COM 0455.017 2002-2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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i Response to Specifc Issues Raised I do not doubt that the respondent saw a Hawaiian Hawk on one or more occasions on the property located immediately south of the subject pazcel. Hawaiian Hawks aze found in nearly all vegetation habitats that still have some lazge tree components on the Big Island. Densities are highest in mature forests dominated by native tree species with grassy under-stories.' This habitat with high amounts of forest edge, supports lazge populations of game birds and.the four species of introduced rodents known from the island; it also provides numerous perches and nesting sites. Hawaiian Hawks aze also readily found in more urban azeas that have been cleazed, and on golf courses that still have large enough trees on the edges of the cleazed azeas that hawks can use as perch trees as they search for rodents and other prey items. The habitat present on the lands adjacent to the subject property have been cleared and developed as the Ali`i Gardens Market Place, a flea market type commercial operation, replete with at least one snack baz emporium. That hawks have been occasionally observed foraging within the Ali`i Gardens Market Place is not surprising. The combination of a cleazed area with relatively tall trees on the periphery and with regularly operating food concessions which attract comensal rodents, which in turn are favored prey items for hawks, almost guarantees that hawks will occasionally forage on the property. Conversely, the subject property is currently overgrown with kiawe and alien pasture grasses, a habitat type that is not likely to attract hawks. Hawaiian Hawks are regulazly seen within the low and mid-elevation areas along the Kona Coast. In fact as I write this, there is a hawk soazing over my home office in Kona Heights, which is located just a couple of miles north of the subject property. The assertion that the clearing of the subject property will have an adverse impact on Hawaiian Hawks is without foundation. Given the habitat present on thG subject property, it is highly unlikely that hawks are nesting on the site. Hawks are raptors, so occasional use of many areas and locales is the norm rather than the exception. For the development of thi"s proposed project to have an adverse impact on Hawaiian Hawks, it's development ' would have to impact specific nesting trees. Given the habitat present on the site, it is unlikely that hawks would find it an attractive place to nest. Hawaiian Hawks usually pick large stature `obi `a trees in which to build their nests. Of 112 hawk nests found during the 1998, and 1999 nesting seasons, 82% of the nests were located in `okr'a trees. ' The subject property has, as previously mentioned no trees except for kiawe. In my close to 30 years of field experience in Hawaii, and a review of the published ornithological literature I am unawaze that a Hawaiian Hawk has ever been recorded nesting in a kiawe tree. ' Conclusion It is my professional opinion that the clearing and development of the subject property will not result in adverse impacts to Hawaiian Hawks. It is highly unlikely that Hawaiian Hawks nest on the property. In the unlikely event that a Hawauan Hawk nest is detected on the site during cleazing and grubbing operations, all disturbance activity should be halted, and a buffer zone of 100 meters should be placed azound the active nest. The U. S.