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Honors Senior Thesis ********************************** PASS WITH DISTINCTION Monitoring Endangered Species At Haleakala National Park ,

Lasha-Lynn H. Salbosa Washington State University Honors Thesis Project Spring 2001 I. Site Description: Haleakala National Park 1

II. Map of Hawaiian Islands and Haleakala National Park 5

In. Endangered Species Management (ESM) Project Goals and Responsibilities 6

IV. Project of Focus: Locate Dark-rumped Petrel Burrows Using a Global Positioning System (GPS) and Production ofColony Field M~ 9

V. Final Map ofKilohana 'Ua'u Sub-colony 18

VI. "A Typical Day" - Selected Journal Entries 21

VII. Acknowledgements 27

.2

Located on the island ofMaui, Haleakala National Park covers 28, 655 acres of contrasting beauty. Haleakala began as part ofHawaii National Park on 1 August 1916.

It was later renamed Haleakala National Park on 13 September 1960 and became a

separate entity in 1961. The United Nations recognized Haleakala as an International

Biosphere Reserve in 1980. Haleakala is now one oftwo national parks in the Hawaiian

Islands.

The park encompasses outstanding volcanic terrain and subtropical rainforests.

The centerpiece ofthe national park is the volcanic mountain Haleakala. Its name meaning "house ofthe sun," rises to an altitude of 10,023 feet above sea level and some

30,000 feet from its base on the ocean floor.

Haleakala is a shield volcano formed by successive eruptions oflava probably emerging from the sea about 1 million years ago. Although often referred to as a crater, it is actually a valley formed by thousands of years of erosion. Two gaps, or valleys on the side ofthe mountain created by erosive action, eventually connected forming a great crater. Renewed volcanic activity formed vents and partially filled the valley floor with cinder cones completing its crater appearance. It is estimated that the mountain last

erupted in 1790 and has since been considered dormant. The crater is 7.5 miles long and

2.5 miles wide with a circumference ofabout 21 miles.

There are 27 miles oftrails in the Haleakala wilderness affording prepared hikers

a memorable experience. As with many mountains, Haleakala produces a rain shadow

effect as the moisture-laden tradewinds blow in a westerly direction, the northeastern part

ofthe crater receives about 150 inches ofrain per year while the opposite side may

receive only 20. These stark weather patterns create a contrasting topography such that a day's trek will lead the avid hiker from arid cinder cones through shrub land and into a subtropical rainforest.

The park also serves as a preserve for a variety of endangered plants and .

Perhaps the most famous ofthe plants found at Haleakala National Park is the silversword, known to native Hawaiians as ahinahina. The silversword, a relative ofthe sunflower, is a large plant with a rosette measuring up to 2 feet across. It lives 15 to 50 years, blooms only once sending a stalk 5 to 6 feet high, and then dies. Found no where else in the world, the silversword was close to extinction during the early part ofthe century due to careless hikers and grazing from wild goats. Since then, conservation efforts have removed feral goats and education and awareness has increased the population to about 50,000 plants.

Another noteworthy inhabitant ofthe park is the Nene, or Hawaiian Goose, recognized as the official state ofHawaii. Similar in appearance to the related

Canada Goose, the Nene has evolved reduced webbing between the toes, enabling them to walk easily upon rugged lava rocks. Habitat modification, feral cats, , and particularly the predatory mongoose, have all contributed to the Nene's decline. In 1951 the population had dropped to an estimated 30 . A captive propagation and release program since then has helped to increase its numbers. However, the Nene remains endangered with an estimated wild population of 500 birds.

Of particular interest is the endangered Hawaiian Dark-rumped petrel or 'Ua'u.

About 85 percent ofthe Hawaiian petrel population nest in Haleakala National Park, with smaller numbers on and on the island ofHawaii. Very little is known ofthis elusive seabird, especially their distribution at sea during the non-breeding .­ 4

season. Current conservation efforts are closely monitoring petrel populations on

Haleakala. (See subsequent sections for further detail)

The southeastern section of the park encloses Kipahulu Valley, one of the most

intact rain forest ecosystems in Hawaii. Noted for its unique birdlife, Kipahulu is home

to an endangered array oftropical birds. The I'iwi is perhaps the most beautiful with a

bright scarlet body, black wings and tail, and inch-long curved bill. The bright green and

yellow'Amakihi is known for the speed at which it flies through the canopy searching

for nectar and insects.

The isolation of these islands has allowed plants and animals to evolve into

complex ecosystems found nowhere else in the world. Unfortunately, these ecosystems

are highly susceptible to foreign influences particularly the invasion of nonindigenous

species. Wildlife biologists and conservationists are working closely to preserve and

protect the treasures of Haleakala National park.

References

Information regarding Haleakala National park has been drawn from personal experience, park officials, brochures, and a number ofother sources, including:

Hawaii National Parks. Santa Barbara, CA: Albion Publishing Group, 1993.

Ramsay, Cynthia R. and Johns, Chris. Hawaii's Hidden Treasures. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society, 1993. MAUl

Hawaiian Islands and Haleakala National Park "i

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7

The Resource Management (RM) division within Haleakala National Park is responsible for identifying threats and implementing procedures to preserve the parks' natural and cultural resources. There are five projects under RM directed to the preservation of specific resources. These projects are namely Vegetation, Maintenance,

Feral Control, Research, and Endangered Species Management (ESM).

The ESM project began in 1988 and is currently led by Wildlife biologist

Cathleen Hodges. There are six project statements formulated as long-term goals for

1 ESM :

• Endangered 'Ua'u biology and population monitoring

• Endangered Nene biology and population monitoring

• Control predators to protect Nene and 'Ua'u

• Study and monitor forest bird populations

• Control predators to protect native forest birds

• Control alien pests to protect ecosystem/people

The responsibilities of an ESM staff member include monitoring five predator control traplines encompassing the front-country ofthe park and four traplines within the crater on a weekly basis. Observations ofNene and 'Ua'u populations are also recorded. All data is then verified and entered into an existing database regularly.

Dozens of new species are introduced each year to the Hawaiian Islands, posing a great long-term threat to Park resources. Species targeted for predator control programs are feral cats (Felis catus), black rats (Rattus rattus), Norway rats (Rattus norwegicus), and the common mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus). Although eradication ofthese species would be beneficial, it is not practical. Reducing the densities ofan exotic pest 8 over a large area can decrease long-term costs ofcontro1. 2 It is for this reason that area- wide suppression ofnon-native predatory species is one ofthe priorities for ESM.

However, similar to many national parks, Haleakala is susceptible to a lack of funds, personnel, and skills within the park, and difficulty in enforcing legislation and regulations, which can impede the overall effectiveness ofpark management.3 Increased education and cooperation with local communities is an effective strategy for all national parks.

References

I Hodges, Cathleen. Personal interview. 15 June 2000.

2 Myers, J. H., Simberloff, D., Kuris, A. M., and Carey, 1. R. Eradication revisited: dealing with exotic species. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 15(8) :316-321. 2000

3 Schonewald-Cox, c., Buechner, M., Sauvajot, R., and Wilcox, B. A. Environmental Auditing- Cross-Boundary Management Between National Parks and Surrounding Lands: A Review and Discussion. Environmental Management 16(2) :273-282. 1992.

10

INTRODUCTION

Dark-romped petrels (Pterdroma phaeopygia) consist of two distinct populations

generally regarded as separate subspecies, sandwichensis of the Hawaiian Islands and

nominate phaeopygia of the Galapagos Islands (Simon and Hodges 5). Although the two

forms are not readily distinguished, there exist slight differences in plumage and

morphology between subspecies. The Hawaiian form tends to have a forehead entirely

white, whereas the Galapagos form usually has a dark freckling in forehead. The

Hawaiian form is heavier with shorter wings and tarsi, and shorter but wider bill. The

Galapagos form is lighter with longer wings and tarsi, and longer but narrower bill

(Simon and Hodges 5). These morphological differences may result from differences in flight and foraging behavior between subspecies.

Dark-romped petrels belong to the order ofseabirds, the Procellariifonnes and are members of the family . Other pelagic birds that share this classification are the shearwaters and fulmars, characterized by their long-wings and tube-shaped nostrils. Dark-romped petrels have a distinctive black hood extending below the eye to

both sides of the head. The hood contrasts sharply with their white forehead, lower

cheeks, and throat. Dorsally these birds are black or charcoal gray in coloration. The

underside is white, with black margins and a diagonal bar extending across coverts to the

near base ofthe wing. The legs and feet are flesh-pink, with the distal two-thirds ofthe

webs black. The iris and bill of these birds are also black in coloration. (Simon and

Hodges 2)

Historically, the Hawaiian Dark-romped Petrel could be found throughout the main Hawaiian Islands, including O'ahu. Fossil evidence suggests that the O'ahu

population was exterminated, due to over-hunting, before the arrival ofEuropeans

(Simon, "Biology" 229). The decline of petrel populations initiated by Polynesians was 11 worsened by European introduction ofcats (Felis catus), black rats (Rattus rattus),

Norway rats (Rattus norwegicus), disease-carrying mosquitoes, and, in 1883, the common mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus). These predators continue to pose the primary threat to Dark-rurnped petrel populations. In the late 1940's many ornithologists feared that the species was on the brink ofextinction in Hawaii. The species reappeared on the island ofHawaii in 1948 when a single bird was grounded near Kilauea caldera during a storm. Since then, sightings ofDark-rumped petrels have been reported on the islands ofMaui, , , and (Simon, "Biology" 230). The largest nesting colony of Hawaiian Dark-rumped petrels is located in and around Haleakala National

Park on the island ofMaui, between elevations of2,500 and 3,000 rn, making Haleakala one ofthe highest colonies of nesting seabirds in the world (Simon "Biology" 230).

The colony on Haleakala is currently estimated to consist of450-650 breeding pairs out of a total population of 1,800 birds (Simon and Hodges 3). Nests are typically found along steep slopes in burrows 3 to 30 feet long. Both the male and female share in egg incubation that lasts approximately 56 days. Petrels can be seen flying to and from their nests at dusk and dawn during February through November. (Haleakala 1998)

The Galapagos Dark-rumped Petrel breeds in the higWands of five larger

Galapagos Islands: Santa Cruz, Floreana, Santiago, San Cristobal, and Isabela. In 1981, the population size in the Galapagos was estimated to be 35,000 pairs, however, predation by introduced mammals has caused a steady decline in recent years (Simon and

Hodges 3). Similar to Dark-rurnped Petrel populations in Hawaii, the Galapagos populations survive outside their preferred habitat, at high elevations, or on remote offshore islets. 12

Because Dark-romped petrels exhibit a great deal of mate and site fidelity, it is believed that little interchange occurs among colonies, especially distant populations such as the Galapagos and Hawaiian forms (Cruz and Cruz 318). Moreover, Cruz et al. higWighted differences between populations within the Galapagos Islands, due to very little interchange among colonies. The Floreana population ofadult petrels tended to be larger in both size and mass than adult petrels from Santiago and Santa Cruz Islands

(324). Morphological differences in tarsal and bill, as well as differences in time of breeding, suggest that petrels may form distinct populations on different islands. Because a species that is subdivided into several populations is sometimes less susceptible to global extinction than a species consisting ofonly one population, it is important that each island colony be considered individually and efforts should be made to maintain the existing genetic diversity. Although studies were done to determine differences among the Galapagos Island populations, no such studies have yet been done for colonies of petrels within the Hawaiian Islands, due to low population numbers.

Numerous studies indicate that the Dark-romped petrel is a strongly K-selected species, marked by late maturity, low replacement rates, and a relatively long life span of approximately 30 years (Simon, "Population" 1074). The varied marine resources upon which the Dark-romped petrels depend require a conservative reproductive strategy that also leaves little room for increased fecundity, since all Procellariiforms lay a one-egg clutch (1073). Unfortunately, these characteristics make Dark-romped petrels prime candidates for extinction. Simons created a Leslie matrix model to evaluate the vulnerability of the Hawaiian dark-rumped petrel population to extinction (1065).

Fledgling mortality, predation, and random variation in reproductive success were variables included in the model. Fledgling mortality due to light-related groundings is 13 not at present a major threat to the remaining petrel populations, however with an increase in urbanization this problem can be expected to increase and should therefore be monitored closely. The model also pointed out that fluctuations in population size due to variations in reproductive success probably do not pose a threat to the population, unless the population dropped to less than half of its present size (1074). The vulnerability of the population was illustrated in simulations that depicted predation on adult birds. From these projections it is evident that petrel populations are unable to withstand any level of predation for long. For example, a low level of predation in less than 10% of the nest sites in any year resulted in a reduction ofthe population to half ofits current size in less than 30 years (1070). The implications ofthis study are clear; the highest priority should be given to protecting breeding birds, with intense predator control efforts during the pre­ breeding and incubation periods from March to mid-July when adult birds are most vulnerable (1073).

The US and Wildlife Service approved a Hawaiian dark-romped petrel recovery plan in 1983. Current conservation and recovery efforts consist ofproductivity­ monitoring and predator control programs at Haleakala National Park, recovery efforts for grounded fledglings on Kauai and Maui, and a program to shield streetlights to reduce their attractiveness to Dark-romped petrels and Newell's Shearwaters on Kauai. Park

Service biologists maintain a predator control program and monitor a minimum of200 nests annually at Haleakala. Moreover, a long-term banding program is under way to provide demographic data on the population. Monitoring and predator control programs on the island ofHawaii are limited due to the remote location of remaining birds.

(Simons and Hodges 19) 14

In 1995, Brandt et al. conducted a study to determine optimal nesting sites for the

Hawaiian Dark-romped petrel. It was found that petrels locate nests in relatively steep areas near significant vegetation cover (576). This information can be used to guide ground searches for additional habitat patches. As with any endangered species it is critical to assess the amount and distribution of ideal habitat before effective conservation strategies can be developed. Moreover, it is interesting to note that in the Galapagos,

Dark-romped petrels were attracted to playbacks ofcolony calls (Podolsky et al. 448).

Perhaps with this technique combined with information of suitable habitat locations, it may be possible to concentrate birds in predator-free nesting sites (Simons and Hodges

19). Future research needs to be focused on determining the sizes of specific populations within the Hawaiian Islands and determining the distribution ofbirds at sea.

METHODS

Conservation biology is becoming an increasingly interdisciplinary field.

Technological advancements are placing a greater importance on GPS and Geographic

Information System (GIS) analysis to effectively map biodiversity. Since the early

1980's, ecologists are fmding GPS technology indispensable in quantifying data in the field (Johnston 1998). Several GPS models were used in the course ofthe project.

There are currently seven petrel colonies in the frontcountry ofHaleakala

National Park. Arbitrarily sectioned for the convenience of field observations, these colonies are, namely: (1) White Hill (2) North Visitors Center (3) Long Cliff (4)

Kilohana (5) Science City (6) South Slope and (7) West Slope. Many ofthe burrows within these colonies are mapped with a Global Positioning System (GPS); however with the growing number ofnew burrows found it is critical to update the current maps and information on file. Given my internship time constraint of 11 weeks, the focus ofthe project was the Kilohana subcolony consisting of63 new burrows (Fig. 1). 15

I I r r' I J _/ [0 N A -c \_--' l -, rs: ------­ % - '~ ~ ~'<:' "'---­ oC' o .~

FIGURE 1. Area ofKilohana 'Ua'u subcolony along western rim ofHaleakala consists of228 burrows total and spans a distance of 1,270 meters.

The process began by locating each new burrow using a GPS unit and transferring the data into the computer program ArcView® Geographic Information System (GIS) where a map ofthe entire colony was produced. Raw data from the GPS unit must fIrst be transferred through the Pathfinder Office® computer program where it is differentially 16 corrected and feature properties and attributes are edited. Files exported from Pathfmder

Office are ofthe shapefile format and easily read by the ArcView program. A total often themes were imported into ArcView consisting ofpreviously mapped burrows, Park contours and other landmarks for orientation purposes. For quick reference in the field, the map is rotated at a +45 degree angle around the center point (x: 787260, y: 2294450).

Several drafts were required to produce the final map. A week ofground-truthing was necessary to ensure that burrows were in fact in their specified locations. The last revised version ofthe Kilohana 'Ua'u map was completed in 1996, thus several burrows were found to be inactive and newly excavated burrows were located. Because the subcolony is quite large, the final map is divided into three sections.

Spatial scaling proved to be difficult when producing the final map. As is often the case with maps of differing magnitudes ofslopes on a topographic surface, a phenomenon may appear homogenous at one spatial scale but heterogenous at another

(Miller 1994). Adding to the difficulties was the close proximity ofbuITows, which made labeling the burrows almost impossible. To get around this problem, each section was exported from ArcView as a postscript file and opened in Adobe® Illustrator 8.0. Each section slightly overlaps the previous, so that there are no distance discrepancies when moving to the next section.

CONCLUSION

The completed Kilohana maps will aid in further monitoring of the endangered

Hawaiian dark-romped petrel. Analysis of distributional maps may be able to determine ifdensity-dependent factors are present among colonies, as well as favorable habitat conditions. In order for conservation efforts to be effective, a great deal of information must first be gathered. Age structure of the population, limiting factors for survival when birds are at sea, and the breeding age for 'Ua'u are all topics for further research. 17

References

Brandt, C. A, Parrish, 1. K., and Hodges, C. N. Predictive approaches to habitat quantification: Dark-rumped Petrels on Haleakala, Maui. Auk 112(3) :571-579. 1995.

Cruz, F., and Cruz, 1. B. Breeding, Morphology, and Growth ofthe Endangered Dark­ rumped Petrel. Auk 107(2) :317-326. 1990.

Croxall, 1.P. Seabirds: feeding ecology and role in marine ecosystems. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge. 1987.

Harrison, C. S. Seabirds ofHawaii: Natural History and Conservation. Cornell University Press: New York. 1990.

Johnston, C. A Geographic Information Systems in Ecology. Oxford: Blackwell Science Ltd,1998.

Miller, R 1. Mapping the Diversity ofNature. London: Chapman & Hall, 1994.

Nettleship, D. N., Burger J., and Gochfeld M. Seabirds On Islands: Threats, Case Studies and Action Plans. Seabird International: Hamilton, New Zealand. 1994.

Podolsky, R, and Kress, S. W. Attraction ofthe endangered dark-rumped petrel to recorded vocalizations in the Galapagos Islands. The Condor 94: 448-453. 1992.

Simons, T. R, and Hodges, C. N. Dark-rumped Petrel (Pterodroma phaeopygia). The Birds ofNorth America 345:1-24. 1998.

Simons, T. R A Population Model ofthe Endangered Hawaiian Dark-rumped Petrel. Journal of Wildlife Management 48(4) :1065-1076. 1984.

Simons, T. R Biology and Behavior ofthe Endangered Hawaiian Dark-rumped Petrel. Condor 87(2) :229-245. 1985.

United States. Fish and Wildlife Service and Telfer, T. C. The Hawaiian Dark-romped petrel and Newell's Manx shearwater Recovery Plan. February 1983.

Warham,1. The Petrels: their ecology and breeding systems. Academic Press, Inc.: San Diego, CA 1990.

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22

When I first thought of Haleakala, pictures of cinder cones and the feeling of breathing air with very little oxygen came to mind. I must admit I'm a little embarrassed having had these assumptions. It's unfortunate that many residents have never had the opportunity, or have made the opportunity rather, to visit one ofHawaii's most beautiful national parks. What I mean by 'visit' is not just the winding drive up the mountain, those few scenic lookouts, and then the [mal snapshot picture from the summit - no.

Think about it for a second - Why would you want to drive up a mountain for an hour, snap a picture of a gigantic hole in the ground and call it a day? Perhaps you didn't have the time or energy to do more, or you just wanted a picture to say that you were there ­ sure, [me that's great. But you really haven't experienced Haleakala for what its worth.

Haleakala National Park is so much more than that snap shot picture from the summit. I quickly came to that conclusion a week after my internship began.

On May 30 I arrived to begin work on the Endangered Species Management

(ESM) Project within the Haleakala National Park's Resource Management Division, located on Maui, Hawaii. I had no idea what to expect but was very eager to learn. I worked under the supervision of CatWeen Hodges, Endangered Species Management

Project Leader and Ron Nagata, Chief ofResource Management. My fust week consisted of orientation meetings and 'how to' discussions, as I became familiar with my new ESM responsibilities. ESM consists of four staff members and four volunteers or interns, including myself. The amount ofwork and data that needs to be gathered on a regular basis for the ESM project to continue is incredible. For instance there are five predator control traplines encompassing the front-country of the park and four traplines within the crater that need to be monitored on a weekly basis. Moreover, there are Nene 23 sightings and Dark-rumped Petrel (Ua'u) burrow observations that need to be gathered and entered into an existing database regularly. With so many smaller ongoing projects and the occasional unforeseen circumstances that arose, the office was always busy unless we were out in the field. One thing in particular that was very new for me was working with a large agency such as the National Park Service. It was interesting to see how the different divisions within the park service functioned. Even within the Resource

Management there exists five projects or smaller divisions namely Vegetation,

Maintenance, Feral Animal Control, Research, and Endangered Species Management.

The complexity ofthe park service in general was a further reminder of how integrated the conservation field really is; however, it is not always united toward a common goal, unfortunately.

On the second week I was scheduled to hike into the crater, a total trip lasting three days and two nights. It was on the first day that we hiked in that I finally realized the beauty of Haleakala. Where else can you hike for a few hours, begin in cinder cones and end in a rainforest, glance over your shoulder and see the Pacific Ocean below? It was incredible. I also had the opportunity to do some Nene surveying while in the crater.

I learned to read their bands correctly and take down the proper information for further studies.

By the third week I began my internship project of locating Dark-rumped petrel burrows in the Kilohana sub-colony using a Global Positioning System (GPS) and subsequently creating a map of the colony. There are at present seven petrel sub-colonies in the front-country of Haleakala National Park. These colonies include (1) White Hill,

(2) North Visitors Center, (3) Long Cliff, (4) Kilohana, (5) Science City, (6) South Slope, 24 and (7) West Slope. Many of the burrows within these colonies have been mapped with a

GPS in the previous years, however with the growing number of new burrows found it is critical to update the maps and information currently on file. Once the GPS data was collected from the field it was transferred into the computer program ArcView®

Geographic Information System (GIS) to be further manipulated and exported into

Adobe® Illustrator, where the final map was produced. Because I had no previous knowledge ofthe ArcView® program, the entire process of producing the map was a great learning experience.

Perhaps the most memorable experience ofall, however, was night banding the

Ua'u. Night banding is done every July, and again in October during the fledging period.

To be out on the crater rim 10,000 feet above sea level at midnight with a full moon overhead and swooping petrels all around, is a pretty good memory to have. It was a little straining on my part, at first, to have to band these birds that are obviously uncomfortable, yet it's crucial work that needs to be done in order for these birds to survive. Ua'u seabirds are truly amazing animals that we know very little about. They are just another one ofHaleakala's hidden treasures.

Selected Journal Entries

5/30 - I had a very 'interesting'first day. My personalized orientation tour lasted about a halfhour andformal introductions were made. The park headquarters is 3-4 minutes from the NPS office. At 9 am there was a staffmeeting. That was the 'interesting' part of the day. I had the privilege ofmeeting the ChiefofResource Management. Very informative meeting, I must say. Following the meeting I was taken with John on C Trapline; a total of40 traps located near park headquarters. It is going to be a 25 challenge to hike in such high elevations. I really hope (and pray) I get through it. I was taught to mix the bait (consisting ofcat and dogfood), set the traps (including how to find them) and the correct procedures on how to log in the data (both in the field & in the log book in the ofjice). The rest ofthe day involved basically getting to know everyone. I think I'm really going to enjoy my stay here.

5/31 - Wow, what a day! My feet and legs are going to fall off. I accompanied Trent along F Trapline. We had to hitch a ride about 20 minutes past headquarters towards the summit and then hike down along the fence line back to the office. It took about 3 hours to check 69 traps. There was afairly large adult that was caught. Along the latter part ofthe hike we caught sight ofa very large wild pig about afew meters away. It was outside park boundaries so there was nothing we could do about it. One part ofthe hike consisted ofa semi-vertical hill. With the clouds andfog rolling in around us, I had a difficult time breathing. I was told today that I'm scheduled to go into the crater next week. The entire trip will be 3 days and 2 nights. That will definitely be afun challenge. We returned to the ofjice at about 11:15 am. After having lunch, Trent gave me a crash course in data entry. They use the Paradox program, which is a lot easier than Excell. I'm due for a good nights rest; maybe I should pick up some painkillers tomorrow.

6/1- Today I tackled E Trapline. We hiked along the rim ofHaleakalafor 2 Y2 hours checking 68 traps. It involved a bit ofrock climbing. I earned two dime-sized blisters on myfeet, which reminds me to look into purchasing new shoes. But once we reached the top it was all worth the aches and pains. The view was incredible. We were high above the clouds with an immense expanse ofnatural beauty. I can't wait to do that hike again.

6/13 - Completed my very first trapline today. It was F Trapline, so it wasn't too difficult. I still need a little more time to get used to working by myself. I think Ifell once, but nothing was injured and no bait was lost.

6/14 - It was office-day today. I spent the entire day learning to use the ArcView program. I was basically learningfrom afew manuals. I wish I had an opportunity to 26 take some courses related to GPS/GIS technology. It'll probably be a great skill to have in the future. I also learned today that a job spent entirely in an office 24/7 wouldn't be my ideal career choice.

6/20 - I have 9 additional petrel burrows to GPs. It never seems to end. I had a dream last night that I was climbing over some rocks to locate a burrow and accidentally dropped the GPS unit (and it shattered). I think that's definitely a sign ofsomething. Anyway, I slipped twice today; luckily my hands broke the fall (and no equipment was broken). I keepforgetting to bring my camera along; there were so many wonderful shots I missed. Hopefully I'll have a chance to catch them the next time around. I would like to thank the following organizations and personnel who contributed their time, knowledge and resources during the course ofmy internship.

University of Hawaii Hawaiian Internship Program Sharon Ziegler-Chong, Program Coordinator UH Sea Grant Extension Service UH-Hilo Natural Sciences Division 200 W. Kawili St. Hilo, HI 96720

The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii Pauline Sato 1116 Smith St., Suite 201 Honolulu, HI 96817

Haleakala National Park, Resources Management Division Cathleen Natividad Hodges, Wildlife Biologist P.O. Box 369 Makawao, HI 96768