Pu`uwa`awa`aRecreation Goals

Pu`uwa`awa`a Advisory Council’s
Recreation, Education & Volunteers (REV) Subcommittee
Draft May 31, 20191

Acronyms Used:
CIP = Capital Improvement Project
BLNR = Board of Land and Natural Resources
DLNR = Department of Land and Natural Resources
DOFAW = Division of Forestry and Wildlife
HETF = Hawai’i Experimental Tropical Forest
HTA = Hawai`i Tourism Authority
MOA = Memorandum of Agreement
PAC = Pu`uwa`awa`a Advisory Council
PATH = People’s Advocacy for Trails Hawai`i
PWW = Pu`uwa`awa`a Ahupua`a
REV = Recreation, Education & Volunteers

I.Introduction
A. Purpose of the Recreation Goals
This internal guidance document contains recommended goals and actions to guide andprioritize management efforts at Pu`uwa`awa`a (PWW) related to recreation in thefollowing areas: trails, public access, ecotourism, cultural and environmental education,and related facilities and infrastructure. It is meant to be an adaptive document andrevised as better information, findings, input and management guidance is received.

B. Relationship to the Management Plan for the Ahupua`a ofPu`uwa`awa`a and the Makai Lands of Pu`uanahulu (“Management
Plan”)
These Recreation Goals were developed to complement the Management Plan byproviding more in depth recommendations that contribute towards fulfilling the recreation
related management objectives in the Management Plan. Following are the specificmanagement objectives related to recreation that these goals draw from:

1. Trails, Access and Ecotourism Objectives
Management Plan Section VII Objectives 42, 44, 45, 46 and 47 on pages 35 – 38.

2. Cultural and Environmental Education Program Development
Objectives
Management Plan Section IX Objective 51 on pages 41-42.

3. Facilities and Infrastructure Objectives
Management Plan Section X Objectives 52, 54 and 56 on pages 43-46.

4. Note on Public Hunting Objectives
A separate Hunting Management Plan for PWW is being developed by DOFAW
and thus is not included here. It should be noted however that some of therecommended improvements to trails and access in this document may also bebeneficial to hunters.

C. Administration of the Recreation Goals
1. Existing Management Structure Lacking

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Existing staff time at PWW is devoted primarily to the high priority Fire andNatural Resource Management objectives of the Management Plan. Recently atemporary Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit employee was hired to coordinate
outreach and education activities, though future funding for this person is
uncertain. There is very little staff time available in the present management
structure to work on the recreation goals in this document, though at times PWW
staff and DOFAW work crews may be able to assist with trail maintenance.

2. Na Ala Hele Trail and Access Program Involvement Recommended
It is recommended that the DOFAW Na Ala Hele Program be utilized at PWW tohelp realize the trail related goals in this document. Though the Na Ala Hele
Program also suffers from lack of manpower and funding, their trail expertise,signage, rules, community partnerships and trail information website will be very
beneficial in helping to develop, maintain and provide information to the public
about these trails at PWW.

3. “Recreation Specialist” Staff Member Recommended
For the long term, it is recommended that a “Recreation Specialist” position beestablished under the supervision of the PWW Coordinator, in order to achieve
the full recreation potential of this unique reserve. Depending on work load, thisposition could possibly be shared and given other responsibilities, for example,
working with cattle owners on strategic fire fuels reduction in the reserve.

II. Near Term Recreation Goals Focus Areas
A. Recommended Na Ala Hele Trails
The following sections list the recommended trails to consider developing as Na Ala
Hele Program trails, incrementally in order of priority. These trails could be hiking,biking or equestrian trails as deemed appropriate by DOFAW management. Exceptions
on the types of trails the PAC considers inappropriate for an area are noted below.
Motorized/ATV trails are not recommended by the PAC in the PWW Forest Reserve.

1. First Increment of Trails
Currently there are three established hiking trails with trail maps in PWW: 1) the
Halapepe Trail, a 1.1 mile loop by the Hiker Check-in Station, 2) the `Ōhi`a Trail,
a 3.2 mile loop mauka of the Hiker Check-in Station, and 3) the Cone Trail to thesummit of the PWW cone, a 6.2 mile round trip hike when started from the Hiker
Check-in Station. The following two trails are recommended for Na Ala Hele.

a) `Ōhi`a Trail

This trail provides a nice hike through predominantly `ōhi`a forest with bird
watching opportunities. Due to the somewhat rough terrain, it isrecommended for hiking only.

b) Cone Trail
This trail ascends the PWW cone and is recommended for hiking and possible
equestrian use. A potential reroute of the Cone Trail has been identified to
improve the overall hiking experience. The portion of this trail on the Cone is3not recommended for mountain biking due to cultural, biological andgeological sensitivities.

2. Second Increment of Trails
If required, a more in depth planning process should be pursued such as an
Environmental Assessment, when proposed new trails or recreational activities
may cause a significant increase in access or usage of the forest reserve leading tosignificant cumulative impact on the environment. There are also many culturaland historical sensitive areas in the reserve, and consultation with the Hui `Ohana
mai Pu’u Anahulu a me Pu’u Wa’awa’a (Hui `Ohana) should also be pursued
when investigating possible new trails. Following are recommended new trails to
be investigated and established if approved in the PWW Forest Reserve.

a) Selected Ranch Roads
Identify ranch roads that lend themselves to new hiking, equestrian or
biking trails. For example, a trail that circles the PWW cone, a trail that
includes the reservoir area (Hauaina Conservation Unit), and a trail alongor near the old runway could be possibilities. The trails might pass throughnormally locked ranch road gates and thus will require pedestrian accessgates. Many of the ranch roads are also lacking names, so appropriate
Hawaiian, historical or culturally based place names for these unnamed
roads will need to be developed for signage and trail map purposes.

b) Reservation Trail
This hiking trail was initially established by the prior PWW Coordinatorand is a loop trail that starts and ends on the east side of the PWW cone.
The trail has never been officially opened to the public. A reconnaissanceof this trail was done in 2014 including GPS tracks, photographs andlocation of native plants along the trail. The trail offers scenic vistas,
shady rest areas and a pleasant stroll through forested areas on mostly
level terrain. A ranch gate that is normally locked prevents access so apedestrian gate plus signage and trail map are needed if this trail isapproved to be opened to the public.

c) Mountain Biking Trails
Informal biking is already being done in the Forest Reserve and it isrecommended that formal biking trails be designated for the public. Two
possible biking loop trails, one mauka and one makai of the highway, havebeen identified, checked out by PATH (People’s Advocacy for Trails
Hawai`i) mountain bikers, and informally approved by DOFAW.
However both loops need signage, access gates and maps to become fully
operational and public access on the makai side of the highway is not
currently allowed. In the short term, it is recommended that the mauka
trail be expanded (e.g. around the Cone) and formalized, then clearly
designated through signage and trail information. DOFAW is encouraged
to explore additional biking trails, preferably separate from hikers andequestrians where trail width is a concern, and with adequate rules andsignage guiding safe and appropriate use.

4d) Equestrian Trails
There is a rich history of equestrian use in the reserve due to the historical
sheep and cattle ranching at PWW, which began in the 1890s with Eben
Parker Low and Robert Hind. The families of the Hui `Ohana mai Pu’u
Anahulu a me Pu’u Wa’awa’a have been involved in this ranching since itbegan to present day. They are the experts when it comes to potential
equestrian trails at PWW and the logistics for horse trailer parking. Theirinvolvement is strongly recommended to help identify potential equestrian
trails and related logistics at PWW.

3. Third Increment of Trails
This last increment of potential Na Ala Hele trails is considered more complex todevelop and thus may take longer to realize.

a) Kīholo – Pu`uwa`awa`a (Makai–Mauka) Trail – links PWW Forest
Reserve with the Kīholo State Wilderness Park

This trail is estimated at 9.7 miles one way from Kīholo Bay to the PWW
Cone Summit, but is an important historic trail linking the makai andmauka portions of the PWW Ahupua`a. The major issue with this trail is
how to cross the Queen Ka`ahumanu Highway safely. There may be a
culvert under the highway that could offer a safe way across below the
highway, and this needs to be investigated with the highway authorities. If
no safe way to traverse the highway can be determined, the trail may need
to be segmented and end at the highway.

b) Historical Trails
It is not fully known what historical trails exist in PWW, though several
historical trails have been identified. During discussions at a PWW
Advisory Council meeting, it was recommended that work begin with the
Na Ala Hele Trails Program to conduct a review of the historical trails
present in PWW. The Pu`uwa`awa`a - Keamuku Trail is one such trail
recommended to include in this review. Once this inventory is completed,consultation with Hui `Ohana and the PAC should be made to see if anyof these trails might be designated as Na Ala Hele Program Trails, bearing
in mind the need to protect sensitive cultural and historical sites.

B. Improve User Safety and Access to Trails
When the existing Cone Trail was first opened up to the public, parking to access thistrail was available near the Quarry and the round trip distance to the summit was 3 miles
instead of the current 6.2 miles. Due to the public safety concerns of the Quarry (falling
rocks, unstable slopes and footing, etc.) as well as potential asbestos concerns in a
nearby building, an old buried diesel tank, and hazardous materials in and around the oldhunter Quonset hut, parking was no longer allowed in this area and was moved back to
the Hiker and Hunter Check-in Stations. The longer trail has made this hike lessaccessible to a broader spectrum of the general public. In order to improve public safety
and trail access, the following are recommended.

51. Mitigate the Safety Hazards around the Quarry
The hazards mentioned above are safety concerns that the State should address toprotect the public. The effort to mitigate all these hazards is currently beyond themeans of the on-site PWW staff and may be best handled in cooperation with the
DLNR Land Division and/or DLNR Engineering staff. It is recommended that
DOFAW pursue funding so these public safety concerns are addressed in a timely
manner.

2. Add Pedestrian Gates Where Needed
As potential new trails have been identified and approved, surveys should be
conducted to determine where pedestrian gates are needed for access when trailscross locked ranch gates. Self-closing and latching pedestrian gates arerecommended for conservation units in order to keep ungulates out. Simpler
cattle exclusion gates could be used elsewhere where controlling cattle movement
is the main concern. Funding for these improvements should be sought fromfunds such as State Capital Improvement Projects (CIP), grants like HTA and/or
hunting funds administered by the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programprovided under the Pittman-Robertson Federal Act, since hunters may also benefit
from them.

3. Improve PWW Forest Reserve Information, Road and Trail Signs
Improvements to information signs have been made regarding the PWW Forest
Reserve’s rules, hiker registration and parking and these should continue to be
improved as needed. Some information, such as dog rules, need to be addressedsince the current trail maps erroneously indicate that dogs are only allowed on the
Halapepe Trail. This is likely a hold-over from before the designation of thePWW Forest Reserve in 2007 when the land was unencumbered state land. Manyof the roads and trails have little or no signs to help the public navigate the Forest
Reserve, and improvements are needed.

a) PWW Forest Reserve Information Signs
PWW was added to the State of Hawai`i Forest Reserve System in 2007
and as such lacks infrastructure appropriate for this designation. Signs
that show PWW is a designated State Forest Reserve with list of rules
should be installed at key points throughout the area. Some of these signs
have recently been installed, but they should be placed at other main
access points. More specific signs listing rules and guidelines (e.g. Rapid`Ōhi`a Death, biking restrictions, etc.) should be placed in areas where
they are needed. Signs should be added that make it clear to hikers thatdogs are allowed in the Forest Reserve, but must be leashed at all times.
(Note – When the Reserve is opened up for hunting, hunting dogs may beallowed off leash beyond the Safety Zone by permitted and licensed
hunters, but must be within voice control.)b) Trail Signs
Trail signs point the way for users and help them stay on the trail. It is
recommended to survey existing and new trails and add signs and arrows
where needed to clearly show trailheads and pathways.

6c) Road Names and Signs
As mentioned earlier, many of the roads in the Forest Reserve areunnamed and road signs are nonexistent, thus making it difficult toreference maps and navigate the Reserve. It is recommended that theseroads be appropriately named using either Hawaiian and/or historicallyrelated place names for these roads that honor the historical and/or culturaluse of the lands. Once the proposed road names are approved, install roadsigns and update Forest Reserve maps accordingly.

4. Investigate Public Parking Closer to the Cone
It is recommended that a suitable parking area be investigated that is closer to theCone to allow broader public access to summit the PWW Cone. For example,
parking near the Hauaina Conservation Unit with a trail along the base of theCone, or a parking area near the lower trailhead of the Reservation Trail might bepossibilities. Several other trails recommended in Section II A might also benefit
from a new parking area closer to the Cone, with ideally several trailheads
available to the public from this location.

C. Improve Cultural & Environmental Educational Material
The existing trail map brochures contain a small amount of information on the history,
culture, biota and geology of the Reserve. Recently UH Manoa developed an informative
geographical pamphlet on Pu`uwa`awa`a. There are also some informational posters at
the Hiker Check-in Station. There is more information that could be shared regarding
cultural, historical and environmental aspects that would help the public learn about andbetter appreciate these “Crown lands” and its native ecosystems.

1. Research and Gather Material
There is quite a bit of existing material on the flora, fauna, geology, and culturaland historical aspects of the land. Much of this material exists in the PWW Base
Yard Office or on the website http://www.hetf.us/page/puu_waa_waa/, but aneffort should be made to reach out and gather other pertinent material, e.g., fromthe Hui `Ohana, Kona Historical Society, Paniolo Preservation Society, etc. The
State should look into creating a repository for information about Pu`uwa`awa`athat would make it accessible to the public such as a website.

2. Trail Map Brochures
Existing trail map brochures have not been updated in over ten years and some of
the foliage and signs discussed in the brochures are no longer there. These need
general updating and the new approved trails will also need trail map brochuresdeveloped. Once developed, it is recommended to add these brochures to the Na
Ala Hele website and posted at the Hiker Check-in Station.

3. Public Educational Material
Develop or acquire educational posters, brochures, interpretive signs, waysideexhibits, etc. on the flora, fauna, geology, cultural and historical information of
the Forest Reserve, for public availability or viewing at the Hiker Check-in
Station, the PWW Education Center (aka Meeting House) and other key locations.
The Hauaina Conservation Unit where the Education Center is located is being
restored to dryland forest with interpretive trails that lend themselves to more7

permanent educational signage to help the public learn about and fully appreciate
this native ecosystem.

4. Website
Move the content from the old puuwaawaa.org website to the DLNR website onPu`uwa`awa`a Forest Reserve. Update the website information on PWW,
including trail maps, educational materials, etc. Utilize the Na Ala Hele trail
website to also convey trail and forest reserve educational material.

5. Continue Improving the PWW Education Center
The Meeting House at the main PWW reservoir has been designated as an
Education Center in the Management Plan. Extensive updating of this facility as
well as the Lake House is being undertaken by the USDA Forest Service as partof the HETF program. The public educational material discussed in paragraph 3
above is an important resource for the Education Center area as this location isused for many volunteer and educational gatherings. Educational kiosks andlearning stations are also recommended as envisioned in the Management Plan.

D. Public Field Excursions and Commercial Ecotourism
The Forest Reserve provides the backdrop for many possible free public field excursions
and commercial ecotourism activities. DOFAW is currently in the process of
promulgating rules to allow for expansion of the types of commercial permits that they
will be able to issue, including commercial use permits for low impact, commercial
ecotourism. A major benefit of this effort is that the majority of the revenue derived fromthe commercial activity will be put back into forest reserves, thus provide an importantfunding source for needed improvements.
The following types of free public field excursions or commercial ecotourism have strong
educational and conservation merit, and could commence relatively quickly to provide
more public opportunities to learn about and better appreciate the historical, cultural andnatural resources in the Pu`uwa`awa`a Forest Reserve.

1. Guided Bird Watching
A free bird watching excursion was offered in PWW in 2016 and more excursions
like this are encouraged. The PWW Forest Reserve is also listed on the 90 mile
Hawai`i Island Birding Trail map, which will likely raise public interest in bird
watching here and may open up commercial ecotourism bird watching
opportunities.

2. Historical Tours
There is rich history in the lands of PWW, and several years ago The Kona
Historical Society led a historical tour by jeep through PWW. Additional tours of
this nature should be explored for offer to the public. (Note – a DLNR
commercial use permit will be required if compensation is involved.)

3. Other Commercial Ecotourism
Several commercial ecotourism companies exist on Hawai`i Island which may beinterested in conducting ecotourism in PWW. The types of commercial
ecotourism that are encouraged include educational and conservation focused8tours such as wildlife, botany, ecosystems, geology, ecological restoration,
historical or cultural based tours, and which have low cumulative environmental
impact on the forest reserve. The privilege to access the summit of the PWW
Cone by vehicle, which is in a Conservation District Resource (R) subzone, may
be allowed but should require 4 wheel drive vehicles to minimize impact to theenvironment. Commercial ecotourism operators are encouraged to consider ways
to make their tours more affordable for Hawai`i residents.

III.Longer Term Potential Recreation Activities
The goals and activities listed above in Section II are recommended as higher priority items.
There are additional longer term recreation activities, mentioned in the Management Plan
Objective 46 related to commercial ecotourism, which will require additional time tothoroughly address potential impacts of the activities. These longer term commercial
ecotourism activities include:

A. Camping
Opening up the Forest Reserve for camping by the general public will take a lot ofthoughtful consideration, investigation, planning, BLNR permitting and resources.
Rules, requirements, location, emergency provisions, fire concerns, facilities such ascomposting toilets, designated parking, cooking pits and picnic tables, labor for check-in,monitoring, emergencies and maintenance and campground reservations are among theitems needing to be determined.

B. Commercial Horseback Riding
Activities involving horseback riding including trail rides, overnight pack trips withhorses, ranch or “dude activities”, etc. are other areas mentioned as possibilities underlong-term commercial ecotourism in the Management Plan Objective 46. Althoughhorses are used in PWW for cattle grazing management, offering these activities to thegeneral public would have to be done by a commercial operator, and will require
additional planning, requirements and resources to be put in place.

IV.Recreation Activities Not Included
In the past, the following recreation activities have been asked about by the public forpossibility at PWW. None of these activities are included as recreation possibilities in theManagement Plan, and are considered incompatible with the overall Management Plan or
not allowed by Forest Reserve rules unless with a permit from BLNR.

A. Paragliding and Hang Gliding
The cliffs and pu`u’s in the Forest Reserve are tempting launch points for paragliding andhang gliding, but these activities are not allowed by Forest Reserves rules without apermit from the BLNR or an authorized representative.

B. ATV and 4 Wheeling
Habitat destruction, ecological sensitivities, noise pollution and safety are some of theconcerns for not including these activities.

C. Spelunking
Safety, fragile and ecologically sensitive resources, monitoring and emergency response
are the primary concerns for not including this activity.

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D. Use of Drones
The use of drones by the public without a permit from the BLNR or an authorized
representative is not allowed.

V.Funding Mechanisms
The following funding mechanisms are possibilities to help achieve the recreation goals
recommended in this document.

A. Grants
Since the recreation activities discussed above are also sought out by tourists, the Hawai`i
Tourism Authority is one possible source of grant funding to help pay for the labor andmaterial needed to accomplish these goals. The Hawai`i Community Foundation alsooffers a number of potential grants that might aid with funding requirements. Several
nonprofits are listed in Section VI as possible partners that may be willing to assist withpursuing grant funding, and the REV subcommittee is also willing to assist in this effort.

B. DOFAW Budget
To the extent possible, the DOFAW budget for PWW and Na Ala Hele Trail Program
should be supplemented for expenses which are ongoing in nature, such as repair andmaintenance of the Education Center, replacement of signs, brochures, trail maps, etc.

C. State CIP Funding
Capital improvement projects at PWW may be able to be funded through submission to
the annual State CIP budgeting process.

D. Hunting Funds
Since several of the recommendations may also assist with hunting access, funding
sources such as the Pitman-Robertson (Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program)fund could also be investigated.

E. Friends of PWW
Investigating the possibility of forming a “Friends of PWW” nonprofit is recommended
to help with fund raising, taking in donations, and leading recreation, education andvolunteer activities at PWW. If enough interested people can be found to actively
participate in this Friends group, then the Friends of Hakalau Forest National Wildlife
Refuge is a good starting point for guidance in developing this organization. When a
Friends of PWW nonprofit is formed, it is recommended that an MOA with DLNR be
established that fully describes their planned activities and fundraising at PWW,
including other nonprofits with whom they plan to partner.

VI. Suggested Partnerships
Strong community partners are essential to accomplish the various recommendations
outlined here. Following in no particular order are some of the partnerships that could help
bring these goals to fruition. Many of these partners have already provided support toPWW in the past as described below.

A. PATH (People’s Advocacy for Trails Hawai`i)
PATH is the nonprofit partner for the annual “Run for the Dry Forest” event at PWWwith the mission to safely connect people and places on Hawaii Island with pathways and10bikeways. An MOA similar to the one PATH has at the Honua`ula Forest Reserve fortrail building and maintenance could be pursued.

B. Hui `Ohana mai Pu’u Anahulu a me Pu’u Wa’awa’a (Hui `Ohana)
The Hui `Ohana represents the lineal descendants of Hawaiian families that have beenpart of the lands in PWW and Pu’u Anahula for many generations. They have invaluableknowledge of the land, its history and cultural importance, and share this information at
many educational and volunteer gatherings in PWW. Consultation with the Hui `Ohanais strongly encouraged in moving forward the recreation goals.

C. Hui Aloha Kīholo

This nonprofit is dedicated to protecting and preserving the Kīholo Bay area and includes
lineal descendants of the PWW ahupua`a. They are a valuable resource historically,
culturally and environmentally for the lands encompassing the entire ahupua`a, and may
be willing to help with leading public tours and providing historical and cultural
information.

D. E Mau Na Ala Hele
This nonprofit helped to establish the existing trails in PWW and acquired the funding for
the Hiker Check-in Station. They may be willing to assist with new trail development
and maintenance through an MOA similar to PATH, or assist in acquiring grant funding
for trail related improvements.

E. Kona Historical Society
In the past, the Kona Historical Society hosted historical tours in PWW, and contact
could be made to determine their interest in conducting future tours. A DLNR
commercial permit will be required if compensation is involved.

F. Ka`ahahui `O Ka NāheleheleThis dry forest nonprofit in the past acquired grant funding for conservation unit fencing
and improvements to the PWW Education Center, and could assist with pursuing grantfunding for specific dry forest related projects.

G. Aloha Sports Kona
The mission of this sports promotion company is to bring to the Big Island of Hawaii arenewed focus on promoting and bringing to the athletic community new and more varied
off-road running and biking events, thus promoting a healthy lifestyle. Besides hosting
events and raising funds for nonprofits, they could also help coordinate volunteers fortrail maintenance and educate trail users on applicable rules.

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Record of Changes to the Recreation Goals
The purpose of the table below is to maintain an on-going record of the changes made to therecreation goals. It includes the date and details of the change.
Date

Details of Change, Deletion/Addition

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