Habitat protection
grants are available

---

Star-Bulletin staff

A federal agency is offering grants for habitat restoration and protection projects in Hawaii that benefit public hunting, endangered or threatened species, or both.

Informational meetings about the Hawaii Endangered Species Act Community Conservation Initiative grants will be held around the state this month and next month.

The program is an effort by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to reduce conflicts between hunting programs and endangered species protection, an agency release said.

The program funded 19 projects last year on the islands of Hawaii, Maui, Molokai and Lanai.

This year, the program will expand to include Kauai and Oahu, said Gina Shultz, acting field supervisor for Pacific islands.

The program supports hunting of game mammals that can reduce populations of endangered species by eating, trampling and degrading native habitats in Hawaii's fragile ecosystem.

Benton Pang, a Wildlife Service biologist, said: "Although there are significant disagreements between hunters and conservationists, there are also important common goals for land management. Additionally, both sides realize that endangered species recovery will ultimately mean less regulation and more flexibility."

Public informational meetings to describe the program and solicit project ideas are all set for 7-9 p.m. at:

>> Hilo: Jan. 27, Hilo State Office Building, 75 Aupuni St.
>> Kona: Jan. 28, Yano Hall.
>> Waimea: Jan. 29, Waimea Community Center, 65-1260 Kawaihae Road.
>> Oahu: Feb. 4, Campbell Estate Laulima Room, 1001 Kamokila Blvd., Kapolei.
>> Kauai, Feb. 6, Kalaheo Neighborhood Center, 440 Papalina Road, Kalaheo.
>> Kula: Feb. 10, Kula Community Center.
>> Molokai: Feb. 11, Mitchell Pauole Center, 90 Ainoa St., Kaunakakai.
>> Lanai: Feb. 12, Lanai Public Library, 555 Fraser Ave.

Project proposals can be made at the public meetings or can be submitted to 300 Ala Moana, Room 3-122, Box 50088, Honolulu, HI 96850. Deadline for submissions is April 30. For more information, contact Benton Pang at 808-792-9400 or benton_pang@fws.gov.

---

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service