milo ahu ‘awa ‘uki

pinao ‘ula

makaloa

āe‘o

‘alae ‘ula ‘alae ke‘o ke‘o

koloa maoli ‘auku‘u

‘o‘opu naniha

‘o‘opu akupa ‘ōpae ‘oeha‘a Hawaii’s Wetlands: Mauka to Makai What is a Wetland? Native Wetland Species Threats to Wetlands Wetlands in Hawaii Wetlands are lands periodically covered or saturated by fresh or salt Hawai‘i has fifty one rare plant species, eleven rare animal Invasive Species Challenges: water and characterized by: species, and six federally endangered waterbird species that use, Non-native predators. Feral cats, mongooses, 1 or are dependant upon wetlands. These six species are endemic; Hydrology (water): from precipitation, surface rodents, and other predators eat ground-nesting birds found only in Hawai‘i: flow or shallow groundwater. and chicks. Cane toads and bullfrogs eat fish eggs, Soils: poorly drained and saturated or covered with Hawaiian coot; ‘alae ke‘oke‘o native insects and young waterbirds. water for at least two weeks a year. Hawaiian moorhen; ‘alae ‘ula Non-native plants out-compete native plants, Hawaiian Stilt; āe‘o Vegetation (plants): adapted to grow, reproduce, quickly taking over wetland areas, reducing plant Hawaiian duck; koloa maoli diversity and ecological function. and persist in water or saturated soils. Āe o, C. Tucker Hawaiian goose; nēnē ‘Alae ‘ula, USDA NRCS Non-native fish eat native damselflies and wetland Wetlands can be seasonal or permanent, and are found in landscapes Laysan duck such as depressions, coastal shorelines, fringes along running or vegetation, reducing food availability for waterbirds. standing water, and Hawaii’s cloud forests. Wetlands are home to Fossil records show that at least 13 species of endemic Hybridization. The endangered koloa maoli is at almost one third of threatened and endangered species in the U.S. Hawaiian waterfowl used wetlands. Of these, only risk of extinction due to cross-breeding with feral 5 three remain: the ducks and goose listed above. Other mallards. 2 In the Hawaiian language, wai means water. Many places in wetland species include ‘auku‘u (the black-crowned 3 Hawai‘i are named for wetlands and the extraordinary species that night heron), and kōlea (the Pacific golden-plover). Human Induced Challenges: live there: Waikiki, Wai‘alae, Waikoloa, Waiāhole, Waipi‘o and countless more. Seeds of wetland sedges, grasses and rushes are a Pollution. Non-point source pollution from septic main food source for many wetland birds. Makaloa, Nēnē, S. Reilly wastewater, agricultural runoff, and contaminated an indigenous sedge, grows in coastal wetlands and was used to stormwater can overwhelm the filtering capacity of 4 awaii s etlands make the fine woven mats used by the ali‘i, Hawaiian royalty. wetlands, impacting downstream coastal waters. H ’ W Native shrimp like ‘ōpae ‘ula feed on wetland Climate Change. Rising temperatures lead to rising Natural wetlands* most common in Hawai‘i: algae. ‘O‘opu ‘akupa, an endemic fish, is found in sea levels and impacts to coastal wetlands. Changes 7 Riverine wetlands are surface water lowland streams and estuaries on all of the main in local precipitation and temperatures will impact 6 systems found along the edge of rivers Hawaiian Islands. Over 30 species of dragonfly montane bogs and ephemeral (seasonal) wetlands. or streams. These areas are critical to the (pinao) and damselfly (pinao ‘ula) are endemic to Development. Many wetlands in Hawai‘i have been ‘O‘opu nāpili endemic koloa maoli. Hawai‘i, and most depend on wetlands. G. Smith, USFWS drained or filled for agriculture production, resort 1. Montane bog 2. Aquacultural 3. Riverine 4. Estuarine Palustrine wetlands, such a marshes and development and community expansion. 5. Palustrine Marsh 6. Anchialine pool 7. Marine bogs, are found in depressions where rain The Ahupua‘a or watershed drainage or groundwater collects. Hawaii’s rare Montane bog, Hakalau Forest hy rotect etlands montane bogs take millions of years to form. NWR, K. Uyehara W P W ? Traditionally, ahupua‘a was a subdivision of the moku (island) that went Flood Protection. Wetlands can store excess You Can Help Wetlands! from mountaintop to sea following the banks of streams, much like a Estuarine wetlands, such as swamps and mudflats, occur on coasts water during heavy rainfall, reducing flood Some wetlands are open to the public, but some require permission or permits. where streams empty into the ocean. These tidally influenced watershed. Ahupua‘a encompass the land, water, and elements in the sky and impacts to roads, parking lots and homes. also integrate cultural, human, and spirit resources. All types of wetlands in brackish (mixed fresh & salt water) areas provide habitat for fish, • Learn about wetlands. Visit the websites below. Hawai‘i can be found within the ahupua‘a: bogs in the upper reaches of the shellfish and waterbirds. Water Quality & Sediment Filtration. • Volunteer. Pick up trash and remove invasive plants. Wetlands can store, filter, and absorb excess mountains, marshes in lowlands, and anchialine pools near the sea. Marine wetlands, such as intertidal shorelines, seagrass beds, or nutrients, sediments, and pollutants. This reduces Koloa maoli, © J. Denny • Prevent pollution. Avoid using fertilizer and pesticides on lawns tidepools, are saltwater systems, and provide habitat for many the pollution that ends up in streams and marine reef areas. and gardens. These chemicals wash into downstream ecosystems. *Wetland Classification: The Cowardin Classification System is a species harvested by humans for food. descriptive method developed by the US Fish & Wildlife Service that defines Surface and Groundwater Supply. Wetlands absorb and release • Don’t release exotics. Call 808-643-PEST or the Humane Society wetlands according to their landscape position and water source. Within broad Other Aquatic Habitats in Hawai‘i water; they capture excess during heavy rains and slowly release it to find out where to take your unwanted pets. classes are wetlands known by common names: marsh, bog, mudflat, and swamp. Visit: www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/wetlands/classwet. Anchialine pools are land-locked systems during droughts. This helps recharge groundwater aquifers. • Care for wetlands on your property. If you own a wetland, get Wetlands are transition zones between upland and technical assistance for restoration and management. in porous lava or limestone on coastal Biodiversity. Wetlands on the Web: Special thanks to: Adonia Henry, Ati shorelines. These brackish pools are deep water habitats where biological communities blend and have • Prevent bird predation. Keep cats indoors and dogs away from Jeffers-Fabro, Betsy Gagné, Diana King, www.hiwetlands.com connected underground to both fresh and salt increased diversity. Fern Duvall, J. Rubey, Kimberly Uyehara, wetlands and endangered bird species. www.wetland.org water, and are home to native shrimp like Michael Silbernagle, Norma Bustos, Pauline Wildlife Habitat. About 60 species of migratory waterbirds and • Keep feral mallards out of Hawaii’s wetlands. If you own a www.pcjv.org Sato, Robert Nishimoto, and Terrell Erickson. ‘ōpae ‘ula. www.nrcs.gov shore birds travel thousands of miles over the Pacific Ocean to mallard, keep it penned or clipped. Wetland illustrations by Naomi Swenson. winter in Hawai‘i. Many native Hawaiian plant and animal species www.hear.org Aquaculture Habitats are wet • Remember: Wild birds need wild food. areas created or modified for have evolved to live in Hawaii’s unique wetlands. www.fws.gov/wetlands Produced by State of Hawai‘i Anchialine pool, M. Ramsey Do not feed human food to wild birds. www.malamahawaii.org Department of Land and Natural Resources growing food, including wet Recreation and Aesthetics. Wetlands are Division of Forestry and Wildlife. • Be a wetland advocate. Contact your www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/dofaw taro (kalo) grown in a lo‘i (paddy) and fish ponds. scenic landscapes that hold cultural and historical www.hamakuamarsh.com Funded by Pacific Coast Joint Venture 2009. These areas are used by native species, but usually significance. Recreational opportunities include government representative and ask them to www.kawainuimarsh.com lack the biodiversity and habitat functions found in photography, bird watching, walking trails, nature support wetland programs. www.projectwet.org natural wetlands. websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov Taro (kalo), C. Tucker study and fishing. Pinao, C. Tucker Koloa maoli, B. Zaun, USFWS