Highlights from the Hawaiʻi Predator Control and Wetland Workshop on Maui

Conference participants visited the Keālia Pond National Wildlife Refuge. PC: Megan Lamson-Leatherman

Last week, our team at Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund joined experts from across Hawaiʻi Nei and beyond at the Hawaiʻi Predator Control and Wetland Workshop, held in Kahului, Maui, to share practical management expertise and help preserve our precious wetland habitats and native species. We were so happy to finally be able to help host this event after an extended postponement due to the Lāhainā wildfires. A huge mahalo nui loa to our organizing partners, especially those based on Maui, including the Pacific Birds Habitat Joint Venture, the Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR)- Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW), Hallux Ecosystem Restoration LLC, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), U.S. Department of Agriculture’s APHIS Wildlife Services, Save the Wetlands Maui, the Hawaiʻi Land Trust (HILT), UH Mānoa’s Ecosystems Extension Program (within the Dept. of Natural Resources and Environmental Management (NREM), Archipelago Research and Conservation, and many others who helped plan this outstanding event. We are also grateful to our generous fiscal sponsors.

Following each conference session, participants engaged in action planning for improved wetland management, including more effective predator control, addressing policy gaps, and next steps. PC: Megan Lamson-Leatherman

Following conference sessions, participants engaged in action planning for improved wetland management, including developing more effective predator control, addressing policy gaps, and next steps. PC: Megan Lamson-Leatherman

Critical field knowledge, experiences and stories, along with successful scientific methods and practices were shared and discussed throughout this 3-day event with over 160 participants. A key focus area included sharing strategies and best practices for predator control surrounding critical nesting and foraging sites for our threatened and endangered wetland birds. Focal native bird species included nēnē (Hawaiian goose), aeʻo (Hawaiian stilt), ʻalae ʻula (Hawaiian common gallinule), and several endangered seabird species.

Conference participants enjoyed knowledge sharing on best management practices and some pretty amazing endangered waterbird viewing at the Keālia Pond National Wildlife Refuge and the Kanahā Pond Wildlife Sanctuary. PC: Lindsey Kramer

Other key discussion topics included:

Methods for critical wetland restoration efforts
Navigating potential climate change impacts
Integration of loʻi kalo farming practices into endangered bird species policy
Mitigating threats to native species related to roadways and power lines
Wetland microbiology
Indigenous agroecology
Understanding the potential threats of avian influenza on our native wildlife
Navigating the complex permitting process for wetland restoration
Best practices and the latest research on keeping Hawaii’s native flora and fauna thriving

Plenary Speaker, Dr. Kiana Frank of the University of Hawaiʻi, highlighted the interconnection of ancestral knowledge, chemical cycling, and microbiology in the conservation and management of Hawaii’s wetlands. PC: Megan Lamson-Leatherman

Field trips for participants included site visits to the Nuʻu Refuge (managed by HILT), the DOFAW Kanahā Pond State Wildlife Sanctuary, and the USFWS Keālia Pond National Wildlife Refuge, Waiheʻe (managed by HILT), and urban wetlands in Kīhei (supported by Save the Wetlands). These trips were led by local management experts who shared their amazing manaʻo and on-going management challenges within each area.

Mahalo to all that joined us for this incredibly informative event, and a hui hou at the next series of gatherings. One-day workshops are in the works to be held across the state in 2025, hosted by DLNR-DAR with the support of the Pacific Birds Habitat Joint Venture.