Conservation group honors
Woodside and Tunison

Two longtime isle conservationists were honored by the Hawaii Conservation Alliance at its annual Hawaii Conservation Conference in July.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park's Tim Tunison and the State of Hawaii's and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's David Woodside were this year's recipients of distinguished services awards.

The awards recognize "who have excelled by reason of exceptional service, personal effort and unselfish interest, thereby making distinguished contributions beyond the immediate responsibilities of their positions."

Woodside's wildlife career included 27 years with the state, working his way to Wildlife Branch chief in the Division of Fish and Game and 10 years with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. He helped establish several state and federal wildlife sanctuaries and refuges in Hawaii, including the Alakai Wilderness Preserve on Kauai, Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge on the Big Island, and Oahu Forest, Palmyra Atoll and Kingman Reef National Wildlife Refuges.

Tunison was honored for 25 years of contributions to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, including the development of programs that spread throughout the state and the National Park Service.

Tunison also guided the expansion of Hawaii Volcanoes' wildlife and cultural resource programs, and initiated resource management in the new 116,000-acre Kahuku Ranch addition to the park.