For Immediate Release: August 15, 2005

Nominations Open for Pu'u Wa'awa'a 'Ahupua'a Advisory Council

Three new Advisory Council members to fill recently vacated seats will be chosen from interested community members who can advise DLNR on implementation actions called for in the plan.

Nominations are due by September 12, 2005 and members will be chosen by the DLNR Chairperson.

At its July 25, 2003 meeting, the BLNR approved, in concept, a management plan that identified 62 unique objectives that are intended to support the complex array of resource management needs and community interests that apply to Pu`u Wa`awa`a and the makai (ocean side) lands of Pu`u Anahulu (for information see http://www.state.hi.us/dlnr/dofaw/puuwaawaa/draftplanv6.pdf.

These objectives are intended to provide a framework for management of this area for a 10-year period. Many projects that directly support the management plan are already in progress, and others will be initiated shortly. Input from the initial Advisory Council was critical to the successful completion of the plan as well as implementation strategies.

"DLNR needs people with a vested interest in managing this `ahupua`a to come forward, serve the public and protect this resource," said Peter Young, DLNR Chairperson. "Members of this council bear an immense responsibility. We hope that serving in this capacity as a steward of the land will be regarded, by all applicants, as a privilege and as their legacy for future generations."

The Department has identified six major areas of expertise that would be desirable to have represented on the `Ahupua`a Advisory Council. The following areas of expertise have one vacancy each. The areas of expertise with vacancies include:

-Natural Resource Management: expertise in ecosystem function and management, wild fire management, endangered species recovery;

-Business Management: expertise in business operations, planning and projections, fund raising, ecotourism;

-Public Use: expertise in outdoor recreation development/management (e.g. hunting, hiking, nature study, equestrian, mountain biking) and policy issues relating to public use.

Interested members of the public should fill out application forms that can be obtained from Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) offices in Hilo, Waimea, or Honolulu, or via the DOFAW website  http://www.state.hi.us/dlnr/dofaw/pubs/paacapp.pdf.

Applications will be accepted that are postmarked, faxed, or received via e-mail by 9/12/05. Please send applications directly to the Division of Forestry and Wildlife, West Hawai`i Branch Office, 66-1220A Lalamilo Road, Kamuela, HI 96743. You may also fax to (808) 887-6065, or e-mail: mdonoho@dofawha.org.

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