Airport Expansion in Hawaii Threatens Native Forest

ACTION ALERT

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WORLDWIDE FOREST/BIODIVERSITY CAMPAIGN NEWS

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Forest Networking a Project of Ecological Enterprises

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8/16/99

OVERVIEW & COMMENTARY by EE

Special places like Maui in the Hawaiian islands that depend upon

their beautiful scenery for tourist development need to get the

message that more is not always better. At a certain point, the

ecosystems and constituent natural communities reach a breaking point.

Such an outcome seems certain for Maui, which though one of the most

intact Hawaiian Island ecologically, has already lost 70% of its

natural vegetation and has some 91 threatened, endangered or proposed

endangered species. Habitat destruction through over-development and

the influx of alien species clearly indicate a trend of continued

ecosystem decline. It doesn't help that the island's "growth machine"

of vested business interests are proposing to expand Kahului airport--

threatening to potentially wipe out the last remaining fragments of

native forest ecosystems on this small Pacific island. Please take

the time to respond to Rainforest Action Network's action alert on

this matter.

g.b.

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Title: Maui Airport Expansion Threatens Native Forest

Source: Rainforest Action Network,

http://www.ran.org/ran/info_center/aa/maui.html

Date: August 16, 1999

Action Alert provided by a group of conservationists on Maui. For more

information, please contact RAN.

"Without doubt, the greatest current and future threats to Haleakala's

native ecosystems are invasive alien species." - Don Reeser,

superintendent, Haleakala National Park.

The threat to native ecosystems posed by exotic species is the subject

of a lawsuit filed by the U.S. National Parks and Conservation

Association (NPCA). The proposed runway extension resulted in Maui's

Haleakala National Park being listed in the NPCA's "Ten Most

Endangered Parks" list. The Park has been recognized by the United

Nations as an International Biosphere Reserve, principally for its

unique and diverse biological heritage.

Hawaii is home to some of the most unique and endangered rainforest

ecosystems on planet earth. Extreme isolation, diversity of habitat

zones and a moist tropical climate have given rise to extremely high

rates of endemism in these islands. Over 90% of species native to

Hawaii are endemic, found here and nowhere else. On the island of

Maui, many species are unique to Haleakala volcano or the west Maui

mountains. Today Maui is home to 91 threatened, endangered or proposed

endangered species.

We are sounding the alarm on a potentially devastating project in

Maui, Hawaii, U.S.A. The proposed expansion of Kahului airport

threatens to wipe out the last remaining fragments of native forest

ecosystems on this small Pacific island. The continued invasion of

Maui by alien (non-native) plants, animals, insects and microorganisms

poses the greatest threat to the future existence of these native

ecosystems.

The "internationalization" of Kahului airport will open up Maui to

direct flights from all over the Pacific rim. This will increase alien

species introductions on a massive scale. Maui has already lost 70% of

its native forest coverage to human alteration of the landscape and

the alien invasion. Yet of all the main Hawaiian islands, Maui is

perhaps the only one with a true future in conservation.

Conservation biology practices are well established in their efforts

to protect remaining native ecosystems. Haleakala volcano (east Maui)

is also home to the largest tract of intact native rainforest in the

entire state. Strangely, one of the largest landholding corporations,

Maui Land and Pineapple Company, is simultaneously participating in

good conservation work while leading the charge for an expanded

airport. Maui Pineapple Company wants a longer runway so that it can

increase profits by shipping more of its fresh pineapples to

international markets. As a manager of the pristine Pu'u Kukui

preserve, vice president and plantation manager Doug MacCluer (self

-proclaimed at recent Land Use Commision hearings as "just a dirt

farmer and environmentalist") is well aware of the alien species

threat that this project poses.

The motives behind this project are purely economic. The groups

pushing hardest for the expanded airport are: large landholders; the

federal, state and county government; the Maui Hotel Association,

Visitors Bureau and Chamber of Commerce. This is a BIG MONEY project

that will primarily benefit those who are already making the most

money on this island.

We want to expose the motivations behind this project on an

international level. The alien invasion/extinction crisis in the

Hawaiian islands can no longer be ignored. Native species in Hawaii

must be protected for nothing less than their intrinsic value.

What You Can Do!

The alien invasion/extinction crisis in Hawaii (Maui) can no longer be

ignored by business leaders and government officials. We need to

expose the hypocrisy of the power structure and the motivations behind

the Kahului airport expansion project. Native species in Hawaii must

be protected for nothing less than their intrinsic value. Please help

us protect and preserve the most unique islands in the world.

Here is a sample letter:

The Honorable Daniel Akaka

United States Senator

P.O. Box 50144

Honolulu, HI 96850

Dear Senator Akaka,

I am writing to urge you to use your position of influence to stop the

"internationalization" of Kahului airport. As you are aware, Hawaii

is home to some of the most unique ecosystems on Earth. Hawaii is

also commonly known as the endangered species capital of the United

States. On Maui alone there are 91 threatened, endangered or proposed

endangered species. Today, invasive alien species - both introduced

and already established - pose the greatest threat to the future

existence of native ecosystems in Hawaii. By helping to stop the

expansion of the Kahului airport, you also have the opportunity to

fight for the best possible alien species detection and quarantine

system that is available in the world today.

Please insist that the Hawaii state government mandate and enforce the

agreed upon inter-agency "Alien Species Action Plan" and follow the

clear language that has been spelled out in the "Memorandum of

Understanding." Please remember that economics is truly only a sub-

branch of ecology. Any "progress and expansion" that increase the

threats to Maui's remaining native ecosystems is simply unacceptable.

Make the right decisions and show the world that business leaders and

government officials in Hawaii care deeply about the earth's most

unique islands.

Sincerely,

Glen Barry

cc: Representative Patsy Mink

Mayor James "Kimo" Apana

Doug MacCluer, Vice President, Maui Pineapple Company

Terry Vencl, Executive Director, Maui Hotel Association

Recipient addresses:

The Honorable Daniel Akaka

United States Senator

P.O. Box 50144

Honolulu, HI 96850

Email Address: senator@akaka.senate.gov

The Honorable Patsy Mink

United States Congresswoman

P.O. Box 50124

Honolulu, HI 96850

Facsimile: 202-225-4987

James "Kimo" Apana

Maui County Mayor

200 South High street

Suite 103

Wailuku, Maui, HI 96793

Email Address: mauimayr@wailuku.net

Doug MacCluer

Vice President and Plantation

Manager

Maui Pineapple Company

P.O. Box 187

120 Kane street

Kahului, Maui, HI 96733-6687

Email Address: mauimlp@maui.net

Terryl Vencl

Executive Director

Maui Hotel Association

1325 Lower Main street

Wailuku, Maui, HI 96793

Email Address: tvencl@aol.com

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