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Big Push Planned to Extinguish Honouliuli Preserve Fire

July 19, 2004—Nature Conservancy staff and wildfire experts from the State Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) will assist the Honolulu Fire Department today in a push to extinguish the forest fire at Conservancy's Honouliuli Preserve in Kunia. Conservancy and DOFAW staff will also conduct a preliminary biological survey of the damaged area. 

City and federal fire fighters have been battling the blaze since it began last Wednesday morning. Conservancy staff members have also assisted.  The fire has been burning in the central portion of the Conservancy's 3,692-acre Honouliuli Preserve, which stretches across the southeast slope of the Wai‘anae Mountains from Makakilo to Schofield.  The preserve contains more than 70 different rare and endangered plants and animals.

Pauline Sato, the Conservancy's O`ahu Program Director, said DOFAW and Conservancy staff plan to assist the Honolulu Fire Department by taking sections of the burn’s perimeter to work on stubborn problem areas where the fire is still smoldering.  They will also be doing preliminary assessments of damage to the preserve.  This assessment will continue through the week.  "The goal is to extinguish all problem spots and also do an initial survey of damage to the preserve," she said.  "We will be mapping the burn area and checking for visible damage to sensitive native species and their habitats."

Of particular concern to biologists is whether the fire has damaged habitat for the O‘ahu `elepaio, an endangered Hawaiian forest bird. There are estimated to be only 1,000 of these birds left on O‘ahu, and the Honouliuli Preserve is one of their primary habitats.

In today's push, the Honolulu Fire Department and DOFAW will provide operational and ground personnel, while the Conservancy is flying in four staff members from Moloka‘i, Kaua‘i and the Big Island to supplement its four O`ahu crew members. The U.S. Army Garrison Hawai‘i will also assist in today's efforts, providing air and ground support. This follows Sunday’s intense efforts by the Honolulu Fire Department, which ran almost 1,000 feet of hose along steep hills, all the way to the top of the burn, cooling hot spots with water.

Although the fire is almost out, Sato said the recovery process for the burned area will be long and challenging. "In many areas of the world, fire is part of a natural process and can be beneficial to a forest," she said.  "This is generally not true for Hawai`i. Here, fire usually kills native species, accelerates erosion and opens the way for aggressive alien weeds that are especially adapted to rapid growth after fire.  Because of a careless act, we will have to spend time, money and other resources trying to limit the impacts of this fire when we should be doing more conservation work elsewhere in the preserve."

Sato said the Conservancy would like to extend a big mahalo to the different agencies and partners who have worked to control the fire.  These include:

• The Honolulu Fire Department, which has provided more than 150 personnel in the last five days. The city has also provided key aerial support from its "Air One" helicopter, which has flown in personnel and conducted water drops to help extinguish the blaze. 
• The Federal Fire Department, which has provided key support in the form of a ground crew and water drops delivered by Sikorsky helicopters from the Kane‘ohe Marine Corps Air Base. 
• The State Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife – in particular Mr. Patrick Costales, O`ahu Branch Manager for providing expert mapping and planning expertise, ground crew, and air support.
• Del Monte Fresh Produce Corp., which manages the agricultural lands adjacent the preserve. Del Monte provided early assistance in containing the fire, as well as water for air drops.
• The Hawaii Country Club, which has allowed the use of its grounds as a Command Center.

Said Sato:  "The devastation caused by this fire has been significant. But without the support of these groups, the damage could have been much worse.  Thanks to their efforts the fire did not spread one gulch over into a priority management area where there is a much higher concentration of rare and endangered species."