K ̄ılauea Point National Wildlife Refuge

P.O. Box 1128

K ̄ılauea, HI 96754

Do You Have Any Questions or Comments?

Your participation is critical to the success of this effort.

Please send us your comments by March 27, 2015 to:

Email: FW1PlanningComments@fws.gov

Please include “K ̄ılauea Point NWR CCP”

in the subject line of the message. 

Mike Mitchell, Acting Project Leader

Kaua‘i National Wildlife Refuge Complex

P.O. Box 1128

K ̄ılauea, HI 96754

808/828-1413

808/828-6381 fax

Daniel K. Inouye K ̄ılauea Point Lighthouse

©Greg Stutzer

PUBLIC OPEN HOUSES

February 24 and 25, 2015

Please Join Us!

See page 2 for details.

6
2

regarding temporary shelters, portable 

camp stoves or barbeques, and dogs. 

Access to the K ̄ılauea (East) Cove for 

traditional native Hawaiian fishing will 

remain open. 

Reevaluation of Public Use Visitation 

Days at the K ̄ılauea Point. Due to flat 

and declining budgets, starting in 

February 2014, the Service reduced the 

days that K ̄ılauea Point proper is open to 

the general public from seven to five days 

a week. The visitation days will be 

reassessed to see if it would be possible 

to reopen on a six- or seven-day a week 

schedule. However, closures will continue 

to be a management option depending 

upon the availability of staff and 

resources.

Transportation Implementation Study. 

The Refuge has received funding from 

the Federal Transit Administration to 

assist in planning for the implementation 

of the transportation components that 

Features common to all alternatives 

include the consideration of climate 

change effects in all management actions; 

monitoring and control of invasive 

species; coordination with state, county, 

and other partners to accomplish goals; 

cultural resources protection; volunteer 

opportunities; and the continuation of 

land protection within the approved 

refuge boundary. All proposed actions 

are subject to funding availability. 

Fishing. Under all alternatives, the 

Refuge will remain open for recreational 

fishing. Fishing on the Refuge occurs at 

Ka ̄hili Quarry. Fishing will be allowed on 

a 24-hour basis in accordance with State 

regulations and includes harvest via hook 

and line, throw net, spear, or shellfish 

gathering. Currently, fishing is not 

limited to any designated location, nor 

are related facilities provided. The 

Service proposes no major improvements 

to Ka ̄hili Quarry Road or Ka ̄hili Quarry. 

See page 4 for information on proposed 

new stipulations under Alternatives B–D 

Features Common to All Draft CCP/EA Alternatives

emerge from the Final CCP. The study 

will provide recommendations on how 

to implement components, such as 

coordination with other entities, and 

service planning necessary for any 

proposed shuttle services.

Share your comments and thoughts 

with us at one of the following open 

house meetings or submit written 

comments to the Refuge (see page 6 

for contacts). Your participation is 

critical to the success of this effort.

Date: Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Time: 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Place: K ̄ılauea Neighborhood Center

2460 Keneke Street

K ̄ılauea, HI 96754

Date: Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Time: 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Place: K ̄ılauea Elementary School

2440 Kolo Road

K ̄ılauea, HI 96754

Public Open Houses

The chief distinctions of Alternative C 

are the construction of a new visitor 

welcome and orientation center and 

maintenance facilities on the 

southwestern corner of Crater Hill, the 

use of a shuttle system to provide public 

access to the Point and Overlook during 

open public hours, and the addition of 

guided interpretive hikes on Crater Hill. 

Under the preferred Alternative D, 

new facilities would be constructed off of 

current Refuge lands but within one mile 

of the established boundary to facilitate 

public use, visitor access, information, 

and orientation; provide public parking; 

and function as the administrative office 

and maintenance baseyard. Existing 

structures would be remodeled and/or 

converted for EE, interpretation, or 

office use. Similar to Alternative C, no 

private vehicles would be allowed on the 

Point; a shuttle system would provide 

public access during open hours. Since 

these actions are addressed at a 

conceptual level within the Draft CCP/

EA, more detailed land acquisition 

planning, facility and transit system 

design, and appropriate evaluations and 

documentation would be required.

Highlights of the Draft CCP/EA Alternatives

Wildlife and Habitat Management.

Under Alternative A, current wildlife 

and habitat management aimed at the 

long-term protection and enhancement 

of migratory seabird and endangered 

ne ̄ne ̄ populations and their habitats 

would continue. Strategies include weed 

control and outplanting native plants 

by volunteers, mowing and weeding 

grassland-shrubland habitat for ne ̄ne ̄, 

and controlling introduced predators. 

Biological programs also include 

maintenance of a 7-acre predator-proof 

fence, enhancing the threatened ‘a‘o 

population through social attraction and 

other devices, exploring with partners 

the feasibility of translocation techniques 

to support ‘a‘o populations, and banding 

and monitoring reproductive success and 

survival of seabirds and ne ̄ne ̄. Under 

alternatives B–D, management activities 

would continue in existing areas and be 

expanded on Crater Hill and Mo ̄ko ̄lea 

Point, including exploring the expansion 

of or additions to predator-proof fenced 

units. Native plant communities would be 

restored to provide recovery habitat for 

threatened and endangered coastal 

plants. Priority research, inventories, 

and monitoring would also be expanded. 

Public Use, Access, and Facilities. 

Under Alternative A, the majority of 

public use activities offered at the 

Refuge would continue to revolve around 

wildlife observation and photography, 

environmental education (EE), and 

interpretation located on K ̄ılauea Point 

proper (the Point) or at the K ̄ılauea

Road terminus (the Overlook). The 

high level of Refuge visitation within a 

constrained geography generates 

operational, access, and safety issues; 

and impacts to endangered species. 

Operational and infrastructure changes 

such as reconfiguration of traffic flow 

and signage would be evaluated.

Under Alternative B, the primary 

difference involves reorganizing uses of 

existing buildings as well as improving 

public parking, traffic flow, and visitor 

activities; all focused visitor services 

would remain on the Point. Additional 

strategies include offering an optional 

shuttle, providing public/tour bus stop, 

and bike parking at the Overlook; 

increasing on-site public parking; and 

expanding the volunteer program. New 

stipulations on public uses at Ka ̄hili 

Quarry are proposed (see page 4).
3

Draft CCP/EA Alternatives Comparison Table

Alternative A

(Current Management)

Alternative B

(Restore Native 

Ecosystems; Maintain 

Visitor Center on the Point)

Alternative C

(Restore Native

Ecosystems; Build Visitor 

Center on Crater Hill)

Alternative D

(Preferred – Restore Native 

Ecosystems; Move Visitor 

Center Off-Refuge Nearby)

Habitat Management

Manage 40–50 acres of 

coastal mixed woodlandgrassland habitat for 

seabirds

Manage 97 acres and enhance 2–5 acres per year (within the 97 acres), including 

additional strategies for reduction of pest ironwood and other species, small-scale 

outplanting of native plants, and exploring expansion of or separate additions to the 

Nihoku Ecosystem Restoration Project

Manage 27 acres of coastal 

grasslands for nene

Manage 32–34 acres and enhance 5–7 acres per year (within the 32–34 acres), including 

additional strategies for rehabilitating and maintaining the irrigation system at Crater 

Hill for native plant establishment and enhancing grasslands with native shrubland 

plant communities for ne ̄ne ̄

Protect 59 acres of sea cliff 

and beach habitat

In addition to Alternative A, stabilize areas of accelerated erosion based on a road and 

trail assessment

Sustain/expand current 

distribution of seabirds (e.g., 

through the use of social 

attraction)

In addition to Alternative A, explore re-establishing populations of extirpated seabirds 

(e.g., determine feasibility of potential ‘a‘o chick translocation)

Restore/enhance 3–5 acres 

of native coastal plant 

communities

Restore/enhance 10–30 acres

Monitoring and Research

Monitor birds and conduct 

inventories as needed

Re-evaluate, develop, and implement a prioritized and expanded inventory and 

monitoring program within regional framework

Conduct research and 

scientific assessments on 

priority species or issues

Develop a collaborative research program for priority research projects and scientific 

assessments that directly support management objectives

Visitor Information, Orientation, and Access

Redesign and enhance 

Overlook to provide greater 

orientation and information; 

re-examine site layout and 

move some functions off the 

Point

Same as Alternative A, 

except remodel existing 

visitor center (VC) for either 

EE or new interpretive 

exhibits and displays and 

maintain bookstore onsite

Establish new visitor 

welcome and orientation 

center on the Refuge at 

southwestern corner of 

Crater Hill

Same as Alternative C, except 

establish new visitor welcome 

and orientation center off the 

Refuge (adjacent or within 

one mile)

Improve traffic flow in the 

existing parking areas and 

better delineate parking 

spaces

Same as Alternative A, 

except provide optional 

shuttle from the Overlook 

to the Point; increase public 

parking onsite; improve 

traffic flow at the Overlook 

and add public/tour bus 

stop, shuttle stop, bike 

parking

Institute mandatory 

shuttle (no private 

vehicles); acquire and 

gate portion of K ̄ılauea

Road from new visitor 

welcome and orientation 

center; improve traffic 

flow at the Overlook and 

add shuttle stop, bike 

parking

Same as Alternative C, except 

acquire and gate portion of 

K ̄ılauea Road from new 

visitor welcome and 

orientation center only if 

adjacent to Refuge

Environmental Education

Enhance partnerships; 

interns and volunteers help 

to deliver programs

In addition to Alternative A, develop Junior Ranger program; provide teacher 

workshops; convert an existing structure to designated EE facility/facilities
4

Draft CCP/EA Alternatives Comparison Table, continued

Alternative A Alternative B Alternative C Alternative D

Environmental Interpretation

Continue to provide limited 

guided interpretive activities; 

expand opportunities to 

provide limited access to the 

interior of the Lighthouse; 

enhance partnerships

In addition to Alternative A, 

remodel existing VC; 

explore converting current 

visitor services (VS) office 

(Quarters #1) to other 

functions; remodel Contact 

Station

Same as Alternative B, except increase number of guided 

interpretive activities; offer guided interpretive hikes on 

Crater Hill; move bookstore to new visitor welcome and 

orientation center; expand Contact Station to allow for 

more scenic viewing

Wildlife Observation and Photography

Provide viewing scopes 

and binoculars; work with 

partners

In addition to Alternative A, 

expand citizen science 

opportunities

Same as Alternative B, except offer guided interpretive 

hikes on Crater Hill; expand opportunities (e.g., 

workshops, activities)

Kāhili Quarry Uses

Allow 24-hour fishing and 

general access to off-Refuge 

nonwildlife-dependent uses; 

maintain passable road to 

beach and shoreline; post 

boundary; replace existing 

fence; explore possibility 

of cooperatively managing 

tidelands with State

In addition to Alternative A, implement new stipulations including:

- Allowing anglers to erect temporary shelters (protections from the sun and/or rain) in 

the quarry area during daylight hours only

- Allowing anglers to bring and use portable stoves or self-contained barbeques, but not 

build ground fires or fires in fire rings or pits

- Allowing access to Ka ̄hili Beach, K ̄ılauea Bay and the K ̄ılauea River through the Ka ̄hili

Quarry area from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily

- Requiring all dogs brought into the quarry area to be to be leashed on a short (8 foot 

maximum) leash or kept in a secure, enclosed pen or crate at all times and would not be 

allowed to run free

Outreach, Volunteers, and Friends Group

Conduct outreach with 

target audiences

In addition to Alternative A, encourage staff training and engagement

Continue coordination 

with K ̄ılauea Point Natural 

History Association; improve 

volunteer materials

In addition to Alternative A, expand to at least 200 volunteers; develop program to focus 

on natural resource management; implement a training program; host at least two 

community work days per year

Cultural and Historic Resources

Prepare cultural resource overview and conduct archival research and communication with Native Hawaiian 

organizations, historical institutions, and other preservation partners 

Continue to maintain, 

restore, and interpret the 

K ̄ılauea Point Light Station 

In addition to Alternative A, develop an outreach program 

Operations

Enhance existing 

maintenance/facility areas 

and provide protected area 

for machines/vehicles; 

pursue offsite parking for 

staff and volunteers

Same as Alternative A, 

except remodel existing 

maintenance/facility areas; 

remodel and relocate 

administrative and VS 

offices to Quarters #2 and 

#3

Include administrative 

offices in new visitor 

welcome and orientation 

center; remodel Quarters 

#3 for basic administrative

and volunteer offices; 

build new maintenance 

baseyard on SW corner 

of Crater Hill

Same as Alternative C except 

build new maintenance 

baseyard off the Refuge

Law Enforcement

Continue to work with law 

enforcement partners

In addition to Alternative A, develop law enforcement monitoring system; develop 

outreach tools; provide workshops and training
2

regarding temporary shelters, portable 

camp stoves or barbeques, and dogs. 

Access to the K ̄ılauea (East) Cove for 

traditional native Hawaiian fishing will 

remain open. 

Reevaluation of Public Use Visitation 

Days at the K ̄ılauea Point. Due to flat 

and declining budgets, starting in 

February 2014, the Service reduced the 

days that K ̄ılauea Point proper is open to 

the general public from seven to five days 

a week. The visitation days will be 

reassessed to see if it would be possible 

to reopen on a six- or seven-day a week 

schedule. However, closures will continue 

to be a management option depending 

upon the availability of staff and 

resources.

Transportation Implementation Study. 

The Refuge has received funding from 

the Federal Transit Administration to 

assist in planning for the implementation 

of the transportation components that 

Features common to all alternatives 

include the consideration of climate 

change effects in all management actions; 

monitoring and control of invasive 

species; coordination with state, county, 

and other partners to accomplish goals; 

cultural resources protection; volunteer 

opportunities; and the continuation of 

land protection within the approved 

refuge boundary. All proposed actions 

are subject to funding availability. 

Fishing. Under all alternatives, the 

Refuge will remain open for recreational 

fishing. Fishing on the Refuge occurs at 

Ka ̄hili Quarry. Fishing will be allowed on 

a 24-hour basis in accordance with State 

regulations and includes harvest via hook 

and line, throw net, spear, or shellfish 

gathering. Currently, fishing is not 

limited to any designated location, nor 

are related facilities provided. The 

Service proposes no major improvements 

to Ka ̄hili Quarry Road or Ka ̄hili Quarry. 

See page 4 for information on proposed 

new stipulations under Alternatives B–D 

Features Common to All Draft CCP/EA Alternatives

emerge from the Final CCP. The study 

will provide recommendations on how 

to implement components, such as 

coordination with other entities, and 

service planning necessary for any 

proposed shuttle services.

Share your comments and thoughts 

with us at one of the following open 

house meetings or submit written 

comments to the Refuge (see page 6 

for contacts). Your participation is 

critical to the success of this effort.

Date: Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Time: 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Place: K ̄ılauea Neighborhood Center

2460 Keneke Street

K ̄ılauea, HI 96754

Date: Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Time: 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Place: K ̄ılauea Elementary School

2440 Kolo Road

K ̄ılauea, HI 96754

Public Open Houses

The chief distinctions of Alternative C 

are the construction of a new visitor 

welcome and orientation center and 

maintenance facilities on the 

southwestern corner of Crater Hill, the 

use of a shuttle system to provide public 

access to the Point and Overlook during 

open public hours, and the addition of 

guided interpretive hikes on Crater Hill. 

Under the preferred Alternative D, 

new facilities would be constructed off of 

current Refuge lands but within one mile 

of the established boundary to facilitate 

public use, visitor access, information, 

and orientation; provide public parking; 

and function as the administrative office 

and maintenance baseyard. Existing 

structures would be remodeled and/or 

converted for EE, interpretation, or 

office use. Similar to Alternative C, no 

private vehicles would be allowed on the 

Point; a shuttle system would provide 

public access during open hours. Since 

these actions are addressed at a 

conceptual level within the Draft CCP/

EA, more detailed land acquisition 

planning, facility and transit system 

design, and appropriate evaluations and 

documentation would be required.

Highlights of the Draft CCP/EA Alternatives

Wildlife and Habitat Management.

Under Alternative A, current wildlife 

and habitat management aimed at the 

long-term protection and enhancement 

of migratory seabird and endangered 

ne ̄ne ̄ populations and their habitats 

would continue. Strategies include weed 

control and outplanting native plants 

by volunteers, mowing and weeding 

grassland-shrubland habitat for ne ̄ne ̄, 

and controlling introduced predators. 

Biological programs also include 

maintenance of a 7-acre predator-proof 

fence, enhancing the threatened ‘a‘o 

population through social attraction and 

other devices, exploring with partners 

the feasibility of translocation techniques 

to support ‘a‘o populations, and banding 

and monitoring reproductive success and 

survival of seabirds and ne ̄ne ̄. Under 

alternatives B–D, management activities 

would continue in existing areas and be 

expanded on Crater Hill and Mo ̄ko ̄lea 

Point, including exploring the expansion 

of or additions to predator-proof fenced 

units. Native plant communities would be 

restored to provide recovery habitat for 

threatened and endangered coastal 

plants. Priority research, inventories, 

and monitoring would also be expanded. 

Public Use, Access, and Facilities. 

Under Alternative A, the majority of 

public use activities offered at the 

Refuge would continue to revolve around 

wildlife observation and photography, 

environmental education (EE), and 

interpretation located on K ̄ılauea Point 

proper (the Point) or at the K ̄ılauea

Road terminus (the Overlook). The 

high level of Refuge visitation within a 

constrained geography generates 

operational, access, and safety issues; 

and impacts to endangered species. 

Operational and infrastructure changes 

such as reconfiguration of traffic flow 

and signage would be evaluated.

Under Alternative B, the primary 

difference involves reorganizing uses of 

existing buildings as well as improving 

public parking, traffic flow, and visitor 

activities; all focused visitor services 

would remain on the Point. Additional 

strategies include offering an optional 

shuttle, providing public/tour bus stop, 

and bike parking at the Overlook; 

increasing on-site public parking; and 

expanding the volunteer program. New 

stipulations on public uses at Ka ̄hili 

Quarry are proposed (see page 4).
K ̄ılauea Point National Wildlife Refuge

P.O. Box 1128

K ̄ılauea, HI 96754

Do You Have Any Questions or Comments?

Your participation is critical to the success of this effort.

Please send us your comments by March 27, 2015 to:

Email: FW1PlanningComments@fws.gov

Please include “K ̄ılauea Point NWR CCP”

in the subject line of the message. 

Mike Mitchell, Acting Project Leader

Kaua‘i National Wildlife Refuge Complex

P.O. Box 1128

K ̄ılauea, HI 96754

808/828-1413

808/828-6381 fax

Daniel K. Inouye K ̄ılauea Point Lighthouse

©Greg Stutzer

PUBLIC OPEN HOUSES

February 24 and 25, 2015

Please Join Us!

See page 2 for details.

6