(BIVN) – The future public use of the Honua‘ula Forest Reserve in the North Kona district of Hawaiʻi Island will be the focus of a community meeting on July 15 at the West Hawai‘i Civic Center.

“In order to support a growing demand for recreational space in the North Kona District,” the state wrote in a media release, “the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) is conducting a civic use study to gauge community interest in recreational and subsistence uses, such as hiking, hunting, and gathering other forest resources in the Honua‘ula Forest Reserve. As part of the study, DOFAW has scheduled an open meeting to present and receive input on the Kailua-Kona community’s preferences and potential management strategies to support anticipated future increase in activity.”

As written in the Honuaʻula Forest Reserve Public Use Study: 

The reserve was established by Governor’s Proclamation on April 4, 1906 and eventually brought under the control of the Territorial Government to preserve the south slopes of Hualālai for its valuable forest and large koa trees.

Preservation of the land has ensured a continued forest belt on the mountain. The protection of the forest from grazing cattle has been and continues to be an important part of managing this important watershed forest. When established in 1906, Honua‘ula Forest Reserve spanned 665 acres, but with additional land grants and boundary modifications, the Honuaʻula Forest Reserve now protects, restores, and preserves 8,489 forested acres.

image courtesy Hawaiʻi DLNR

The Monday night meeting will take place from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. “There will be a brief presentation, live polling to solicit real time community feedback, and an opportunity to ask DOFAW representatives questions regarding the proposed project,” the DLNR says.

Any person requesting an auxiliary aid or service (i.e. large print materials, sign language interpreters) is asked to contact Kylee Wideman at 808-927-0412 or through the Telecommunications Relay Service at 711 by July 8, 2019, the state says.