Forestry Advisory Council Positions Open on the Big Island

Laupahoehoe National Area Reserve. DLNR image.

Vacant seats on the Laupahoehoe Advisory Council and the Pu’u Wa’awa’a Advisory Council are being filled.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Forestry and Wildlife, along with the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, are seeking applications for LAC and PAC.

Members of the Laupāhoehoe Advisory Council are expected and encouraged to provide guidance to DLNR and the USDA Forest Service on issues related to management, research, education, and public access in the Hawai‘i Experimental Tropical Forest and state lands in the Hamakua district (Laupāhoehoe Natural Area Reserve and Forest Reserve).

Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a Advisory Council members are expected and encouraged to provide guidance to DLNR for state lands in North Kona that include the PWW Forest Reserve, PWW Forest Bird Sanctuary, Kīholo State Park Reserve, and the makai lands of Pu‘u Anahulu.

The ‘ahupua‘a of Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a is 40,711 acres of state land and includes the Forest Bird Sanctuary, Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a Forest reserve, and Kīholo state park reserve.

Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a is on the leeward side of the island on the northern flank of Hualālai and includes tropical dry and wet forests, grasslands, and coastal ecosystems, including anchialine ponds.

The Laupāhoehoe Advisory Council consists of 14 members, with two members representing each of the following categories: cultural resources, natural resource management, recreation, education, Laupāhoehoe community, Hawai‘i community at large, and scientific research. Members of the council serve a 2 or 3-year term, which are staggered within each category.

Applicants with appropriate backgrounds who are interested in representing community stakeholders in these categories are now being sought.

Meetings are held in Laupāhoehoe from 6-8 p.m. on the first Wednesday of odd-numbered months.

The Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a Advisory Council consists of 14 members in the following categories: natural resource specialist and recreation use specialist (three members each), Hui ‘Ohana mai Pu‘u Anahulu a me Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a representative and grazing specialist (two members each), cultural expert, neighboring landowner, business/ecotourism specialist, and grant writing expertise/Coastal Zone Management (one member each). Members of the PAC serve for a 2 or 3-year term.

Applicants are being sought to fill two positions in the following categories: Hui ‘Ohana mai Pu‘u Anahulu a me Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a representative (one seat), and grazing specialist (one seat).

Applicants with appropriate backgrounds who are interested in representing community stakeholders in these categories are now being sought. Members meet quarterly at Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a forest reserve in North Kona.

Applications must be received by May 18, 2016. Application forms including submittal instructions can be found online.

Hard copy applications may also be obtained at the Division of Forestry and Wildlife office in Hilo at 19 E. Kawili St. Hilo, HI and in Waimea at 66-1220A Lalamilo Road.

For more information on either the Laupāhoehoe or Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a Advisory Council and the application process, contact the DOFAW Hilo office at (808) 974-4221.