Download Waihe`e Coastal Dunes and Wetlands Refuge

Waihe’e Coastal Dunes and Wetlands Refuge
Background Information:
The Hawaiian Islands Land Trust – Waihe’e Coastal Dunes and Wetlands Refuge from Conservation in a Changing Climate
(http://climatechange.lta.org/case-study/hilt_waihee_restoration/)
Once slated for development as a golf course, the Waihe’e Coastal Dunes and Wetlands Refuge protects over 24 acres of
coastal, spring-fed wetland, 103 acres of dune ecosystem, over 7000 feet of marine shoreline and more than 8 acres of riparian
habitat for the recovery of native birds and native vegetation. The Land Trust took fee ownership of this very sensitive 277acre site in 2004. Active restoration programs have enhanced critical native wildlife habitat, while preserving the area’s rich
archaeological and cultural resources. Once populated with two thriving ancient Hawaiian villages, an extensive inland
fishpond and several heiau (Hawaiian temples), the Waihee Refuge is among the most significant cultural sites in the state.
Value of the land and habitat
Waihe’e Coastal Dunes and Wetlands Refuge (Waihe’e Refuge) has both natural and cultural import. The refuge is an
important historical site for the Hawaiian culture; kings have resided there, battles were fought, and it is an important site in
Hawaiian legends. Also, an old fishing village, Hawaiian fish ponds and burial sites have been discovered at the Waihe’e
Refuge. The refuge has a wide variety of natural habitats as well including wetlands, dune systems, marine shoreline, and
riparian systems. Six endangered taxa, two endangered plants, and two endangered insects have also been found on the site.
Many of the important cultural and archeological sites at Waihe’e Refuge are located in sand dunes that are at or near the
water’s edge. As sea level rises, the sand dunes could become inundated with salt water or transformed into sandy beaches. If
sea level rose 10 ft. or more, it has been estimated that 50-60% of the entire 277 acre refuge could be submerged.
Unfortunately, there is little that can be done to abate the ocean. Sea walls or other protective structures have been ruled out at
as a solution because they are not a long-term, viable option. A hardened shoreline would alter sediment input to nearby sites,
have cascading consequences into the future, and go against the land trust’s goals to preserve, protect and restore natural
landscapes. As such, managers have selected to work to restore the Waihe’e Refuge to the state it would have been in 200
years ago in the hopes that restoration will act as a source of resilience.
Conservation concerns
Habitat restoration, including recovery of native flora and fauna, as well as historically farmed crops such as taro are primary
conservation priorities of the Waihe’e Refuge. In testament to the returning health of the ecosystem, eight different
endangered species have taken up residence at the Refuge in recent years. With the wetlands primarily cleared and habitatappropriate plants now thriving, the area is host to many native Hawaiian bird species, including ae‘o (stilt), alae ke‘oke‘o
(coot), koloa (duck), and even nene (goose).
Habitat restoration work is continuing, focusing on the wetlands at the moment, with plans to do habitat restoration in the
coastal dunes as well. These are large dunes – about 200ft high – which offer ideal sea bird habitat. Sea birds are of particular
concern due to serious population loss on the main islands, and the fact that there is not a lot of habitat left for them, and they
face risks of predators on the bigger islands. Sea level rise impacts also a concern.
Protecting agricultural lands to enhance food sustainability is a conservation priority for the Land Trust, but these activities are
mostly occurring on other properties. However there are about 200 sheep ranging on the Waihe’e Refuge to support CSA
efforts and nine taro patches under restoration. While the taro fields only occupy about ½ acre on the Refuge, the group
leasing land is part of a “taro task force” aiming to protect biodiversity of those taro crops, and their efforts aim to build
resilience in these crops.
Current protection status and management plan
The Hawaiian Island Land Trust (HILT) aims to restore the Waihe’e Refuge to reflect the cultural and natural state it would
have been in 200 years ago. This vision requires a lot of labor intensive work; when HILT (formerly Maui Coastal Land Trust)
acquired the Waihe’e Refuge, roughly 95% of the plants found on the site were considered to be invasive species. To
implement its vision, the land trust has relied upon volunteers to help restore the Waihe’e Refuge. Every Friday and the third
Saturday of every month HILT welcomes volunteers to the Waihe’e Refuge to remove invasive species and plant native
species. The land trust has also welcomed working groups on “work vacations” and promoted its site for cultural tourism.
Local school children also visit to learn about the historical importance of the site in the Hawaiian culture.
Process of achieving protection and resilience to climate change
HILT is working to restore sources of natural resilience at the Waihe’e Refuge. Restoring the Waihe’e Refuge to its historical,
natural state will encourage native plants to take hold of the site again, thereby enhancing the natural resilience of the system.
A healthy, more resilient landscape could buffer the impacts of climate change better than a damaged landscape could. The
wetland is now up to 70% native species and native plants and birds have begun to naturally repopulate the surrounding
landscape. HILT has had to be sensitive of the cultural significance of the burial sites located in the sand dunes when they
were designing a restoration plan for that area. To minimize intrusive actions, the land trust selected to fence off the sand
dunes to reduce foot traffic and exclude invasive predators. Since then, endangered bird species have begun to nest on the
sand dunes and the birds have acted as a natural vector and fertilizer for native plants. The sand dunes are slowly being
repopulated with native plants and are providing a sanctuary for some of Hawaii’s endangered bird species.
Key Partners
Acquisition was funded by the County of Maui ($2M), the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) ($2M), and the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) (800k). Management funding has come from USFWS, USDA
NRCS Wetlands Reserve Program, NOAA, other grants and private funding from foundations, individuals and groups.
Lessons Learned
It is important to achieve a good understanding of adaptive management and come up with creative ways that adaptive
management principles can be applied in the field. It is crucial that land managers understand these principles in order to
address future change.
Part 1: Hydrology of Waihe’e Wetland
In the reading from last week you learned that wetlands have water inputs and outputs that create an overall water budget for
the ecosystem. The idea was illustrated by the following graphic showing how you could calculate the change in volume of
water (ΔV)over the change in time (Δt).
Use the graphic to help you write a paragraph about the Waihe’e wetland ecosystem and hydrology.
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Part 2: Salinity
Which areas of the ditch do you think will have the highest salinity levels? Why do you think this? __________________
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Data Collection: Use the refractometer to determine the salinity of various locations in the old cattle ditch.
Location
1 = Closest to shoreline
+ 15’
+ 30’
+ 45’
+ 60’
+ 75’
+ 90’
Salinity (ppm)
Today (February 17, 2017), high tide in Kahului Harbor is at 5:42 am and 8:28 pm. Low tide is at 12:42 pm. How do you think
salinity might change in this area throughout the day? Explain why you think this.
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In 2016 groups advocating to restore stream flow to Na Wai ‘Eha (The Four Great Waters - Waihe’e, Waiehu, Wailuku, and
Waikapu) won their 12 year battle to legally require HC&S and Maui County Water Supply to release of more water.
How do you think the outcome of this legal battle influenced the salinity of the water in the Refuge? Why?
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How do you think the release of water impacts plans conservation biologists have for restoring native plants in the Refuge?
Why?
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Part 3: Advocacy
You just learned that a developer was able to acquire rights to Waihe’e Wetlands and plans to turn the area into an exclusive
private golf course. Write a letter arguing against this plan. Attempt to appeal to the readers moral (ex: loss of land to everyone
for a wealthy few), emotional (ex: beauty or childhood memories), and scientific (ex: ecosystem services) value systems as you
write.
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