Hearings aimed at finding
way to save po‘ouli,
other species

By Gary T. Kubota
Star-Bulletin

WAILUKU -- James Jacobi was conducting a wildlife study in east Maui's tropical forest with other students in 1973, when he saw a bird with a black face: a honeycreeper never before recorded by scientists.

"This is something different. There's no doubt about it," Jacobi recalled telling himself.

Twenty-five years later, despite state and federal attempts to protect endangered species, the number of black-faced po'ouli has diminished from under 200 to three and is on the brink of extinction.

"Unfortunately it's hanging on by a toenail," said Jacobi, now a botanist with the federal biological service on the Big Island.

"It looks very bad."

Public meetings on Maui and Oahu have been scheduled to evaluate an environmental assessment suggesting ways to preserve the po'ouli.

Hearings take place at the Hana High School today, at the Maui Waena Intermediate School tomorrow, and at the state Department of Land and Natural Resources' Board Room in Honolulu on Thursday. All meetings begin at 6:30 p.m.

Wildlife advocates say the po'ouli's dwindling numbers point to a larger problem -- a failure to find a way to preserve many endangered native forest birds in the Hawaii wilderness.

Scientists say several other native species are also facing possible extinction, including the Maui 'akepa, Maui parrotbill, and Maui nukupu'u.

In the environmental assessment, state officials have listed a number of alternatives, including the capture and breeding of the three po'ouli.

Even if captive breeding is a success, state officials worry about the difficulty of re-introducing them into the same hostile wilderness.

Scientists acknowledge they have been unable to pinpoint the cause or causes of the decrease.

They note that even in what some regard as pristine forest in east Maui, there are alien species attacking native plants and animals.

State wildlife biologist Sharon Reilly said the presence of rats and mongoose as alien predators may be contributing to the diminishing number of po'ouli.

Reilly said the po'ouli also may lack enough food because of a decrease in native snails. But she noted more study is needed before she's able to confirm her suspicions.

Critics point out funding for studying endangered species in Hawaii has been relatively limited.

While 26 percent of the endangered and threatened species in the U.S. live in Hawaii, less than 6 percent of the $77.6 million designated for preserving endangered species is spent in this state.

About $295,000 has been allotted this fiscal year for field operations in east Maui.