HAWAII’S FORESTS ARE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF OUR ECOSYSTEM.

THEY ARE HOME TO THOUSANDS OF NATIVE PLANTS AND SPECIES.

THEY PROVIDE OUR FRESH DRINKING WATER.

AND THEY PROTECT OUR BEACHES FROM HAZARDOUS RUN‑OFF AND SEDIMENT, BUT EXPERTS SAY HAWAII’S NATIVE FORESTS ARE BEING WIPED OUT BY A NUMBER OF THREATS AND IT’S A RACE AGAINST TIME TO SAVE THEM.

SO WHAT CAN WE DO?

TONIGHT’S LIVE BROADCAST AND LIVE STREAM OF INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII START NOW.

¶¶ ¶¶ ALOHA AND WELCOME TO INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII.

I'M DARYL HUFF.

AFTER CENTURIES OF DEVELOPMENT AND ASSAULT BY INVASIVE SPECIES, HAWAII’S NATIVE FORESTS ARE SUFFERING, AND WITH THEM, THOUSANDS OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS FOUND NOWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD.

THIS ALSO IMPACTS THE ISLAND ENVIRONMENT.

OUR FORESTS ARE LIVING SPONGES CAPTURING RAIN AND MIST THAT RECHARGE OUR FRESH WATER AQUIFERS.

THEY OFFER PROTECTION FROM DROUGHT AND FLOODS.

THEY ARE REVERED BY HAWAIIAN CULTURE WITH THE REST OF THE NATURAL WORLD.

SAVING NATIVE FORESTS IS A CHALLENGE THAT DEMANDS COOPERATION FROM A DIVERSE GROUP OF STAKEHOLDERS.

WE’RE ASKING OUR PANEL TONIGHT IF IT CAN BE DONE.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR PARTICIPATION IN TONIGHT'S SHOW.

YOU CAN EMAIL OR CALL IN YOUR QUESTIONS, AND YOU’LL FIND A LIVE STREAM OF THIS PROGRAM AT PBSHAWAII.ORG AND THE PBS HAWAII FACEBOOK PAGE.

NOW TO OUR GUESTS.

FLINT HUGHES IS AN ECOLOGIST WITH THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE.

FOR THE PAST 25 YEARS, HE’S BEEN CONDUCTING RESEARCH ON HAWAII’S FORESTS, FOCUSING ON THE IMPACTS OF NON‑NATIVE SPECIES AND PROTECTING OUR OHIA FORESTS FROM RAPID OHIA DEATH.

HE AND HIS FAMILY RESIDE IN HILO.

DAVID SMITH IS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES AND IS CURRENTLY THE ADMINISTRATOR IN THE FORESTRY AND WILDLIFE DIVISION.

BORN AND RAISED IN HAWAII, HE SPENT EXTENSIVE TIME IN THE MOUNTAINS AND OCEAN AND EARNED A BACHELOR’S DEGREE IN BIOLOGY.

CHRISTY MARTIN IS THE PROGRAM MANAGER AND INFORMATION OFFICER FOR THE COORDINATING GROUP ON ALIEN PEST SPECIES, A PROJECT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA ‑ PACIFIC COOPERATIVE STUDIES UNIT.

SHE’S ALSO A CO‑FOUNDER OF THE PACIFIC REGIONAL INVASIVE SPECIES AND CLIMATE CHANGE MANAGEMENT NETWORK.

AND APPEARING BY ZOOM FROM HILO IS JOSEPH KUALII CAMARA.

BORN AND RAISED ON MOLOKAI, HE’S THE RESOURCE MANAGER FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOMELANDS LAND MANAGEMENT DIVISION.

DHHL MANAGES 200,000 ACRES OF LAND ACROSS THE STATE.

LET ME START WITH DAVID SMITH WITH DLNR.

TELL US WHAT IS THE NATIVE FOREST AND HOW MUCH TO DO WE HAVE AN HOW MUCH HAVE WE LOST.

>> NATIVE FORESTS WERE HERE BEFORE PEOPLE WERE.

THEY EVOLVED OVER A MILLION YEARS.

AND OBVIOUSLY WERE JUST FROM THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAINS, RIGHT DOWN TO THE OCEAN.

FORESTS CAN GO RIGHT DOWN TO THE WATER'S EDGE.

WE'VE LOST SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THAT.

THERE'S A FOOTPRINTS I THINK THE ESTIMATE ON HAWAIIAN FOOTPRINT WAS ABOUT 15% OF THE LAND AND A LOT OF THAT WAS CONVERTED INTO SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS.

AND WAYS TO LIVE ON THE LAND AND GROW FOOD AND WHATNOT.

BUT HAWAIIANS ALSO PROTECTED ESPECIALLY A LOT OF THE MAUKA FORESTS, WHILE AKUA REALM OF THE GODS REVERED FOREST, RECOGNIZED WATER THEY DEPENDED ON CAME FROM THE FOREST.

BIG PORTION WHY THEY WERE PROTECTING THOSE AREAS.

>>Daryl: COULD YOU GO LITTLE BIT MORE INTO THAT?

WHAT THE HAWAIIAN'S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE NATIVE FORESTS?

>> FOR EVERYONE, HAWAII, WHAT I'VE BEEN TAUGHT, EVERYTHING IN HAWAII IS FAMILY.

HAWAIIANS FAMILIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ENVIRONMENT.

AND GENERATIONAL KNOWLEDGE OF HOW TO FIT THEMSELVES INTO THE ENVIRONMENT TO ENHANCE THE ENVIRONMENT.

LOOK AT AHUPUAPA SYSTEM A LOT OF PEOPLE FOCUS ON THE AGRICULTURAL.

HAWAIIANS, MODIFIED TO FIT THEIR NEEDS, IF YOU LOOK AT AHUPUAPA SYSTEM, REALLY WAS A SYSTEM PERPETUATION OF THE WATER CYCLE.

DAVE WAS SAY, ALSO HAD WAOKANAKA.

SPECIFIC AREAS ELEVATIONS, ECOSYSTEMS MODIFIED AND OTHER AREAS LIKE THE MOOKELE FOR THE AREAS.

SOILS WERE ALWAYS MOIST AND ACTUALLY SOIL WAS ACTUALLY ANOTHER, CONTAINER FOR WATER, AKUA MIST HITS THE MOUNTAIN AND UPPER REGIONS, EVERYTHING WAS KIND OF IN ITS PLACE.

I THINK HAWAIIANS WERE VERY COGNIZANT IMPACT ON THE LAND AND WHERE THEY WOULD LEAVE ECOSYSTEMS.

PERPETUATION FOR HAWAIIANS WATER.

>>Daryl: MOVE ON WITH CHRISTY MARTIN INVASIVE SPECIES MULTIPLE INVASIVE SPECIES ORGANIZATIONS.

WHAT WAS THE NATURAL FAUNA OF HAWAII?

WHAT WERE THE PIECES THAT HELD IT ALL TOGETHER UP IN THESE FORESTS IN TERMS OF THE LOCAL SPECIES.

>> THINGS THAT ARRIVED HERE ON THEIR OWN THROUGH WIND WINGS AND WAVES.

ENFORCEMENT BASIS.

ORIGINAL COLONISTS GOT THEIR OWN THEIR OWN FORMED BASIS OF OUR NATIVE SPECIES.

SOME OF THEM SURVIVED ABLE TO REPRODUCE AND SOME OF WEREN'T.

ORIGINAL COLONISTS DESCENDANTS CHANGED OVER MILLENIA.

SO BIRD IS THAT MAY HAVE ARRIVED HERE BLOWN OFF COURSE IN A STORM, OVER A LONG TIME, MAY HAVE A LONGER CURVE BEAT BECAUSE IT WAS GETTING NECTAR FROM A LONG CURVED FLOWER.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT HAWAII'S NATIVE BUY OHTA FROM THESE DESCENDANT FROM ALL OF THESE COLONISTS REALLY UNIQUE.

ALMOST LIKE A DR. SEUSS LAND OF SPECIES THAT YOU JUST CAN'T IMAGINE.

WE LIKE TO THINK THAT IF DARWIN HAD LANDED IN HAWAII INSTEAD OF THE GALAPAGOS, WE WOULDN'T BE TALKING ABOUT GALAPAGOS FINCHES.

WE'D BE TALKING ABOUT HAWAIIAN HONEY CREEPERS.

SO UNIQUE.

>>Daryl: FOREST SERVICE, DID I SAY FOREST SERVICE.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>>Daryl: I KNEW FEDERAL.

WHAT IS THE EFFECT OF THE INVASIVE SPECIES?

WHAT IS THE PRIMARY, GOT A CALLER SARA ASKING WHAT IS THE BIG INVASIVE SPECIES.

ANY ONE THING THAT THREATENS FORCE THE MOST.

>> I GUESS IN GENERAL, THINKING ABOUT ARCHIPELAGO AS A WHOLE, SURVEYS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE RECENTLY, SYSTEMATIC SURVEYS USING MULTIPLE FOREST PLOTS, LOCATED ALL ACROSS THE ISLANDS, ABOUT 250 OF THEM, SCATTERED AROUND, HAVE GIVEN US A PRETTY GOOD PICTURE OF THE BALANCE BETWEEN NATIVE SPECIES AND NONNATIVE SPECIES.

GOOD NEWS, OHIA MOST COMMON NATIVE SPECIES.

ESTIMATED FROM THE SAMPLING TO BE ABOUT 280 MILLION STEMS, TREES, OF OHIA ACROSS THE ISLAND.

>> SOUNDS LIKE A LOT.

STRAWBERRY GUAVA, REPRESENTS ABOUT 440 MILLION STEMS.

BY FAR THE MOST ABUNDANT.

>>Daryl: STRAWBERRY GUAVA IS INVASIVE SPECIES.

>> NONNATIVE INVASIVE SPECIES.

ABLE TO INVADE INTACT FORESTS FAIRLY READILY.

BENEFITS FROM DISTURBANCE.

BUT CAPABLE OF INVADING INTACT FORESTS.

SO I THINK THAT IS PROBABLY OUR NUMBER ONE MOST DIFFICULT NONNATIVE SPECIES TO DEAL WITH IT.

>>Daryl: DAVID SMITH WITH DLNR.

WHERE IS THE BEST PLACE THAT SOMEONE COULD GO AND SAY, LOOK AT NATIVE FOREST AND APPRECIATE IT WITHOUT HARMING IT BY HIKING THROUGH IT OR BREAKING A FENCE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

>> DEPENDS ON WHAT ISLAND YOU'RE ON.

ESPECIALLY ON THE NEIGHBOR ISLANDS, A NUMBER OF PLACES WHERE YOU CAN GET UP IN THE GOOD NATIVE FORESTS.

THE STATE ON ESTABLISHED TRAILS OR BE IN PARKS.

ON OAHU, YOU CAN SEE REALLY NICE INTACT NATIVE FORESTS OFF THE H‑3 TOWNSIDE OF KOA SUMMIT.

BEAUTIFUL KOA OHIA ULUHEI FOREST UP IF IN THERE.

WHAT ARE THE KEY FEATURES OF HEALTHY FOREST.

>> DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT PLANTS, GO INTO NATIVE FOREST.

NICE BALANCE TO IT.

EVERYTHING IS GROWING TOGETHER.

MORE COOPERATIVELY.

>> DON'T SEE VINES GROWING OVER THINGS AND KILLING THEM.

VINES USE A TREE, USE STRUCTURE TO GET LIGHT.

DON'T GROW OVER IT AND KILL.

NATURE OF FORESTS EVOLVED OVER SO MUCH TIME, LEARNED TO COEXIST AND SO YOU JUST GET INTO THIS FOREST AS REALLY NICE FEEL TO IT.

NICE BALANCE.

AND THEN YOU GET INTO SOME OF THESE NONNATIVE FORESTS.

FLINT IS TALKING ABOUT, SEE SPECIES TAKING OVER AND ONE SPECIES GOING TO THE DETRIMENT OF OTHERS.

NATURE OF FORESTS HAVE A LOT OF DIVERSITY.

>> I COULD ADD.

ONE THE MOST AMAZING THINGS ABOUT HAWAII FOREST IS THAT'S GOT MANY LEVELS.

AND IT'S GOT STRANGELY, SOME OPEN SPACES WHERE EXACTLY WHAT DAVE SAID.

NOTHING IS REALLY RUSHING TO FILL IN THAT GAP.

GOT A TALL TREES.

SHRUB LAYER.

GOT A BUSH LAYER FERN LAYER.

UNDERNEATH MOSS.

MAKES REALLY GOOD SYSTEM TO STEP DOWN WATER AS IT FALLS.

SO IT DOESN'T HIT THE GROUND SO HARD.

AND HAVE SO MUCH RUNOFF.

THAT'S A CLASSIC HAWAIIAN FOREST.

VERY PROTECTED.

>> REALLY, I MEAN, YOU SAID THAT WORD SPONGE.

REALLY ACTS AS A SPONGE.

ALL OF COMPONENTINGS TOGETHER TO ABSORB THE WATER COMING IN.

SO IT GETS INTO OUR AQUIFERS, GETS INTO OUR GROUND WATER.

IT'S KIND OF LIKE IF YOU POUR WATER OVER A RESPONDING.

ABSORBS IT.

PIECE OF CARDBOARD, POUR WATER OVER IT.

RUNS RIGHT OFF.

ABSORBS SOME OF IT, RUNS RIGHT OFF.

HAVE THESE TRANSFORMED SYSTEMS OFTEN WHAT YOU END UP WITH.

MUCH LESS WATER STORAGE.

MORE WATER BEING TRANSPIRED OUT OF THE MOVED OUT THE PLANTS AS WELL.

>>Daryl: JOSEPH KUALII CAMARA WITH DHHL.

LANDS THAT YOU MANAGE, HOW HIGH A PRIORITY IS PRESERVING OR INCREASING FOREST VERSUS PROVIDING HOMESTEAD RANCH LANDS OR HOMESTEAD AGRICULTURAL, HOMESTEAD HOUSES, HOW DO YOU GUYS BALANCE THAT PRIORITY?

>> THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION.

IT IS VERY, TIES INTO THE LARGER HAWAII COMMUNITY SOCIAL CHALLENGES OF VALUING OUR NATIVE FORESTS.

SO I'M PROVIDING FOR THE NEED OF OUR COMMUNITIES, NATIVE HAWAIIAN LAND TRUST FOR THE BETTERMENT OF NATIVE HAWAIIANS, AND FOR THE LANDS THAT I MANAGE, KUA OFF MAUNA KEA.

56,000 ACRES ON MAUNA KEA.

WE HAVE RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE FOR OUR PEOPLE ALSO HAVE THIS VERY SPECIAL LANDSCAPE THAT PROVIDES FOR LIFE THE WHOLE ISLAND.

WE TRY AND FIND THAT BALANCE AND LOOK AT, TRY AND HEALTH OF HAWAIIAN PEOPLE.

TO THE HEALTH OF THE ISLAND.

AND HEALTH OF THE MOUNTAIN.

TIE THOSE TOGETHER.

DEFINITELY IT IS A CHALLENGE.

NOT EVERYBODY SEES THINGS THE SAME WAY.

CHALLENGE AND EVERYBODY HAS THEIR OWN STORY AND VALUE SYSTEM.

SOMETHING THAT DEFINITELY WORK TOWARDS.

>>Daryl: DAVID, WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE HEARING ABOUT THE WATER.

ARE WE STILL LOSING FORESTS AT A RAPID PACE?

HAS IT STABILIZED WITH MANAGEMENT?

WHERE ARE WE IN THIS BATTLE?

>> WE DEFINITELY CONTINUE TO LOSE GROUND.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF SUPPORT LATELY.

DOING A LOT OF FENCING AND TRYING TO HALT SOME OF DISTURBANCE.

MAIN DRIVERS ARE A LOT OF THE INTRODUCED ANIMALS AND FIRE.

AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS JUST EAT AWAY AT THE FOREST.

WITH THAT DISTURBANCE, COMES INVASIVE SPECIES.

FIND FOOTHOLDS WHERE YOU GET DISTURBANCE IN THE FOREST.

AND CONTINUOUSLY LOSING BATTLE A LOT OF THESE INVASIVE SPECIES GET OVER HERE WITHOUT THEIR NORMAL CONTROL AGENTS.

AND SO DON'T HAVE THE PLANTS OR ANIMALS OR DISEASES OR INSECTS OR WHATEVER CONTROLLING THEM IN NATIVE HABITAT.

GET TO HAWAII AND IT'S JUST LIKE, 365 GROWING SEASON.

AND SO THEY'RE ABLE TO GROW VERY QUICKLY AND A LOT OF THEM ARE ADAPTED TO FILLING IN TO EXPLOITING DISTURBANCE.

NATIVE FORESTS DISTURBANCE ISN'T REALLY THING THAT MOST OF THE NATIVE HAWAIIAN SPECIES ARE ADAPTED TO.

>>Daryl: CHRISTY MARTIN.

WHAT IS THE STRATEGY?

SOUNDS OVERWHELMING.

HOW DO YOU STRATEGIZE, IT'S SO BIG, SO MANY PLACES, SO MANY DIFFERENT MICROCLIMATES.

SO MANY DIFFERENT INVASIVE SPECIES.

PEOPLE THINK OF DEER AND RATS AND ALL OF THESE OTHER, LOTS OF INSECTS THAT ARE INVASIVE TOO.

WHAT IS THE STRATEGY?

HOW DO YOU START TO PROTECT OR AND THEN GROW WITHIN THESE PROTECTED AREAS?

>> WHEN I'M FEELING OVERWHELMED, FRIENDS OF MINE TOLD ME AT ONE POINT, I LOVE ELEPHANTS HE SAID, EAT THAT ELEPHANT ONE BITE AT A TIME.

THAT'S REALLY I THINK WHAT WE TRY TO DO.

BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY THINGS GOING ON.

SO MANY ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE WORKED ON.

BUT THERE ARE SOLUTIONS OUT THERE.

I DON'T WANT PEOPLE WATCHING TO THINK THAT'S A LOST CAUSE.

I HEAR THAT ALL THE TIME.

PART OF MY JOB IS OUTREACH.

PEOPLE SAY, IT'S JUST A DONE DEAL.

IT ISN'T.

SOME OF THE TOOLS ARE AVAILABLE.

DAVE WAS TALKING ABOUT FENCING.

OKAY, WELL THAT DOESN'T KEEP THE INSECTS OUT.

WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT THE INSECTS?

SOME OF THEM WE HAVE FOR EXAMPLE A BIOLOGICAL CONTROL.

WE SAVED THE NATIVE DRY FOREST TREE FROM EXTINCTION IT WAS BEING ATTACKED BY INVASIVE GALL WASP.

SAVED IT THROUGH BIOCONTROL.

NEED TO DO FENCING.

WE NEED TO DO SOME BIOCONTROL.

WE NEED TO DO SOME COMMUNITY PROJECTS.

NEED TO GET PEOPLE UP THERE TO THE WAOKUA AS MAYBE THE BIOCONTROL COMING IN TO REDUCE THE VIGOR OF SOME OF THESE INVASIVE PLANTS NEED TO GET THE PEOPLE BACK OUT THERE TO PUT THE PLANTS BACK INTO THE GROUND THAT ARE GOOD FOR THE WATER AND MAYBE THAT ARE GOOD AT RESISTING, I'M GOING TO BRING.

RESISTING WILDFIRE.

>>Daryl: FLINT HUGHES.

PRIORITY OR INDUSTRY, WHO IS DOING THIS.

>> I WANT TO GET TO THAT AND ALSO MENTION THE WAY WE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE NATIVE SPECIES.

SEEM KIND OF VULNERABLE.

ALMOST VICTIMS, YET OHIA TAKING THAT SPECIES AS AN EXAMPLE IS VERY CAN BE VERY RESILIENT AND VERY TOUGH AND ABLE TO RESPOND.

SOME OF THE WORK WE'VE DONE LOOKING AT DEFORESTED AREAS IN PUNA, WHERE OHIA, JUST OBLITERATED.

BULLDOZED TO THE GROUND.

THAT WERE ARE OHIA FORESTS.

30 YEARS LATER COME BACK.

WE SEE THAT IN OTHER PLACES.

BUT THAT IS BECAUSE THE CONDITIONS WERE RIGHT.

WEED FREE.

OPEN SUBSTRATE.

OPEN AIR FOR THE SEEDLINGS TO GET GOING AND THEN PERSEVERE.

EVEN IN THE FACE OF COMPETITION FROM WEEDS.

THAT CAN HAPPEN.

THAT WILL HAPPEN IF WE GIVE THESE NATIVE SPECIES A CHANCE.

LIKE CHRISTY IS TALKING ABOUT.

I THINK BACK TO YOUR QUESTION, ACROSS THE STATE OF HAWAII, WITH THE PARTNERS AND THE INSTITUTIONS IN PLACE NOW, WE HAVE THE STRUCTURE TO TACKLE A LOT OF THESE PROBLEMS.

WE JUST NEED TO AS A PEOPLE, SUPPORT THEM MORE.

SO THAT WE CAN TAKE CARE OF OUR FORESTS TOGETHER AND CREATE A MORE HEALTHY FOREST THAT WILL HELP US CONTINUE TO BE HEALTHY ACROSS THE STATE AS WELL.

>>Daryl: SO DAVID, WHAT IS THE PRIORITY,?

WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO DO FIRST TO PROTECT A FOREST?

IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE WHEN YOU DO ALL OF THESE THINGS AT ONCE.

IS THERE A PROGRESSION?

>> USUALLY HAVE STRATEGIES BASED ON DIFFERENT FOREST TYPES.

MAIN THING TO DO IS PROTECT FOREST IT'S THAT ARE ALREADY INTACT.

BEST BET KEEP THEM FROM BEING DISTURBED.

THEN YOU DON'T GET THESE OPENINGS WHERE INVASIVE SPECIES ARE ABLE TO COME IN.

AND THEN WE ALSO TRY TO PROTECT AREAS FROM FIRE.

SO FIRE CAN JUST EAT AWAY AT FORESTS.

SO PROTECTION FOR INTACT NATIVE FORESTS, GO INTO AREAS, QUITE A BIT OF NATIVE VIGOR AND YOU CAN HELP THEM OUT A LITTLE BIT.

JUST GO IN AND CONTROL A COUPLE OF PROBLEMATIC SPECIES OR PROBLEMATIC AREAS A LOT OF VIGOR IN THE NATIVE FORESTS.

NATIVE FORESTS CAN COME BACK.

REGROW AND 100% NATIVE CONDITION.

SEEN THAT.

THEN FROM THERE, YOU CAN JUST GRADATION OF WHETHER YOU'RE GOING BACK INTO FULL PASTURE AREAS PLANTING KOA.

WHATNOT.

SHOWN A LOT OF SUCCESS.

BIG ISLANDS FULL PASTURE ON MAUNA KEA REPLANTED THEM WITH KOA.

I WAS JUST THERE.

HADN'T BEEN THERE FOR 25 YEARS.

HERE'S A NATIVE FOREST, MULTILAYERED NATIVE FOREST, FULL OF NATIVE FOREST, INCLUDING INTERSPECIES.

RIGHT THERE THAT USED TO BE WIDE OPEN PASTURE.

IN OUR LIFETIME YOU DO THIS WORK AND BE SUCCESSFUL.

>>Daryl: ARE YOU SEEING THAT IN SOME OF YOUR PROPERTIES TOO?

ARE YOU ABLE TO GET DHHL BEHIND THAT AS A PROJECT?

>> YEAH.

SO FAR, BACK TO EARLIER QUESTION, SOCIAL ISSUES.

REALLY BIGGEST THING AND VALUES.

REALLY BEEN A CHALLENGE TO SHOW EVERYBODY THAT THESE LANDS ARE RESILIENT.

SO LIKE DAVE WAS SAYING, WE HAVE THIS LANDS THAT ARE EVERYBODY'S MINDS, SEEN IT AS A PAST 200 YEARS.

KNOWING THAT LANDS ARE RESILIENT AND OHIA FORESTS AND KOA FORESTS THERE, GIVE THEM IT'S TIME AND TAKE FERAL CATTLE OFF THE MOUNTAIN, WILL COME BACK.

AND I'M REALLY LUCKY TO BE IN THE SPACES AND SEE THAT RESTORATION BEING POSSIBLE.

IT'S BEEN A REAL CHALLENGE TO SHARE THAT MESSAGE WITH EVERYONE THAT THERE'S MORE THINGS LANDS THAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE PAST 200 YEARS, AND JUST BEING ABLE TO TAKE THREATS AND GIVE THE FOREST A CHANCE.

DEFINITELY IS RESILIENT.

ABLE TO COME BACK.

FOR US, BIG SOCIAL ISSUE.

THE SOCIAL ISSUE IS TO ME, MORE THAN THE PHYSICAL ISSUES.

OF BEING ABLE TO DO THE WORK IS GETTING EVERYBODY TO BE ABLE TO SEE THE VISION OF HEALTHY RESTORED FOREST ACROSS THE LANDSCAPE.

>> I HAVE AN EXAMPLE OF THAT.

THERE'S A PROJECT THAT WAS STARTED, I WORKED AND LIVED ON MAUI 20 YEARS AGO.

IN CONSERVATION.

WORKING FOR THE MAUI INVASIVE SPECIES COMMITTEE.

AND ART MEDEIROS, DR. MEDEIROS OVER THERE HAD A VISION WORKED WITH ULUPALAKUA RANCH TO FENCE OFF A PORTION OF THE LAND TO PROTECT FROM THE DEER AND THE CATTLE AND IT WAS JUST DRY GRASS.

BUT FEW NATIVE TREES LEFT.

FENCED IT, GOT RID OF UNGULATES, USED VOLUNTEER TO RESTORE.

NOW LUSH AND BEAUTIFUL MOIST FOREST THAT IS, YOU CAN MEASURE THE MOISTURE DIFFERENCE IN THE AIR, WE TALK ABOUT THE LOSS OF HUMIDITY MAKES WILDFIRES SO POSSIBLE.

YOU DON'T IF YOU HAVE THE RIGHT PLANTS.

AND THAT DEMONSTRATION FOREST IS THERE FOR ALL TO SEE.

WE NEED TO REPLICATE THAT.

IT DOESN'T MATTER IF SMALL.

IT WOULD BE GREAT IF IT WAS BIG, WE CAN START SMALL SHOWS PEOPLE IT CAN BE DONE.

WE'RE MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

>>Daryl: REALLY IMPORTANT WHEN IT COMES TO ATTRACTING VOLUNTEERS AND YOUNG PEOPLE INTO AN INDUSTRY ACTUALLY GIVING THEM SOME HOPE.

I MEAN, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?

FAIRLY TYPICAL MODEL OF HOW TO DO IT?

FIRST YOU FENCE, THEN YOU CLEAR OUT THE BIG INVASIVE SPECIES THAT YOU CAN, AND THEN JUST LET IT GROW?

OR ARE THERE PROGRAMS PEOPLE ARE PLANTING SEEDINGS FOR YOU.

>> DEPENDS ON THE AREA.

DEPENDS ON THE REGION.

DEPENDS ON THE TYPES OF STRESSORS TO THE NATIVE ECOSYSTEMS YOU'RE DEALING WITH AND ADDRESS THEM SPECIFICALLY.

IT CAN TAKE ANY NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PATHS.

I THINK WHAT CHRISTY JUST MENTIONING IS, HAVING THE PEOPLE AVAILABLE AND ABLE TO DO THE WORK.

WILLING AND ABLE TO DO THE WORK.

MADE ME THINK ABOUT THE HAWAII CONSERVATION CONFERENCE THIS YEAR.

FIRST TIME SINCE COVID ABLE TO MEET IN PERSON.

SO INSPIRING TO SEE ALL THE YOUNG PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER, GRAPPLING WITH PROBLEMS, LEARNING AND PLANNING WHAT TO DO NEXT.

ALSO, LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES.

THE A WHOLE WORKFORCE OUT THERE OF YOUNG PEOPLE THAT ARE JUST DYING TO TAKE CARE OF OUR FOREST.

>>Daryl: IF YOU SUCCEED, IN GROWING FOREST, WHAT IS THE POTENTIAL FOR THE ENVIRONMENT BEING CHANGED?

GETTING MORE RAIN, LESS DROUGHT, WHAT IS THE POTENTIAL THERE?

HOW MUCH WOULD YOU HAVE TO GROW IT TO REALLY CHANGE THE ENVIRONMENT.

>> >> IT IS TREMENDOUS.

SO THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF WORK.

FLINT HAS DONE SOME OF THIS WORK.

SOME COMING OUT OF THE UNIVERSITY.

PLANTS IN THE FOREST, FOREST DRIVES THE WATER CYCLE FOR OUR ISLANDS.

ANYBODY THAT LIVES IN KONA, AFTER SET YOUR WATCH, BY THE TIME THE RAIN HAPPENS BECAUSE THAT FOREST IS THERE, IT'S DRIVING MOISTURE CYCLE TO COME UP, HIT THE MOUNTAIN, AND THEN DROP ITS RAIN.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT FOREST, WITH THE RIGHT PLANTS THERE, GET TO THE RIGHT PLANT IN JUST A MOMENT, YOU DON'T, BREAK THAT CYCLE.

I THINK THAT IS WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN A LOT OF LEEWARD AREAS.

POINT SPECIFICALLY TO LAHAINA.

THE STRAWBERRY GUAVA STUDY DONE AT THE UNIVERSITY, JOHN BALUCA STRAWBERRY GUAVA IN PARTICULAR, COMPARE THE AMOUNT OF WATER THAT GETS LOST FROM THE ENVIRONMENT FROM THE SYSTEM, FOR STRAWBERRY GUAVA FOREST COMPARED TO NATIVE OHIA FOREST.

UPWARDS 35% MORE THAN NORMAL YEAR.

50% WATER LOSS ON DROUGHT YEAR.

GUESS WHAT?

WE'VE BEEN IN A DROUGHT FOR THE LAST 100 YEARS.

WE HAVE A FOOT LESS WATER FALLING ON OUR FORESTS THAN WE DID 100 YEARS AGO.

AND THAT IS RESULTED IN LESS WATER FOR EVERYBODY.

22% LESS WATER IN THE STREAMS BECAUSE OF WE'VE GOT A PROBLEM AND IT'S NOT NECESSARILY WHERE WE CAN NORMALLY NOTICE IT.

IT'S IN THE FOREST.

NOT ALL GREEN IS GOOD.

>>Daryl: JOSEPH KUALII CAMARA WITH DHHL, I'M THINKING THAT I SPENT IS SOME TIME COUPLE WEEKS AGO WITH A KULEANA FARMER ON OUTSIDE LAHAINA.

AND HE WAS A YOUNGER GUY.

MAYBE IN HIS LATE 20'S, EARLY 30'S.

IS THERE A GENERATION OF NATIVE HAWAIIANS WHO ARE PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN THE WATER ISSUE AND TRYING TO RESTORE THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, ENVIRONMENT OF OLD HAWAII THROUGH THE WATER?

DO YOU THINK THAT PEOPLE THAT SOMETHING CAN GET PEOPLE EXCITED AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO?

>> I THINK EVERY GENERATION HAS THEIR CHAMPIONS AND ROLE MODELS.

DEFINITELY THERE IS, CHAMPIONS COMING UP CHAMPIONING FOR OUR WATER.

RELY ON THE INTELLIGENCE OF OUR ANCESTORS KNOW THAT.

[HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE] RAIN ALWAYS FOLLOWS THE FOREST.

SO WE ARE COMING OUT AND THERE ARE PEOPLE COMING OUT.

BUT ANCESTORS HAVE BEEN HERE FOR GENERATIONS AND NOTICE THESE TRENDS THAT WHEN YOU LOSE YOUR FOREST, YOU LOSE YOUR WATER.

I WOULD SAY YES.

ALWAYS HOPEFUL THAT PEOPLE COME UP AND WE CAN PASS KULEANA ON TO OTHER PEOPLE BUT RELY ON THE PREVIOUS GENERATIONS AS WELL.

AND THE KNOWLEDGE OF OUR PREVIOUS GENERATION.

DEFINITELY, IT'S SOMETHING THAT MAYBE THE IN‑BETWEEN GENERATIONS HAVE LOST A LITTLE BIT IN VALUE SYSTEMS.

KUPUNA KNEW VERY WELL THAT THE RAINFALL IS THE FOREST AND WHEN YOU LOSE YOUR FOREST, YOU LOSE YOUR WATER.

>>Daryl: I ACTUALLY APOLOGIZE.

I DIDN'T MEAN TO DIVIDE THE GENERATIONS SO MUCH.

JUST SORT OF LOOKING FOR WHERE THE EXCITEMENT AND ENERGY IS GOING TO COME FROM TO DO THIS KIND OF WORK.

BECAUSE THESE GUYS ARE RESTORING TARO BY HAND.

YOU CAN'T TAKE A BULLDOZER OUT BECAUSE IT'S THERE ALREADY.

DAVE SMITH, DO YOU THINK THERE'S RESOURCE AVAILABLE TO DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN TERMS OF THIS CHALLENGE?

MONEY THERE?

FOR EXAMPLE, I KNOW THAT THERE IS A LOT OF CLIMATE CHANGE FUNDS THAT HAVE DEVELOPED.

IS THERE A LOT OF MONEY THERE THROUGH THE CLIMATE CHANGE MOVEMENT FOR THIS KIND OF WORK?

>> YEAH.

RESTORATION MANAGEMENTS HAS TRADITIONALLY BEEN UNDER FUNDED WHAT WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD QUICKLY.

MOVE FORWARD ON BROAD FRONT BUT SLOWLY.

LATELY A LOT MORE RECOGNITION.

LOSING THINGS.

CHANGING.

A LOT OF MONEY COMING IN.

LARGE INFLUX OF FEDERAL FUNDS.

AND GOTTEN SUPPORT OF THE LEGISLATURE.

FOR A LOT OF OUR FORESTS AND RESEARCH MANAGEMENT WORK.

THERE'S A GROWING RECOGNITION REALLY NEED TO DOUBLE DOWN ON WHAT WE'RE DOING AND WHAT WE'RE INVESTING MONEY WELL SPENT.

AND HAS A GOOD COST BENEFIT RATIO PUTTING MONEY INTO THESE NATURAL SYSTEMS AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES THAT YOU GET OUT OF THAT IS VERY GOOD INVESTMENT.

>> AT MY PERIL CAN I PUSH BACK AGAINST IN JUST A LITTLE BIT?

ONE OF THE HATS I WEAR IS WITH THE INVASIVE SPECIES ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

AND WE'RE LOOKING AT THE FUNDING THAT'S COMING IN FOR CLIMATE MITIGATION, THROUGH A LOT OF CONGRESSIONAL FUNDING COMING IN.

WHAT WE'VE NOTICED LITTLE LANGUAGE ABOUT THE INTERSECTIONS BETWEEN CLIMATE CHANGE AND INVASIVE SPECIES.

THERE'S INDIVIDUAL IMPACTS FROM BOTH OF THESE MAJOR CHANGE DRIVERS, BUT THERE'S VERY LITTLE UNDERSTANDING AND ARTICULATION WHAT THE SYNERGISTIC EFFECTS ARE.

FEW INVASIVE SPECIES ARE SEEING WAY TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A CLEAR SHOT AT GETTING SOME OF THAT.

CLEARLY, OUR INVASIVE SPECIES ISSUE IS GOING TO BE EXACERBATED BY CLIMATE CHANGE AND ONLY RESILIENCE THAT WE CAN BUILD IS IF WE ADDRESS INVASIVES.

ONLY WAY TO MAKE OURSELVES MORE RESILIENT TO WARMING CLIMATE, LESSER RAIN, IS IF WE ADDRESS THE INVASIVES.

>>Daryl: SOUNDS KIND OF URGENT.

>> YEAH.

URGENCY HIGHLIGHTED BY THE GRASS, INVASIVE GRASS.

NONNATIVE INVASIVE GRASS PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE ACROSS OUR DRYER PORTIONS OF THE STATE.

ALL OF THOSE SYSTEMS ALL OF THOSE FUELS WERE INTRODUCED, NOT NATIVE TO HAWAII.

NOVEL SYSTEMS THAT ARE INCREDIBLY FIRE PRONED.

AND THAT IS ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHT INTERACTIONS BETWEEN NATIVE SPECIES AND CLIMATE CHANGE.

DROUGHT.

LONGTERM BOTH SHORT TERM AND LONGTERM.

>>Daryl: NUMBER OF QUESTIONS NOW COMING IN FROM OUR VIEWERS THAT I WANT TO RESPECT THEM AND PUT SOME OF THESE OUT THERE.

IT'S INTERESTING.

FOR EXAMPLE, I LIVE ON A RIDGE.

BEHIND MY HOUSE IS BASICALLY NOTHING BUT INVASIVE GRASS AND HALEKOA AND OWNED BY A CONDO ASSOCIATION.

THAT DOESN'T WANT TO DO A FIRE BREAK.

BUT SO THE QUESTION FROM ERIC IN HAWAII KAI, PLACES OVERRUN WITH HALEKOA, CALL IT HALEKOA, BUT IT'S HAOLEKOA.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO RETURN HILLSIDES TO NATIVE PLANTS?

LOOK BETTER.

RETURN HILLSIDES TO NATIVE PLANTS.

SMALL SCALE, COULD PEOPLE DO STUFF THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

LOOK AT WHERE YOU ARE, WHAT THE RAINFALL REGIME IN A AREA.

DEALING WITH IN TERMS OF SOIL AND ASPECT.

WHAT NOT.

THERE'S A LOT OF NATIVE SPECIES THAT DO WELL AND DRYER ENVIRONMENTS AND GOING OUT TAKING OUT HAOLE KOA OR MILO SOME OTHER NATIVE SPECIES.

A BUNCH OF THINGS YOU CAN PUT IN.

WHAT I LIKE TO TRY TO DO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS THE NATURAL FOREST THERE TO BEGIN WITH AND GO THE SPECIES GROW NATURALLY.

AND IF IT YOU USUALLY FIGURE THAT OUT.

EXPERTS YOU CAN TALK TO HELP YOU OUT WITH THAT A LOT OF PROGRAMS THAT CAN HELP OUT WITH APPROPRIATE PLANS TO GROW.

IF YOU PUT THEM, RIGHT PLANT AND RIGHT PLACE CAN DO VERY WELL.

AND A LOT OF NATIVE SPECIES THAT ARE BIG UPGRADE OVER HAOLEKOA AND GRASS.

>>Daryl: GOOD IDEA JUST TO CUT THEM DOWN AND HOPE SOMETHING GROWS IN?

TOO FAR GONE FOR THAT?

IS YOU HAVE TO REPLACE IT WITH SOME KIND OF ‑‑ >> A LOT AREAS.

SO DISTURBED.

BEEN THERE FOR SO LONG.

CUT DOWN HAOLE KOA.

GET MORE HAOLE KOA.

GOOD SUCCESS IN KAILUA, ON OAHU, HERE, ABOVE HAMAKUA MARSH A GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS GOING INTO THERE TAKING OUT HAOLEKOA FOREST PUTTING IN NATIVE FOREST.

LOOKS FABULOUS.

ALII, WHOLE SUITE OF NATIVE FORESTS AND NATIVE FORESTS GROWING UP.

LIKE CHRISTY SAYING JUST TRANSFORMS MICROENVIRONMENT.

YOU GO FROM THIS REALLY EXPOSED DRY, HOT AREA AND YOU CREATE SHADE, YOU COOL THE SOIL, AND YOU CREATE A MUCH MORE ENVIRONMENT THAT HELPS US PLANTS THRIVE.

>>Daryl: HAVE YOU GUYS GOT SUCCESS STORIES THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO POINT TO IN IT YOUR MANAGEMENT ZONES?

>> I HAVE AN AREA HAWAII ISLAND.

URBAN AREAS.

HOMESTEAD CRITICALLY ENDANGERED NATIVE SPECIES.

DEVELOP HOMESTEAD, PROTECT OOPULA.

HAVE SOME GOOD PLACES IN OUR URBAN AREAS.

SO WE'RE ABLE TO RESTORE OUR DRY LAND FOREST THERE.

AND DRY LAND FORESTS, ESPECIALLY RARE AND KEEP USING DRY LAND FORESTS DO HAVE POCKETS OF STORIES OF SUCCESS OF FOREST IN OUR URBAN AREAS.

>>Daryl: IS THAT BECAUSE MENTIONED TO DEVELOP A HOMESTEAD, AREA THERE, IS THAT WHAT TENDS TO HAPPEN?

YOU'LL WANT TO DO A HOMESTEAD AREA, THEN AROUND IT, YOU WANT TO AND IN IT, WANT TO USE A NATIVE PLANTS AND SO ON, THAT HELPS ESSENTIALLY RESTORE NATURAL GROWTH BUT IT'S ALSO ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASING HOMESTEADS?

THOSE THINGS WORK OUT TOGETHER?

>> YEAH.

SO SOMETIMES, THINGS THAT MOVE FORWARD BY BECAUSE OF MITIGATION, BUT DEFINITELY, IT IS A PLACE THAT PEOPLE CAN PASS BY AND SEE GLIMPSE OF WHAT WAS IN KONA 100, 200 YEARS AGO.

YEAH, SO SOME POCKETS OF HOPE.

AND AREA ON NATIVE PLANTS HAVE BEEN GROWING THERE FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

SO DON'T TAKE THAT MUCH WATER.

THEY DON'T REQUIRE A LOT OF CARE.

IF YOU GIVE THEM THE SPACE AND KEEP ANIMALS OUT AND MITIGATE FOR FIRE, THESE PLANTS ACTUALLY THRIVE IN THOSE AREAS.

FOR HUMANS.

>>Daryl: INTERESTING QUESTIONS.

ABOUT PEOPLE CONTINUING TO INTRODUCE AND PROPAGATE BAD PLANTS.

PANEL MENTIONED STRAWBERRY GUAVA TREES PLANTED AT MUSEUM.

>> ALL OVER THE GROUND.

SPREADING SEEDS TO TO THE FOREST.

OTHER THAN THIS PROGRAM, PANEL EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT INVASIVE TREES LIKE IN SCHOOL ET CETERA?

DECENT QUESTION ARE WE STILL CONTINUING TO BRING IN INVASIVE SPECIES AS LANDSCAPING PLANTS, THAT SORT OF THING?

GO AHEAD, FLINT.

>> I THINK WE'RE DOING A MUCH BETTER JOB NOW THAN TEN, 20, 30 YEARS AGO.

AND EVEN LONGER AGO THAN THAT.

MORE OF A CHALLENGE.

BUT THERE'S ALWAYS CAN ALWAYS IMPROVE AND MOST OF THE INVASIVE SPECIES COMMITTEES ARE STILL PART OF THEIR WORK IS TO STOP NEW NONNATIVE SPECIES THAT HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED.

STILL DOING THAT.

PROBABLY WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

I THINK OUR CONSCIOUSNESS ABOUT IT A IMPROVED A LOT ACROSS CONSERVATION GROUPS, RESOURCE MANAGERS, INDUSTRY, NURSERY INDUSTRY FOLKS.

I THINK THE UNDERSTANDING ABOUT CONTROLLING FOR NONNATIVE INTRODUCTIONS IS IMPROVED VASTLY.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WOULD AGREE.

>> I DO AGREE.

WE DO HAVE TO DO BETTER BECAUSE THE LAWS AREN'T THERE TO RESTRICT INVASIVE PLANTS FROM COMING IN.

EVERYBODY GOT TO KNOW AND EVERYBODY'S GOT TO DO BETTER AND SO THANK HEAVENS NOW THERE'S RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO LOOK FOR NONINVASIVE PLANTS.

WE'VE GOT WEBSITES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

UNIVERSITY DONE LOTS OF WORK BEHIND IT.

PLANT PONO IS A GREAT EXAMPLE.

YOU CAN LOOK FOR NONINVASIVE PLANT.

BEEN STUDIED AND THERE'S BEEN A RISK ASSESSMENT DONE ON IT.

>>Daryl: WHAT'S PLANT PONO.

>> WEBSITE THAT HOUSES ALL OF THIS RESEARCH.

IT'S 49 THE QUESTIONS ABOUT A PLANT.

BACKGROUND CHECK ON A PLANT.

MORE THAN 2,000 PLANTS HAVE BEEN SCREENED FOR THEIR RISK OF BEING INVASIVE.

TELL YOU IF IT'S INVASIVE OR NOT.

MAKE YOUR DECISION WHETHER YOU WANT TO PLANT IT OR NOT.

>>Daryl: PEOPLE DO NEED HAVE THIS IN THEIR MIND.

MAKE DECISIONS AROUND THEIR PROPERTIES OR THEIR BUSINESSES, THEY JUST HAVE A CONSCIOUSNESS OF THIS, RIGHT?

INTERESTING POINT TO BE MADE, KIND OF GETTING THIS EARLIER, CONSTANCE FROM HAWAII ISLAND.

25 YEARS AGO PLANTATIONS CLOSED NEW LANDOWNERS, LANDOWNERS LIKE BISHOP ESTATE PLANTED EUCALYPTUS LIKE NATIVE TREES LIKE KOA.

FIRE HAZARD.

OVERRUNS LANDSCAPE.

NEED TO LEARN FROM PAST MISTAKES AND PLANT NATIVE SPECIES.

ALBESIA TREES EVERYWHERE.

THEN THERE'S ALSO GROWING INDUSTRIES, COFFEE IS COFFEE INVASIVE PLANT?

>> IT CAN GET OUT.

I'M NOT TO GIVE UP MY COFFEE?

ON THAT QUESTION, ARE WE STILL INDUSTRIAL LEVEL, REPLACING FORESTS WITH NONNATIVE SPECIES?

IS THAT TOO HARD A QUESTION, IT'S A HARD QUESTION.

WE DON'T HAVE LARGE MAJOR REDUCTION AGRICULTURAL PLANTING NEW THINGS RIGHT NOW.

I'M NOT SAYING THAT WE WON'T.

WHEN WE HAVE THIS BIG PUSH FOR BIOFUELS, THAT WAS PART OF THE EUCALYPTUS THING.

PLANT THESE NEW THINGS.

HOW A LOT OF NEW ALBESIA.

NEEDS TREES THAT GROW FAST.

WE'RE IMPERFECT.

ALWAYS DO BETTER.

I THINK THAT IS WHAT WE JUST NEED TO COMMIT TO.

CAN'T JUST SHAME OURSELVES FOR THE PAST.

IT IS A SHAME.

BUT WE NEED TO LOOK TO THE FUTURE AND JUST KNOW THAT THERE IS TOOLS AND WE NEED TO TRY TO IMPROVE.

I THINK USING ALBESIA AS AN EXAMPLE, LARGE AREAS OF BIG ISLAND WERE OVERGROWN WITH ALBESIA.

PUNA IN PARTICULAR.

AND WHEN HURRICANE IZELLE HIT.

CAUSE A LOT OF DESTRUCTION AND DAMAGE, MIRACULOUSLY NO FATALITIES.

EVERYBODY LOOKED AT THAT AND LEARNED AND THERE'S BEEN A TREMENDOUS REDUCTION IN THE AREA OCCUPIED BY ALBESIA.

ACROSS THE BIG ISLAND.

AND PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD THE NEED, ACTED ON IT AND FOLKS CAME UP WITH SOLUTIONS THAT WOULD ACTUALLY WORK IN TERMS OF CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT.

>>Daryl: CONSCIOUSNESS OF INDIVIDUALS AND INDIVIDUAL LANDOWNERS AND SO ON, ALONG WITH SUPPORT OF THE GOVERNMENT?

>> AND COLLECTIVE WORK WITH AGENCIES, DOFA WORKED VERY HARD.

ALONG WITH HELCO, ALONG WITH OTHER.

>> BIG ISLAND INVASIVE SPECIES COMMITTEE.

>> BIG ISLAND INVASIVE SPECIES COMMITTEE.

>>Daryl: ASK YOU ABOUT SCIENCE.

COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

I'M GOING TO SAY CHERYL FROM MAUI.

NEED TO DO OUR BEST TO DO SO.

>> NEED TO ALL BE PART OF THE SOLUTION.

MALAMA KA AINA.

ANOTHER ONE WAS ABOUT THE SEED BANK.

AT THE BISHOP MUSEUM.

IS THERE PROGRESS BEING MADE IN SCIENCE TO HELP GET HEALTHY SPECIES OUT THAT MAY NOT BE EXACTLY LIKE THE SPECIES THAT WERE THERE BEFORE, RESISTANT TO THESE INVASIONS?

>> THERE'S A SEED BANK AT THE UNIVERSITY.

LYON ARBORETUM.

NETWORK OF SEED BANKS ACROSS THE STATE.

THAT DO SEED SAVING, PROVIDE SEEDS BACK TO THOSE COMMUNITIES, THAT THEY'RE COLLECTED FROM, BECAUSE IT IS NOT JUST FOR KEEPING.

IT REALLY IS LIKE A BANK.

IN THAT YOU CAN WITHDRAW THOSE SEEDS AND PUT THEM BACK.

SO I DO THINK THAT THAT IS PART OF A SOLUTION.

AND HAVING PEOPLE THAT ARE WILLING AND EAGER TO DO IT, THAT'S AN EXCITING THING.

>> THERE IS OHIA, SEED BANK THAT WAS DEVELOPED IN RESPONSE TO RAPID OHIO DEATH AND CONCERN OVER FOREST LOSS AND NEED TO COLLECT SEED THAT MAY TURN OUT TO BE RESISTANT TO DISEASE WHICH IS ONGOING PROGRAM TESTING VARIOUS POPULATIONS OF OHIA TO SEE WHETHER THERE IS INNATE RESISTANCE TO RAPID OHIO DEATH PART OF THIS LARGER EFFORT MULTIAGENCY AND VERY GOOD APPROACH THAT SET UP IN HAWAII.

I THINK A LITTLE BIT UNUSUAL WHEN YOU COMPARE TO OTHER STATES HOW WELL EVERYBODY WORKS TOGETHER TO TRY TO TACKLE THESE HUGE PROBLEMS.

>>Daryl: JUST GOT A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT OHIA.

SOMEONE SAYING NO ONE MENTIONED IT YET.

WE JUST MENTIONED IT.

HAVE WE TAKEN ENOUGH MEASURES TO PRESERVE OHIA TREES?

HOW LONG A PROCESS ARE WE TALKING TO REALLY RESTORE A FOREST.

>> GENERATIONAL WORK.

SEEN GOOD RESPONSE IN AREAS.

SEEN THE FOREST COME BACK.

A LONG WAY TO GO BEFORE IT REALLY BECOME REALLY RICH MATURE NATIVE FOREST.

SORT OF LIKE, I DON'T KNOW, GOOD WINE OR SOMETHING.

KEEPS GETTING BETTER WITH AGE.

A LOT OF THESE FORESTS GET MORE AND MORE DIVERSE AND MORE AND MORE MULTILAYERED, LIKE CHRISTY WAS TALKING ABOUT EARLIER.

SO YOU CAN SEE REALLY QUICK RESULTS BUT REALLY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GENERATIONAL WORK.

THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO GET BETTER AND BETTER WITH TIME.

PUTTING IN KOA FOREST, HAVE A PRETTY NICE FOREST IN 20, 25 YEARS.

REALLY NICE FOREST IN 100 YEARS.

A LOT OF THIS IS OLD PROVERB OF PLANTING TREES UNDER WHOSE SHADE YOU DON'T EVER, ARE NEVER GOING TO SIT.

WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE.

WORKING FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

>>Daryl: TWO QUESTIONS ABOUT SANDALWOOD.

ALWAYS BEEN FASCINATED BY THE SANDALWOOD STORY.

MIDDLE SCHOOL, THEY TELL YOU ABOUT THE SANDALWOOD THING.

AND 1800'S, SANDALWOOD CUT DOWN, SENT TO CHINA RESULTING IN NEGLECT OF OUR FORESTS AND RESOURCE.

CALL FROM MOANI, CAN RESTORE NATIVE SANDALWOOD FOREST ON DIAMOND HEAD?

CAN THIS BE DONE?

MICHELLE DIAMOND HEAD STATE FOUNDATION.

SANDALWOOD, KIND WHAT KIND OF TREE IS THAT OR PLANT?

I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH IT.

OTHER THAN I REMEMBER HEARING ABOUT SANDALWOOD.

WHAT KIND OF PLANT?

WHERE DOES THAT GO?

IS SOMETHING PEOPLE CAN PLANT ANY MORE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ANSWER BETTER THAN I.

>> TENDING TO BE KIND OF MOISTURE FOREST SPECIES.

THAT OFTEN ASSOCIATED AMONGST OTHER SPECIES IN THE FOREST THAT ACTUALLY IS CONSIDERED HEMIPARASITE.

GLOMS ON TO OTHER TREE SPECIES.

BEST BET IS TO HAVE SANDALWOOD MIXED IN WITH AMONGST OTHER HEALTHY COMPONENTS OF A FOREST.

>>Daryl: NOT THE FIRST THING YOU WOULD PLANT?

>> I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH EXPERIENCE TO SAY ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

>> GREAT PROGRAM GOING WITH HUA AINA.

IN SOUTH KONA.

THEY HAVE WORKING SANDALWOOD FOREST.

THEY PLANT BOTH SANDALWOOD AND OTHER SPECIES.

SO SANDALWOOD IS PARASITIC.

FOR OUR FIVE OR MORE OTHER TREES IN THE COURSE OF ITS LIFETIME.

SO IT'S PART OF A LIVING EVOLVING FOREST.

BUT THEY ARE DOING A WORKING FOREST, PLANTING OUT SANDALWOOD, REMOVING ALL THE ANIMAL AND RESTORING NATIVE FOREST.

AND STARTING OUT WITH HARVESTING A LOT OF THE OLD DEAD AND DYING SANDALWOOD.

HARVESTING PLANT A WHOLE NEW GENERATION.

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THRIVING NATIVE FOREST AND ALSO SANDALWOOD FOREST PRODUCING SANDALWOOD PRODUCTS.

EXAMPLE OF HOW YOU CAN CREATE ECONOMIC MODEL TO ALSO HAVE NATIVE FOREST.

>>Daryl: QUESTION FROM JEFFREY FROM HAWAII I‑POD.

BEST WAY TO RESTORE FOREST WOULD BE ELIMINATE ALL OF THE FERAL GOATS SHEEP AND DEER FROM THE ISLANDS.

KUALI'I, HOW MUCH OF AN EFFORT IS THERE BEING MADE ON YOUR GUYS PROPERTIES TO ELIMINATE OR AT LEAST CONTROL THEM?

MUST BE TREMENDOUS LABOR INTENSIVE TO TRY TO DEAL WITH SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> FOR US, FOR US, OUR BIGGEST CONCERN MAUNA KEA IS FERAL CATTLE.

MOST DESTRUCTIVE, BIG ANIMALS.

STRIP THE OHIA.

BUT I THINK LIKE FOR ME, I THINK TRY TO FIND THAT BALANCE.

SO SIMILAR TO THE SANDALWOOD, FOR US, STORY ALL ABOUT THE KOA.

ECOSYSTEM SERVICES.

CATCHES WATER.

PROVIDES HABITAT.

FOR OUR BIRDS.

IT BUILDS SOIL.

BUT IT ALSO IS VERY VALUABLE SPECIES.

SO FOR US, FOR DHHL WE MIGHT NOT HAVE, DIFFERENT RESPONSIBILITY THAN DLNR AND DOFA LOOKING FOR THAT BALANCE.

LOOKING FOR ECOSYSTEM SERVICE, WATERSHED FUNCTION, ALSO HAVE A PRODUCT, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT FOR BENEFICIARIES.

AND KOA KIND OF FITS THAT.

KOA KIND OF FITS THAT MODEL.

GOING BACK A LITTLE BIT TO WHAT WE SAID EARLIER.

>> NOT SO MUCH THE PHYSICAL WORK, GETTING AN AWARENESS OUT THAT THAT AWARENESS OUT THERE ARE WAYS TO GET THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS WHERE CAN HE STILL KEEP OUR WATER CYCLES GOING.

SUPPORT OUR PEOPLE AND HAVE SUSTAINABLE INDUSTRY THAT IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE AWAPUA.

WE DO HAVE CATTLE BIG ISSUE TO ME.

LARGER ISSUE IS THOSE SOCIAL ISSUES AND HAVING THE VALUE SYSTEM THAT VALUES OUR FORESTS AND CAN SEE A FUTURE WITH FORESTS AND PEOPLE CAN COEXIST.

>>Daryl: I GOT TO INTERESTING QUESTION HERE.

ON THE POINT YOU JUST MADE WHAT IS THE CONFLICT BETWEEN AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY?

MARYLAND OF MILILANI.

I SPENT SOME TIME IN THE BIG ISLAND DOING STORY ABOUT BEEF INDUSTRY ON THE BIG ISLAND.

THERE WAS A LOT OF HOPE THAT THE BEEF INDUSTRY COULD BE REALLY GROW BUT THAT REQUIRES PASTURE, PASTURE MANAGEMENT.

LET ME CHRISTY MARTIN DO YOU THERE'S A CONFLICT OR SOMEHOW COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER IN MUTUAL GROWTH?

>> I THINK THAT THERE'S SPACE FOR BOTH.

ABSOLUTELY.

THERE'S PASTURE LANDS THAT ABSOLUTELY GREAT FOR POSTURE.

MORE WE EAT LOCAL LESS INVASIVE SPECIES WE IMPORT.

IDENTIFIES WHERE THE LANDS ARE GOOD FOR PASTURE RAISED OR WHAT WHATEVER TYPE OF RANCHING WE'RE GOING TO DO.

AREAS PERHAPS SET ASIDE FOR SHOULDN'T BE SUBSISTENCE IS VERY IMPORTANT.

BUT OF COURSE, THING THAT ALWAYS GETS SHORT END OF THE STICK AREAS THAT ARE PRESERVED FOR NATIVE SPECIES AND ECOSYSTEM FUNCTION AND OF COURSE, WITH THAT COMES CULTURAL GATHERING, CULTURAL PRACTICES THAT ARE SO TIED TO THOSE ECOSYSTEMS.

I THINK THERE'S SPACE FOR ALL OF THEM.

>> ONE THING JUST GETTING BACK TO THE QUESTION ABOUT UNGULATES.

AND FOCUSING A LITTLE BIT ON RAPID OHIO DEATH.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING HARD TO UNDERSTAND AND WE DO SEE STRONG CONNECTION BETWEEN THE WOUNDING THAT UNGULATES DO.

NOT FERAL UNGULATES.

NOT NECESSARILY CATTLE ON RANCHES THAT ARE MANAGED AND THAT ARE NOT WOUNDING TREES BECAUSE THEY'RE STARVING TO DEATH.

BUT FERAL ANIMALS INCLUDING FERAL PIGS, FERAL SWINE, WE'RE SEEING DIRECT CONNECTION BETWEEN THE WOUNDING THAT THEY'RE DOING, THE BEETLE ACTIVITY PUTTING OUT, THAT'S EMITTING THE INFECTED MATERIAL FROM INFECTED TREES THAT PICKED UP BY ANIMALS, WHO THEN WOUND THE TREES AND THEN THAT STARTS CYCLE OF MORTALITY IN THAT PARTICULAR TREE.

WE ARE SEEING STRONG CONNECTIONS BETWEEN UNGULATES AND FOREST HEALTH IN THAT REGARD.

WITH RESPECT TO RAPID OHIO DEATH.

>>Daryl: I DID GET A QUESTION ON THAT.

SHEEP AND GOATS SEEM TO BE OVERPOPULATED.

LARGE HERDS ON STATE HIGHWAYS.

WHO OWNS ANIMALS?

WHAT CAN BE DONE TO PROTECT THE DRY LAND FOREST?

LAURIE IN HILO.

GO TO MAUI, SEE THE DEER JUST WALKING ACROSS THE ROAD ALL OVER THE PLACE.

THEN HOW MUCH, WHAT HOPE DO WE HAVE IF THEY'RE OVERGROWN?

INDUSTRY THAT THEY COULD HAVE SOME HOPE OF CLEANING OUT THAT POPULATION?

>> WE'RE WORKING, GOT A BUNCH OF SUPPORT FROM THE LEGISLATURE LATELY AND BUNCH OF RESOURCES HEARD SOME PEOPLE ON MAUI AND MOLOKAI.

WORKING ON CONTROLLING THE DEER, WORKING WITH LOCAL LANDOWNERS, A LOT OF IT IS THE BIG RANCHERS, AREAS WHERE DEER CAN GET FIND REFUGE AND MAYBE THERE IS AN ACCESS FOR PUBLIC HUNTERS.

PUBLIC HUNTERS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

DONE EVERYTHING THEY CAN.

TRYING TO FIND AREAS DEER ARE STILL THRIVING, BECAUSE THERE'S A LACK OF ACCESS FOR PUBLIC HUNTERS.

HELPING TO DRIVE INDUSTRY.

GETTING MOBILE SLAUGHTERHOUSES.

ABILITY TO CERTIFY THAT MEAT.

GET IT OUT TO THE PUBLIC.

ALLOWING PEOPLE TO COME AND GATHER CARCASSES OF ANIMALS WE'RE CONTROLLING.

REALLY GOOD EXAMPLE.

WE'VE HAD YEAR‑ROUND DAILY NO BAG LIMIT HUNTING OF DEER ON MAUI FOR 20 YEARS.

AND THAT DEER JUST EXPLODED.

MOLOKAI LAST YEAR GOT SO BAD, DEER WERE JUST FALLING OVER DEAD ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

SO THESE ANIMALS CAN LITERALLY EAT THEMSELVES OUT OF HOUSE AND HOME.

AND SO WE REALLY JUST NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF MANAGING THEM.

>>Daryl: DO YOU RUN INTO THAT ON THE BIG ISLAND?

YOU MENTIONED FERAL CATTLE.

I MEAN, THERE'S CATTLE RUNNING AROUND IN THE FOREST?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> YES.

>>Daryl: REALLY?

>> YES.

AND FOR US, CATTLE IS BY FAR THE MOST DETRIMENTAL ESPECIALLY TO OHIA.

WE HAVE SHEEP UP THERE AS WELL.

AND WE DO HAVE, SEE SOME SYNERGISM BECAUSE OUR FERAL UNGULATES AND INVASIVE SPECIES.

FOR US, WE HAVE A LARGE THORNY BUSH TAKES OVER THE LANDSCAPE.

THRIVES IN PRESENCE OF ANIMALS BECAUSE IT'S THORNY AND ANIMALS EAT EVERYTHING ELSE.

THEY EAT EVERYTHING ELSE.

FOR US, VERY BIG ISSUE, BIG ISSUE, WE KNOW THAT FORESTS BEEF GROWERS.

FOREST CANOPY, FORESTS EVENTUALLY GETS PHASED OUT.

AND HEALTHY FOOD SYSTEM PHASES IT OUT.

RIGHT NOW, PERFECT STORM.

>>Daryl: I NEED TO STOP YOU BECAUSE WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

I THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MAHALO TO ALL OF YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

TONIGHT, AND WE THANK OUR GUESTS, FLINT HUGHES WITH THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE, AND FROM THE UH COORDINATING GROUP ON ALIEN PEST SPECIES, CHRISTY MARTIN.

DAVID SMITH WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES, AND ON ZOOM, JOSEPH KUALII CAMARA WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOMELANDS.

NEXT WEEK ON INSIGHTS, THERE’S BEEN A RECENT UPTICK IN COVID‑19 CASES IN HAWAII AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WE’LL CHECK IN WITH HEALTH EXPERTS TO DISCUSS HOW OUR HOSPITALS ARE HANDLING THE RISE, THE NEWEST STRAIN OF THE VIRUS, AND WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE UPDATED BOOSTER.

PLEASE JOIN US THEN.

I’M DARYL HUFF FOR INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAI`I.

ALOHA!

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