Donation
HO’OMAU RANCH CONSERVANCY is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization promoting and assisting in the reforestation, restoration and conservation of native Hawai’ian Forest lands and species.
We are preparing to plant in the 265 acre and 65 acre fenced HO’OMAU RANCH forested areas which host a healthy habitat for plants and animals including critically endangered species such as the Mehamehame, largest of the native tree species and Loulu Palm (Prichardia Schatteuer). These areas host healthy old growth Ohia and are also home to the endangered Hawaiian hawk. Hawaiian tiny snails, the Kamehameha butterfly and many native birds including apapane, iiwi, elepaio and amakihi also make these areas their home………….safe in many ways through the zero tolerance ungulate fencing!
We gratefully accept your DONATIONS to assist in this work.
LOVE alone can’t get the job done!
HO’OMAU RANCH CONSERVANCY is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
EIN: 82-2037512. We are Benevity certified for matching funds.
HO’OMAU RANCH is located within the ahupua’a of Honomalino, Papa 1 and Papa 2 in South Kona District on the Island of Hawaii. HO’OMAU RANCH lies on the western (leeward) flank of Mauna Loa, north of the volcano’s southwest rift zone, and extends from 1750 to 3580 feet (530-1090 meters) elevation . It lies within the U.S. Geological Survey’s lava flow hazard zone 2, along with much of South Kona, a region where individual flows are often identifiable by the variety of the existing vegetation. HO’OMAU RANCH is well situated with natural resources. It lies in a mesic moisture regime, spanning the drier to the wetter range of mesic moisture conditions.
NATIVE ANIMAL LIFE
This draft plan has focused on plants and vegetation because they are the foundation of ecosystems. The next draft will have a much greater discussion of the endemic ope’epe’a (bat), and the birds (amakihi, apapane, ‘elepaio, ‘io, pueo, ua’u and indigenous ‘ake’ake) that reside or fly over HO’OMAU RANCH. The Monarch butterfly, the Kamehameha butterfly and the “tiny snail” also habitat Ho’omau. Some are rare or endangered, and may require detailed consideration. Four of the preceding animals feed on native insects and other arthropods, which form the bulk of the native biodiversity in native ecosystems. Given the close association that has evolved between native arthropods and native plants, a primary strategy will be to promote the diversity of native plants in the land cover at the ranch.
NATIVE HAWAIIAN FOREST
HO’OMAU RANCH is home to ten of the twelve known adult individuals of Loulu Palm Pritchardia Schattaueri remaining in the wild. They are the tallest species of the genus reaching the height of 96-128 feet. HO’OMAU RANCH includes the range of the age and the quality found within the larger regional matrix. This complex matrix defines the range of opportunities and influences the problems at Ho’omau and within the region in general. A few areas contain critically rare native species and a structurally sound mixed mesic forest. Overall, HO’OMAU RANCH has generally wetter conditions than are seen to the south, and generally drier than is seen on state forest reserve lands to the north. These characteristics make parts of Ho’omau ideally suited for local rare plant protection, habitat restoration and self propagation of both rare and uncommon plants within an existing forest structure.