Laupāhoehoe Forest (12,343 acres) is situated on the eastern, windward flanks of Mauna Kea in the North Hilo District on the island of Hawai‘i (TMK (3) 3-7-001:002, (3) 3-7-001:012). Laupāhoehoe Forest is composed of Laupāhoehoe Natural Area Reserve and the Laupāhoehoe section of the Hilo Forest Reserve and also is federally designated as part of the Hawai‘i Experimental Tropical Forest. Laupāhoehoe Forest is important watershed and valuable native habitat for many species of rare plants and animals. The Laupāhoehoe Forest Draft Management Plan proposes management actions to be implemented over the next 15 years to support long-term protection of the native forest and watershed. In addition to continuing existing management (e.g., invasive species control, rare plant restoration, research, etc.), the Management Plan also proposes the creation of new fenced conservation units (approximately 2,659 total acres), the maintenance and development of identified primitive trails within the Forest and the establishment of primitive camping at Shack Camp; increased opportunities for education and outreach visits; and the installation of management shelters and helicopter landing zones to support natural resources management, wildfire suppression, and emergency response. Best management practices and mitigation measures would be incorporated to minimize negative impacts to water, botanical, faunal, or archaeological resources. The creation of conservation units will decrease the acreage available for public hunting in Units C and K by approximately 2,659 acres; locations for proposed fencing were selected to protect intact forest and to minimize impact on hunting.”DLNR in Laupahoehoe Forest Management Plan draft EA

This plan addresses the threat of invasive non-native species and climate change and recognizes the role an intact forest plays in providing clean fresh water for people and wildlife and supporting healthy coastal marine resources.”Suzanne Case, Chairperson of DLNR