Pu`u Maka`ala

Acres: 18,730

Established: 1981, 2010

TMK: 1-8-12-3, 1-9-1-1, 2-4-8-19, 2-4-8-25

This reserve was established to protect some of the Big Island's best wet native forest and unique geologic features.

The Reserve is located in the Puna and South Hilo districts.

The wet koa and `ohi`a forest of this Reserve on the northeast flank of Mauna Loa are important habitat for some of Hawai`i's rarest birds, as well as several rare plants. A montane wet grassland occurs in the poorly drained portions of the Reserve.

Natural Communities: 3 total, none rare.

                     RANK                   NAME

                      3                         Carex alligata Montane Wet Grassland

                      3                         Koa/`ohi`a Montane Wet Forest

                      3                         `Ohi`a/Hapu`u Montane Wet Forest

Native Plants: 176 total taxa, 21 rare

Native Animals: 9 total taxa, 4 rare

Click here for a larger version of this map

Resources:

Pu'u Maka'ala Draft Environmental Assessment

Pu'u Maka'ala Long Range Management Plan Draft

Pu'u Maka'ala Fact Sheet

He Mo`olelo `Āina: A Cultural Study of the P`u Maka`ala Natural Area Reserve, District of Hilo and Puna, Island of Hawai`i 2004, Kumu Pono Associates (2004)*

Conservation District Use Permit 1340*

 * These documents were made prior to the 2010 Kulani extension so contain outdated boundary information.

 Pu`u Maka`ala is within the Three Mountain Alliance (TMA). Please visit: http://www.hawp.org/ArticleViewer.php?ArticleID=00003 to read the TMA management plan which includes plans for Pu`u Maka`ala.