# *Field Report *Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge

##  1.0 Summary

The Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge is a 203-acre refuge on the
northern shore of the island of Kauai. Kilauea Point has rocky cliffs
that have served as seabird nesting areas for thousands of years. It
provides coastal nesting areas for several species of native Hawaiian
seabirds, including Hawaii's state bird, the endangered nene goose,
which is making a comeback after reintroduction efforts. Extensive
habitat restoration efforts have also established the refuge as home to
many native Hawaiian plants. There is a buried fenceline around the
perimeter of the refuge to protect breeding seabirds and the nene goose.

The Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge was established to provide a
protected habitat for native and endangered plant and wildlife species.
It also strives to be a visitor desti­nation, providing visitors with
unique opportunities to view and enjoy the wildlife living on the
refuge, and serving to educate visitors about the importance of each
species and generally provide them with a positive environmental
experience. The refuge was part of a statewide recovery program begun in
1991 for the reintroduction of the endangered nene goose. The waters off
Kilauea Point were designated a National Marine Sanctuary in 1992, a
designation designed to help protect endangered humpback whales, which
migrate to the waters each year.

The Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge could be a candidate for
expanded alternative transportation systems (ATS), either separately or
in conjunction with a broader system serving the North Shore of Kauai
including the Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge, and the Huleia National
Wildlife Refuge.

1.  Point-to-Point Shuttle to Kilauea Point. This alternative would
    provide a shuttle from Kilauea Town to the wildlife refuge. It would
    employ the largest vehicles transit that could safely operate on the
    access drive to the refuge parking area.

2.  Community Transit Service on North Shore of Kauai. This service
    would represent an expansion of or complement to the existing county
    bus service on Kuhio Highway. It would be operated frequently enough
    to afford an attractive alternative to driving for visitors and
    residents.

##  2.0 Background Information

### 2.1 Location

Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge is located on the northeast coast
of the island of Kauai, Hawaii. It is approximately 24 miles from
Kauai's Lihue Airport. The refuge is accessed from the end of Lighthouse
Road in the Town of Kilauea. Lighthouse Road is accessed by a turnoff
from the Kuhio Highway onto Kolo Road at the town of Kilauea.

The Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge is located near the town of
Hanalei, which is about 8.5 miles from the town of Kilauea. Most of the
refuge is closed to public use, but the area can be viewed from an
overlook off the main highway (Kuhio Highway) near the Princeville
shopping center.

The Huleia National Wildlife Refuge is located on the southeast side of
Kauai near the Menehune Fish Pond. Most of the refuge is closed to the
public, but can be seen from the Menehune Fish Pond Overlook.

Figure 1. Kauai's North Shore

![](media/image1.png)

### 2.2 Administration and Classification

All three of the wildlife refuges mentioned above, Kilauea Point,
Hanalei, and Huleia National Wildlife Refuges, are under joint
management by the USFWS. The same USFWS staff members are responsible
for all three units.

![](media/image2.jpeg){width="6.152777777777778in"
height="3.1847222222222222in"}

### 2.3 Physical Description

At the end of Kilauea Lighthouse Road, as visitors approach Kilauea
Point, there is a turn­around area overlooking Kilauea Point where
visitors are instructed to proceed through a gate. Visitors proceed
through the gate down a steep and narrow access road to the parking area
below for the refuge and lighthouse. The width and grade of the road
restricts its use by pedestrians and larger tour buses, and signs are
posted prohibiting pedestrian travel. Some visitors are parking at the
circle entry and walking to the refuge despite the postings, adding to
the congestion at the entry and making it more difficult for large tour
buses to turn around.

At the end of a 0.2-mile walk from the parking area, visitors may enjoy
a visitor center that features interpretive displays and dioramas about
native Hawaiian habitats and wildlife. Another short walk to the point
takes visitors to the Kilauea Point Lighthouse, which was built in 1913.
The Lighthouse, which is open to the public and is still lit on special
occa­sions, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in
1979.

![](media/image3.jpeg){width="3.8569444444444443in"
height="2.589583333333333in"}

Near the Lighthouse is a bookstore, which is run by the Kilauea Point
Natural History Association. Visitors may take a guided hike up Crater
Hill, an otherwise closed section of the refuge, to overlook areas
offering dramatic views of Kilauea Point and the sur­rounding cliffs.

The Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge is considering plans to
create a hiking trail from the point of the circle entry up to the top
of Crater Hill. It is also considering a redesign of the circle entry
that would lower the vegetation to permit the creation of a Lighthouse
overlook at that location and to reduce traffic and parking conflicts
near the gate. Preliminary plans also call for the use of crushed coral
for roadside parking areas that would enable grass to grow on the
parking surface. Other plans include the extension of a
bicycle/pedestrian trail through the Town of Kilauea out to Kilauea
Point.

A second refuge on the island of Kauai is the Hanalei National Wildlife
Refuge. Estab­lished in 1972, the Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge is the
largest of the three refuges at 917 acres in Hanalei Valley. The public
is not permitted to enter this refuge without a spe­cial use permit. One
trail is available in the refuge, with a parking lot immediately across
the road from the trailhead. Signage in the trailhead parking area
alerts users that when the parking lot is full, the trail is full. The
hillsides around the valley are wooded primar­ily in exotic species, with
some native species. The Hanalei River runs through the refuge,
providing water for wildlife and wetland agriculture, such as Taro
farming, and wildlife including several species of waterfowl. The
Hanalei Valley is an important location for Taro farming for over 1,000
years.

![](media/image4.jpeg){width="5.490972222222222in"
height="2.0347222222222223in"}

A third refuge is the Huleia National Wildlife Refuge. The Huleia
National Wildlife Refuge is located on the southeast side of Kauai,
adjacent to the Menehune Fish Pond. The refuge is approximately 240
acres of land, consisting primarily of steep wooded slopes and flat
bottomlands along the Huleia River. The refuge provides a habitat for
four species of endangered waterbirds and migratory waterfowl and
shorebirds.

### 2.4 Mission and Goals of the National Wildlife Refuge

The Hanalei and Huleia wildlife refuges were established primarily for
he purpose of habitat preservation and the protection of wildlife.
Management programs at these two refuges focus on the reintroduction of
native plant species, the support of taro farming practices, and
creating nesting areas that are safe from predators.

### 2.5 Visitation Levels and Visitor Profile

The Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge receives approximately
225,000 visitors per year. This estimated visitation is calculated based
on the entrance fees collected by the refuge, and does not include those
visitors that do not pay the fee, such as those with passes and children
visiting as part of a school tour. It also does not include visitors who
travel in tour buses and others who stop at the loop turnaround, and do
not pass the fee collection point. Due to these omissions, it is
probable that the actual number of annual visitors is significantly
higher than the fees would indicate. The average visitor spends about
20-30 minutes at the refuge. No official information has been collected
regarding the characteristics of refuge visitors, but there is a general
belief among refuge staff that many of the visitors are return visitors
to Kauai. Visitation at the Kilauea National Wildlife Refuge appears to
be tied to general visitation to the island, which has declined in
recent years, primarily due to the struggling Asian economy and the
lingering effects of Hurricane Iniki. It is estimated that approximately
one-third of the visitors to the island of Kauai go the Kilauea Point
National Wildlife Refuge.

##  3.0 Existing Conditions, Issues and Concerns

The current "carrying capacity" for the Kilauea Point National Wildlife
Refuge is deter­mined primarily by the amount of parking available.
Resource impacts from visitor use are limited to soil compaction and
damage to grass in areas of concentrated use. At the present time, the
wildlife is not being negatively impacted by the number of visitors to
the refuge. The primary resource concern for the Hanalei National
Wildlife Refuge is the overuse of the Hanalei River by canoeists and
kayakers.

### 3.1 Transportation Conditions, Issues and Concerns

The primary transportation issue at Kilauea Point National Wildlife
Refuge is limited access. Currently, visitors to the refuge travel to
the end of Lighthouse Road where a cir­cle entry to the refuge is
located. The circle entry is very small and is not designed to allow
parking or stopping, other than to allow the driver of the vehicle to
pause to read the sign directing him/her to proceed through the access
gate. Only private vehicles and small van-type shuttles are allowed down
the road past the circle entry to the refuge. The road past the gate is
considered too narrow to accommodate pedestrians and tour buses. As a
result, tour bus passengers are permitted to view the Kilauea Point
Lighthouse and Wildlife Refuge from the overlook at the circle entry
only. Currently, 25-passenger tour buses, such as Roberts Tours, bring
visitors to the circle entry and have to negotiate the tight turnaround.
Also, refuge parking beyond the access gate is very limited. Currently,
visitor parking at the refuge consists of 33 formal parking spaces, and
approximately 17 unofficial spaces on grass areas adjacent to formal
parking lots.

![](media/image5.jpeg){width="3.0909722222222222in"
height="1.6409722222222223in"}![](media/image6.jpeg){width="2.8666666666666667in"
height="1.6423611111111112in"}

The Hanalei National Wildlife refuge is not open to the public, with the
exception of one trail. However, the refuge can be viewed from an
overlook which is located at a pull-out on the east-bound side of the
Kuhio Highway. The location and design of the pull-out is considered to
be dangerous, however. To address this concern, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, along with principals of the Princeville Corporation,
are considering plans to move the Hanalei Valley National Wildlife
Refuge overlook to a new location that would provide increased safety
and would accommodate more visitors.

Public transit service on the island of Kauai is limited. In the
aftermath of Hurricane Iniki in 1992, a public bus service was begun by
the county with the assistance of FEMA funds. The county has continued
the bus service to date. It is a limited service with stops at most
major towns and attractions along the main coastal highway on the
island. Regular one-way fare is \$1.00, and carry-ons are limited to the
size of a shopping bag. Frequency of service varies depending on the
route and time of day, but typically provides four runs a day through
each community in the service area. No backpacks are allowed.

#### Bicycling

The county of Kauai is currently considering the creation of a bikeway
from Lihue Airport to Lydgate Beach on the east side of the island.
Another potential bike path is being dis­cussed would run from Lydgate
Beach to Anahola.

As previously mentioned, plans are being considered for the extension of
a bicycle/\
pedestrian trail through the town and out to Kilauea Point.

Residents of Kauai and Hanalei expressed a desire for improvements to
and the expansion of the bicycle trail network, though bicycle travel is
not a category within the definition of Alternative Transportation for
purposes of this study. If bicycle improvements are con­sidered at some
point, residents would prefer off-highway bike paths for safety
considerations.

#### Bridges

The Kuhio Highway has a series of one-lane bridges west of the town of
Kilauea, one of which is the subject of a controversial proposal for
conversion to a two-lane bridge. The bridge at the center of the
controversy is located between the Town of Kilauea and the Town of
Hanalei. There is strong community opposition to expanding the bridge
stem­ming from the concern that an added lane will change the character
of the bridge and its environs, as well as potentially increase traffic
to and from locations on either side.

### 3.2 Community Development Conditions, Issues and Concerns

Currently, the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge has a good
relationship with the community of Kilauea. Since its evolution from a
sugar plantation town in the late 1970s, the Town of Kilauea has been
working to establish its identity. The town was essentially a "company
town" until the 1970s when the sugar mill closed. Since that time, the
commu­nity's economic base has become broader-based, but it has also
evolved into bedroom community for the Town of Princeville, where most
Kilauea residents are employed.

Prior to Hurricane Iniki in 1992, there was less local traffic through
the Town of Kilauea than in 1998, but there was more visitor traffic.
Current visitor traffic on Kilauea Lighthouse Road, is lower than 1992,
but the local traffic has increased due to land use changes, such as the
construction of a new subdivision in Kilauea, and the relocation of the
Post Office.

A new subdivision is being planned on the west side of town. Many
residents of Town of Kilauea would like to limit further development
within the community. Believing that rapid growth in the area would
damage the town's character, Kilauea residents are reluc­tant to
participate in planning efforts.

Other concerns of the Kilauea community include the following:

-   Impacts of tourists on cultural resources, natural resources, and
    transportation infra­structure are a major concern.

-   Residents do not want overbuilding of the circle entry to the refuge
    in an effort to accommodate more visitors

-   Residents are experiencing increasing difficulty in accessing
    beaches as more large lot residential development is taking place
    adjacent to the beach areas and cutting off tra­ditional access
    routes.

-   Residents of the North Shore of Kauai are concerned with preserving
    the view of the Taro fields at the Hanalei Valley overlook.

-   Residents of the North Shore communities of Kauai, including
    Kilauea, feel very strongly about being involved in any decision
    that affects their community. The North Shore communities are very
    vocal and value participatory decision-making.

-   Hawaiian organizations on the island of Kauai are working to
    decrease vehicular traf­fic on all roads.

Concerns expressed by the Hanalei community include the following:

-   Impacts of tourists on cultural resources, natural resources, and
    transportation infra­structure are a major concern.

-   The Hanalei community would like to reduce the number of cars on the
    roads -- both between towns and within communities.

-   The community expressed a strong desire for additional
    bicycle/pedestrian bike ways and paths, as well as improvements to
    existing bicycle/pedestrian facilities, within their community and
    in the surrounding areas.

-   The Hanalei community expressed its preference for funding
    alternative travel options rather than changing or widening roads to
    accommodate more cars.

-   The Hanalei River has been designated an American Heritage River
    which requires the coordination of planning efforts among planning
    entities in the Hanalei vicinity.

-   The current public transportation system, consisting of the bus
    service established after Hurricane Iniki, fails to provide
    transportation for hikers and backpackers due to the carry-on
    baggage size restriction. This forces those who wish to engage in
    these activities on the island of Kauai to rent a car or hitchhike
    to and from their destinations.

-   Intergovernmental cooperation would be helpful in addressing some
    traffic and parking issues. For example, there is significant
    congestion at Ke'e Beach, where the Kuhio Highway ends on the North
    Shore of the island. At that location, the trail on one side of the
    parking area is owned by the state, and the land on the other side
    is owned by the county.

-   It is very important to members of the Hanalei community that they
    be given an opportunity to participate in decisions affecting their
    community.

The Huleia community raised the following concerns:

-   Impacts of tourists on cultural resources, natural resources, and
    transportation infra­structure are a major concern.

-   The area around the Huleia has cultural sites and burial grounds
    that should be pro­tected under Section 106 of the National Historic
    Preservation Act.

-   Resources on the island of Kauai are undervalued. Fees should be
    increased to more accurately reflect value received, and to be
    competitive with similar activities else­where. Visitors should pay
    for improvements.

-   The transportation system on the island of Kauai is already at
    capacity currently, and increased numbers of visitors will only
    exacerbate the problem. A suggestion was made to establish a
    carrying capacity for private vehicles on the island of Kauai, and
    freeze the number of vehicles allowed at that limit. Opposition to
    this proposed effort can be expected from rental car companies.

-   Kauai would be a good location for public transportation.

-   Funding of roads on Kauai is very poor.

-   The Kuhio Highway between Lihue and Kapaa is dangerous.

-   Better coordination is needed between federal, state, and county
    agencies.

-   Any transportation improvements should consider the cultural
    resource impacts.

-   It is very important to members of the Huleia community that they be
    given an opportunity to participate in decisions affecting their
    community.

A concern of some residents in various locations on the island of Kauai
pertains to a change that could affect the entire island: Plans for the
lengthening of runways at Lihue airport, allowing larger planes to land
bringing more tourists to the island, and increasing traffic.

### 3.3 Natural or Cultural Resource Conditions, Issues and Concerns

The natural resource issues related to transportation are:

-   The Fish and Wildlife Service is striving to maintain the character
    and appearance of Kilauea Point in a culturally and historically
    appropriate manner. These challenges include maintenance of the
    vegetative cover, such as the grass by the interpretive signs and
    the lighthouse, as well as structural maintenance. This issue is
    related to trans­portation in the sense that increased transit or
    transportation improvements could result in an increased number of
    visitors to the site, increasing daily use of the facilities,
    resulting in increased maintenance requirements.

-   The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, along with principals of the
    Princeville Corporation, are considering plans to move the Hanalei
    Valley National Wildlife Refuge overlook to a new location. The new
    location would be safer and could accommodate more visi­tors in a new
    visitor center. However, the proposed new site would also be
    adjacent to a religious site. Plans for the relocation of this
    overlook will need to include consid­eration of the cultural and
    religious sensitivities associated with the area. In addition,
    overlook relocation plans will need to address community concerns
    about the views from their neighborhoods up to the overlook.

-   In the community of Huleia, near the Huleia National Wildlife
    Refuge, residents are concerned about the overuse of the Huleia
    River by people using canoes and kayaks. One of the complicating
    factors is the lack of an appropriate location for vehicles to pick
    up boaters to take them away from the river area. This has been a
    controversial issue for several years. Negotiations have taken place
    and have resulted in the establishment of some limits on use agreed
    to by both the operators of boat rental companies community
    residents.

### 3.4 Recreation Conditions, Issues and Concerns

Several recreation-related issues have been described in the
Transportation Issues, Community Issues, and Natural Resource Issues
sections of this report. In order to main­tain a positive visitor
experience, for purposes of both education and enjoyment, many of these
previously mentioned issues overlap with the overall visitor experience.
Examples include the design of Kilauea's entry and overlook, visitor
access to the Refuge and Lighthouse, and the preservation of Kauai's
cultural resources. An example from the Hanalei refuge area is the
effort to protect the Hanalei River from overuse while accommodating
boating activity on the river.

##  4.0 Planning and Coordination

### 4.1 Unit Plans

Formal written plans for the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge were
not available. However, the refuge is considering plans for the
following projects (also discussed in other sections of this report):

-   Expanding the bike/pedestrian trail through the Town of Kilauea out
    to Kilauea Point.

-   Creating a hiking trail from the Kilauea Point circle
    entry/turnaround up to the top of Crater Hill.

-   Redesigning the circle entry/turnaround point at the Kilauea
    Lighthouse overlook area.

-   Moving the Hanalei Wildlife Refuge overlook area and building a new
    visitor center.

### 4.2 Public and Agency Coordination

As mentioned in the Community Conditions, Issues and Concerns section
above, some residents of Kawaii communities have expressed
dissatisfaction with federal, state, and county agency coordination (or
lack thereof).

ATS development will need to be coordinated with ongoing agency activity
on the island. A Master Plan for roads in the North Shore area of the
island is currently in the early stages of development through the State
Department of Transportation. The initial scope of work for this project
is being defined, and a contractor will be selected soon. A second
project is the development of a Master Plan for the Kee Beach State Park
area at the north end of the Kuhio Highway, where parking is extremely
congested. The State Parks and Recreation Department is in charge of
this project. Also, an Environmental Impact Statement is being conducted
on the segment of the Kuhio Highway from Lihue to Kapaa. It is expected
that six lanes may be needed for this section of the highway, and a
possible bypass around Kapaa is under consideration. Another Planning
Study is being done for the Kuhio Highway between Lihue and Poipu.

The Fish and Wildlife Service is currently coordinating with the
Princeville Corporation on plans to move the Hanalei Valley National
Wildlife Refuge overlook to a new location. This public/private
partnership would involve the sharing of resources and collaborative
efforts on trails. If successful, it may be a model for future projects
in communities with federally managed lands.

##  5.0 Assessment of Need for ATS

Access to Kilauea Pt. National Wildlife Refuge is limited by the size of
the parking lot and the steep, narrow access road leading from the
entrance gate to the parking area. Pedes­trians and large vehicles are
prohibited from using the road. As a result visitors on organized tours
and people parking outside the gate can not enter the refuge. It is
likely that entry fee collections could be increased if the visitors who
now view the refuge from the gate area could reach the visitor center
and lighthouse area. The refuge plans to improve the turnaround loop at
the gate and to make minor improvements to facilitate roadside parking
in the gate area. A trail also is planned. These improvements would
allow some additional use to occur without the need for visitors to
reach the parking area near the visitor center.

Carrying capacity studies have not been conducted for the refuge, so it
is not possible to determine if more visitors could be accommodated
without damaging resources or degrading the visitor experience. The
refuge managers believe that the existing visitor use is not harming the
wildlife and that measures could be taken to address the damage to
vegetation that occurs from visitor use.

The town of Kilauea, and communities along the North Shore of Kauai are
concerned about traffic and other detrimental impacts of increasing
tourism. Increasing visitor use to Kilauea Point could result in higher
volumes of traffic along Lighthouse Road. Overall growth in visitation
to the North Shore, including Kilauea Point and Hanalei Wildlife refuges
and the numerous beaches could result in higher volumes of traffic
throughout the area. Existing one-lane bridges limit the capacity of the
roadways and residents are opposed to widening the bridges. Parking
areas serving beaches on the North Shore are inadequate and illegal
roadside parking by beach users causes safety and congestion problems.

ATS could play a role in managing the traffic impacts asso­ciated with
visitor use on the North Shore while accommodating increased visitation
and associated tourism revenues. Potential development projects and the
planned relocation of the Hanalei refuge overlook afford an opportunity
to consider ATS solutions for Kilauea Point alone or the greater North
Shore area.

### 5.1 Magnitude of Need

If an ATS were to serve Kilauea Point, the existing access system would
need to be revamped. The access road to the visitor center area is too
steep and narrow to accommo­date private vehicle traffic and ATS traffic.
The road could probably accommodate small-to-medium sized ATS vehicles
operating without interference or conflicts from private vehicles. As a
result, an ATS solution for the Kilauea Point Wildlife Refuge would
replace access by private vehicles and it would need to serve all refuge
visitors when in operation.

The justification for implementing an ATS for access to the refuge would
be:

-   To provide access to the refuge to visitors using tour buses and
    other vehicles that are too large to travel on the entry drive;

-   To reduce the impact of visitor traffic on the community of Kilauea;

-   To provide interpretation of the refuge and its resources in advance
    of visitors' arrival (using prerecorded tapes or driver narration)
    to enhance resource protection and visi­tor understanding; and

-   To reduce the visual impact and resource damage associated with
    visitor vehicles.

ATS could serve a broader range of transportation and community
enhancement needs on the North Shore of Kauai. The existing one-lane
bridges and narrow roads serving com­munity circulation and visitor
access needs can not accommodate large increases in traffic. Parking
areas serving beaches and other features are already inadequate to meet
visitor demand. Traditional access routes to beaches are being
interrupted by private develop­ment. Ongoing residential and resort
development in Princeville, future growth in the general market for
tourism to Kauai, and commercial development (such as the Guava Kai
plantation) are likely to create increased demand for travel. The need
for transportation improvements is likely within the next few years.

An ATS option that served all of the recreation sites and communities on
the North Shore, from Kilauea Point to Kee Beach could be considered as
a means to improve access for visitors and residents and to protect
community values. The demand patterns for the community-wide ATS would
be different than those for the Kilauea Point ATS because other
recreation sites and community destinations would likely have longer
stay durations and would have a lower hourly demand rate.

### 5.2 Feasible Alternatives

Two alternatives have been developed to illustrate the range of
potentially viable ATS options on the North Shore of Kauai. One
alternative would provide a shuttle from a newly developed parking area
in or near the town of Kilauea on Kuhio Highway. The second alternative
would provide a bus route connecting the communities and the major
recreation sites along Kuhio Highway from Kilauea to Kee Beach. These
alternatives are intended only to provide an illustration of the range
of ATS options. Detailed planning and conceptual design work would be
required to confirm the feasibility of an ATS for Kauai and to identify
the most appropriate ATS solutions for this area.

1.  Point-to-Point Shuttle to Kilauea Point. This alternative would
    provide a shuttle from Kilauea Town to the wildlife refuge. It would
    employ the largest vehicles transit that could safely operate on the
    access drive to the refuge parking area. This analysis assumes that
    the shuttle system would be intended to accommodate visitor demand
    equal to the capacity of the visitor center parking lot, plus
    existing tour bus demand, plus an assumed level of existing use by
    visitors in private vehicles who stop at the turnaround. The service
    would be operated on a year-round basis for about eight hours per
    day.

2.  Community Transit Service on North Shore of Kauai. This service
    would represent an expansion of or complement to the existing county
    bus service on Kuhio Highway. It would be operated frequently enough
    to afford an attractive alternative to driving for visitors and
    residents. It could be expected to be attractive to users of the
    state parks and other beaches along the shore, which have inadequate
    parking and congested access today. Access to the bus service would
    be available at two or more parking areas and, potentially, from bus
    stops in the communities and at the major resorts. Stops would
    include the parking facility for Kilauea Point NWR (assuming that
    Alternative 1 was implemented), Princeville, a new overlook for
    Hanalei NWR, Hanalei Town, and the beaches and parks west of
    Hanalei. This service would be operated on a year-round basis over a
    eight- to 10-hour day.

Table 1. Characteristics of the ATS Alternatives

+-----------------------+------------------+--------------------------+
| **\                   | **               | **Alternative 2 --       |
| Characteristic**      | Alternative 1 -- | Community Transit        |
|                       | Kilauea Point    | Service for North Shore  |
|                       | Shuttle**        | of Kauai**               |
+-----------------------+------------------+--------------------------+
| Annual Visits --      | > 225,000        | NA                       |
| Existing              |                  |                          |
+-----------------------+------------------+--------------------------+
| Buses                 | > 10             | four 25-passenger        |
|                       | > 25-passenger   | buses/vans               |
|                       | > buses/vans     |                          |
+-----------------------+------------------+--------------------------+
| Route Length          | > four miles,    | 35 miles, round trip     |
|                       | > round trip     |                          |
+-----------------------+------------------+--------------------------+
| Parking Spaces in New | > 120 spaces     | 50 to 100 spaces in two  |
| Lot                   |                  | or more locations        |
+-----------------------+------------------+--------------------------+
| Time Between Buses    | > three minutes  | 30 minutes               |
| (Peak Hours)          |                  |                          |
+-----------------------+------------------+--------------------------+
| Riders Per Hour (Peak | > 410 each way   | 25 to 35                 |
| Hours)                |                  |                          |
+-----------------------+------------------+--------------------------+
| Riders Per Year       | > Up to 278,000  | 75,000 to 80,000         |
|                       | > round trips    | boardings                |
+-----------------------+------------------+--------------------------+

These characteristics are illustrative of the type of transit service
that could meet the needs of visitors to Kilauea Point National Wildlife
Refuge and visitors to the North Shore of Kauai. More detailed planning
is needed to make a final determination of the need for transit service
and the characteristics of a transit system that would be best-suited to
the needs in the area.

##  6.0 Bibliography

Electronic Mail message from Dave Aplin (USFWS) to Devon Buckels (BRW).
September 5, 1999.

Electronic Mail message from Devon Buckels (BRW) to Tom Alexander
(USFWS) and Dave Aplin (USFWS). November 4, 1999.

Internet site: http://www.alternative-hawaii.com/activity/keco1.htm.
Information printed August 4, 1999.

Internet site: http://www.kauaigov.org/parksnrec.html. Information
printed August 2, 1999.

Internet site: http://www.refuges.fws.gov/. Information printed August
1999.

"Hanalei." Internet site: http://www.recreation.gov/detail.cfm?ID=1417.
Information printed August 3, 1999.

"Kilauea Point NWR." Internet site:
http://www.recreation.gov/detail.cfm?ID=1454. Information printed July
13, 1999.

"Kaua'i 2020 Vision Statement." Internet site:
http://waimea.hawaiian.net/kgpu/\
2020.html. Information printed August 2, 1999.

"Kauai: The Garden Isle." Map. Kauai Beach Press. August 2 -- 5, 1999.
p. 4.

Maps printed from Internet site: http://www.mapquest.com/. September 16,
1999.

##  7.0 Persons Interviewed

Michael Loo, Princeville Corporation. August 13, 1999

Glenn Y. Yamamoto, Assistant District Engineer, Hawaii Department of
Transportation. August 13, 1999

Meeting Held August 13, 1999. Attendees: Bill Byrne (BRW), Sylvia
McLinn(Roberts Tours), Marcy Torres (Polynesian Adventure Tours),
David K.K. Kahaunaele, Jr. (Roberts Tours), David Boynton (KPNHA/Garden
Island), Devon Buckels (BRW), Noreen Bantista (USFWS), and Nathan
Kawaguchi (Akita Enterprises)

Meeting Held August 13, 1999. Attendees: Devon Buckels (BRW), Leilani
Suenaga Kanotto (Huleia Property Owner), Marie N. Kanoho Ornellas
(Huleia Property Owner), Chuck Trembath (Huleia Property Owner), Don
Heacoch (DLNR/Resident), Lester Ching (Huleia Resident), (Alwin Freitas
(Huleai Resident), Ruth L. Hao (Huleia Resident), Terri Goo (Huleia
Resident), Joe K Goo (Huleia Resident), Cheryl Lovell-Obatake
(Huleia/Natwiliwili Resident), Pomai Kane (Hanamalulu Resident), and
Durgh Kane (Hanamalulu Resident)

Meeting Held August 13, 1999. Attendees: Mahaala (Affiliation Unknown),
Bill Byrne (BRW), Devon Buckels (BRW), Dave Aplin (USFWS), Ben Welborn
(Aloha), Gohanna Ventura (Hawaiian), Tom Alexander (USFWS)