Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge

Hakalau Forest NWR contains some of the finest remaining stands of native montane wet forest in Hawai{{okina}}i. The slopes below {{convert|4000|ft|m|abbr=on}} feet receive very high rainfall - {{convert|250|in|mm|abbr=on}} annually. Bogs, fern patches, and scrubby forest dominate this area, which is dissected by numerous deep gulches. Rainfall decreases to about {{convert|150|in|mm|abbr=on}} at elevations above {{convert|4500|ft|m|abbr=on}}, where majestic koa (Acacia koa) and red-blossomed {{okina}}ōhi{{okina}}a lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha) trees form a closed-canopy forest. Further upslope, above {{convert|6000|ft|m|abbr=on}}, rainfall decreases to {{convert|100|in|mm|abbr=on}} or less and native forest merges into abandoned pastureland where alien grasses and weeds, introduced as forage for cattle, are the dominant vegetation. Since 1989, over 400,000 koa, {{okina}}ōhi{{okina}}a, and other native plants have been planted in this area as part of the refuge's reforestation program.{{cite web |url=http://www.fws.gov/hakalauforest/ |title=Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge |publisher=official web site of United States Fish and Wildlife Service |access-date= September 6, 2010 }}

The Pua Akala Cabin, located within the refuge, was nominated to the National Register of Historic Places in August 2008.{{cite web |url=http://www.fws.gov/historicpreservation/preserveAmerica/pdfs/PA_Report_Final.pdf |title=Protecting Habitat and History |format=pdf |date= September 2008 |author= United States Fish & Wildlife Service |access-date= September 6, 2010 }}

In 1985, {{convert|32733|acre|km2|abbr=on}} on the eastern slope of Mauna Kea were established as the Hakalau Forest Unit.

In 1997, the Fish and Wildlife Service purchased an additional {{convert|5300|acre|km2|abbr=on}} of land to create the Kona Forest Unit of Hakalau Forest NWR. The Kona Forest Unit includes lands within the Ho{{okina}}okena and Kalahiki land divisions on the western slopes of Mauna Loa, at elevations of {{convert|2000|-|6000|ft|m|abbr=on}}. One of the primary purposes for the creation of this unit was to protect the habitat of the {{okina}}alalā (Corvus hawaiiensis), which is now extinct in the wild.

The Kona Forest Unit is located about {{convert|23|mi|km|abbr=on}} south of Kailua-Kona, coordinates {{coord|19|22|58|N|155|51|5|W| region:US-HI_type:city_source:dewiki |display=inline}}. The Kona Forest district is somewhat drier than the Hakalau Unit.{{cite web |title=Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge |url=http://www.wildernet.com/pages/area.cfm?areaid=NWHAKA |publisher=Wilderrnet.com web site |access-date=2009-07-23 }}

Much of Hawaii's native lowland habitat was first degraded following the Polynesians’ arrival over a thousand years ago. In the late 18th century, cattle, goats, and European pigs were additionally released into the forests, and hundreds of additional alien plants, animals, and insects have subsequently been introduced. Most lowland plants seen today like the orchid, ginger, and plumeria are aliens or nonnative. Introduced animals such as mosquitoes, wasps, small Asian mongooses, cats, and rats have also harmed Hawaiian habitat and native species.

Grazing pressure by cattle and pigs has resulted in the replacement of Hawaiian plants by more competitive alien grasses and shrubs within the upper portions of Hakalau Forest. Below this pasture area, the native tree canopy is still intact, but the native understory has been replaced by alien grasses, blackberry (Rubus spp.), banana poka (Passiflora tarminiana), and English holly (Ilex aquifolium). The replacement process may have been accelerated by efforts to create more pasture land through bulldozing and burning, and by logging mature trees for timber and fence posts.

Eight of the 14 native bird species occurring at Hakalau are endangered. Thirteen migratory bird species and 20 introduced species, including eight game birds, as well as the endangered {{okina}}ope{{okina}}ape{{okina}}a (Hawaiian hoary bat, Lasiurus cinereus semotus) also frequent the refuge. Twenty-nine rare plant species are known from the refuge and adjacent lands. Twelve are currently listed as endangered. Two endangered lobelias have fewer than five plants known to exist in the wild.

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Hakalau has an oceanic climate, abbreviated "Cfb" on climate maps. The hottest temperature recorded in Hakalau was {{convert|81|F|C|1}} on July 17, 2002, while the coldest temperature recorded was {{convert|30|F|C|1}} on February 10, 2021.

{{Weather box

|location = Hakalau, Hawaii, 2006–2020 normals, extremes 2002–present

|single line = Yes

|collapsed = Yes

|Jan record high F = 76

|Feb record high F = 76

|Mar record high F = 72

|Apr record high F = 77

|May record high F = 76

|Jun record high F = 77

|Jul record high F = 81

|Aug record high F = 78

|Sep record high F = 75

|Oct record high F = 77

|Nov record high F = 77

|Dec record high F = 76

|Jan avg record high F = 71.7

|Feb avg record high F = 70.1

|Mar avg record high F = 67.7

|Apr avg record high F = 68.8

|May avg record high F = 70.3

|Jun avg record high F = 72.8

|Jul avg record high F = 73.7

|Aug avg record high F = 73.7

|Sep avg record high F = 71.3

|Oct avg record high F = 72.3

|Nov avg record high F = 71.1

|Dec avg record high F = 71.5

|year avg record high F = 75.7

|Jan high F = 62.9

|Feb high F = 61.1

|Mar high F = 60.3

|Apr high F = 61.7

|May high F = 63.2

|Jun high F = 65.6

|Jul high F = 66.6

|Aug high F = 67.1

|Sep high F = 65.5

|Oct high F = 65.6

|Nov high F = 63.6

|Dec high F = 62.6

|year high F = 63.8

|Jan mean F = 52.0

|Feb mean F = 50.9

|Mar mean F = 51.1

|Apr mean F = 52.2

|May mean F = 53.2

|Jun mean F = 54.9

|Jul mean F = 56.0

|Aug mean F = 56.5

|Sep mean F = 55.5

|Oct mean F = 55.7

|Nov mean F = 53.9

|Dec mean F = 52.8

|year mean F = 53.7

|Jan low F = 41.0

|Feb low F = 40.6

|Mar low F = 41.9

|Apr low F = 42.6

|May low F = 43.3

|Jun low F = 44.3

|Jul low F = 45.4

|Aug low F = 46.0

|Sep low F = 45.4

|Oct low F = 45.8

|Nov low F = 44.2

|Dec low F = 42.9

|year low F = 43.6

|Jan avg record low F = 34.3

|Feb avg record low F = 33.1

|Mar avg record low F = 35.1

|Apr avg record low F = 35.4

|May avg record low F = 37.1

|Jun avg record low F = 37.9

|Jul avg record low F = 38.9

|Aug avg record low F = 39.5

|Sep avg record low F = 39.3

|Oct avg record low F = 39.7

|Nov avg record low F = 36.7

|Dec avg record low F = 36.1

|year avg record low F = 32.2

|Jan record low F = 31

|Feb record low F = 30

|Mar record low F = 30

|Apr record low F = 33

|May record low F = 33

|Jun record low F = 36

|Jul record low F = 35

|Aug record low F = 35

|Sep record low F = 36

|Oct record low F = 36

|Nov record low F = 34

|Dec record low F = 33

|source 1 = National Weather Service

{{cite web

|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=hfo

|publisher = National Weather Service

|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Honolulu

|access-date = January 19, 2023

}}

}}

To prevent spread of Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death, the refuge is closed to self-guided visits. Guided visits on a commercial tour can be arranged for hiking and birdwatching.

{{Reflist}}

• {{USGovernment|url=http://www.fws.gov/refuge/hakalau_forest/|agency=U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service}}

{{Commons category}}

• [https://www.fws.gov/refuge/hakalau_forest/ Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge]
• [http://www.friendsofhakalauforest.org/ Friends of Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge]

{{Protected areas of Hawaii}}

{{National Wildlife Refuges of the United States}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Protected areas of Hawaii (island)

Category:National Wildlife Refuges in Hawaii

Category:Protected areas established in 1985

Category:Forests of Hawaii

Category:Landforms of Hawaii (island)

Category:Wetlands of Hawaii

Category:1985 establishments in Hawaii