for $22 million. This year, Congress appropriated $8.5 million to the National Park Service to help cover the cost of the purchase. Since 2000, Hawaii's Congressional delegation, led by senior Appropriations Committee member Senator Daniel K. Inouye (D), has worked to secure a total of $16 million for the acquisition. "The fact that Congress approved this level of funding to acquire Kahuku Ranch in such a tight budget year is testament to the national significance it holds for conservation," said Senator Inouye.  The Nature Conservancy will provide bridge financing for the remainder of the acquisition.  Once Congress appropriates the final $6 million, the Conservancy will be reimbursed and transfer the remainder of the ranch to the National Park Service.
 
"Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park has held a long and abiding interest in adding portions of Kahuku Ranch to the Park since 1938, and it has been the number one land acquisition priority for the entire National Park Service since 2001," said Jim Martin, Superintendent of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. "I've worked for the National Park Service for 40 years and I've seen magnificent areas throughout the world. Kahuku Ranch has world-class qualities- tremendous resources, tremendous beauty, and tremendous value to global biodiversity. Adding Kahuku Ranch to the Park will enable visitors from around the world to experience the natural, cultural, and historic treasures unique to this very special place. We look forward to engaging the public in a planning process to facilitate the opening of this area in a manner that will preserve the resources while providing for visitor use and enjoyment."

Kahuku Ranch runs along the slopes of Mauna Loa volcano from about 2,000 feet to 13,000 feet in elevation and, according to Martin, "encompasses spectacular and diverse native ecosystems, from montane mesic forest and shrubland, to dry forest and shrubland, to the subalpine and alpine communities above 6,500 feet. Placing the ranch within Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park will enable the Park Service to manage the greatest threats to the conservation values of the ranch and neighboring public and private reserve lands."  These threats include non-native mammals such as wild cattle, pigs, and mouflon (big-horned) sheep; invasive weeds; and wildland fire.

"This property is home to dozens of rare and endangered plant and bird species found nowhere else on Earth," said Suzanne Case, The Nature Conservancy's Hawai`i State Director. "The purchase of Kahuku Ranch links private, state and federal lands together, bringing more than 500,000 acres under conservation management.  We are very grateful to Senator Inouye and the entire Hawai`i Congressional delegation for their strong support and hard work to secure the protection of Kahuku Ranch as a refuge for Hawaii's native species and for enjoyment by Hawai`i residents and visitors."

Kahuku Ranch provides important habitat for three species of endangered forest birds: the `akepa, `akiapola`au, and Hawaiian creeper, as well as the endangered Hawaiian hawk (`io), Hawaiian goose (nene), Hawaiian bat (`ope`ape`a), Hawaiian petrel (`ua`u), and five species of globally rare Hawaiian songbirds: `elepaio, `i`iwi, `amakihi, `oma`o, and `apapane. The upland forest also offers potential for the future reintroduction of the critically endangered Hawaiian crow (`alala).

A number of rare and endangered plant species are also reported on the property, including the spectacular Ka`u silversword. Because of predation by feral animals such as pigs, goats and sheep, the Ka`u silversword now survives only in fenced exclosures or steep gulches in and around Kahuku Ranch. Additional botanical surveys will likely reveal many more rare plant species.

The Conservancy began negotiating this acquisition with the Damon Estate soon after the property came on the market. "The Trustees are pleased that the Conservancy could step in and help the Park purchase almost the entire ranch, rather than having it split up between several different buyers," said Tim Johns, Chief Operating Officer of the Estate of Samuel Mills Damon.  "This way, we are able to leave a legacy that the National Park Service will carry on for generations to come." 

Kahuku Ranch is bordered on the east by large state forest reserves and by the National Park, and bordered on the west by additional state forest and natural area reserves, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service refuge lands, a Nature Conservancy preserve, and other private ranch lands.

Kahuku Ranch is special geologically because so much of it is within the southwest rift zone of Mauna Loa volcano. Mauna Loa is one of the world's largest and most active volcanoes (scientists believe it will erupt again soon), and the southwest rift zone is the most active rift zone on Mauna Loa. For scientists at the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, it is a prized area for scientific research on volcanic activity.

Atop the lava flows of Kahuku Ranch are rich archeological sites including trails, ahu, religious features and house sites. Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park will preserve these vital links to the past, remnants of prehistoric Hawaiian culture that date back 700 years.