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CHAPTER 2 <br />KONA TODA Y <br />caused source or actions. To the extent practicable, the wilderness character of these areas shall <br />be protected". <br />Rare, Threatened, Endangered Species. The vast majority of native Hawaiian plants and animals <br />are found nowhere else on Earth. Some of these plants and animals are on the brink of extinction. <br />Kona is home to rare, threatened, and/or endangered plant and animal species such as, but not <br />limited to Hawaii Creeper, Hawaiian Crow (`Alala), Hawaii Hawk (`lo), anchialine pool shrimp, <br />`ahakea, kauila, halapepe, lo`ulu, `aiea, ma`aloa. Some of these species do not live in protected <br />areas. It is important to identify which species inhabit Kona and where they are located. <br />Open Space and Natural Areas. Kona is blessed with <br />open space and natural areas that have the potential <br />for active and passive recreational opportunities, as <br />well as to preserve and conserve sensitive natural <br />systems (native forests, anchialine ponds, floodways, <br />beaches, etc.). <br />Natural Hazards. The coastal areas along Kona are <br />vulnerable to major storms, with the most significant of <br />these being hurricanes. While hurricanes and storm <br />events present the most likely risks, Kona is also <br />vulnerable to earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, droughts, and wildfires. <br />Multi -Hazard Mitigation Plan (February 2005), which identified natural <br />and vulnerability analysis, and addressed mitigation measures. <br />The County prepared the <br />hazards, conducted a risk <br />2.2 GROWTH PATTERNS AND TRENDS <br />Population growth and composition. There are different ways to show the population growth in Kona <br />(see Table 2-1): <br />Percentage Change. Resident population grew in North Kona by 62% from 1980 to 1990 (3rd <br />in percentage increase behind Puna and South Kohala) and tapered to 28% growth from 1990 <br />to 2000 (4th among the nine districts). This percentage growth increase was nearly twice that <br />of South Kona. <br />Absolute Numerical Change. In terms of absolute numbers, only Puna (19,584) added more <br />residents than North Kona (14,795) in the two decades. <br />Countywide Proportion. In the year 2000, North Kona (19%) ranked second to South Hilo <br />(37%) in terms of percent of population countywide. However, the trend is that North Kona and <br />Puna are increasing their share of the countywide population, while the South Hilo share is <br />declining. <br />2-6 KONA CDP <br />