Hiking with your dog in Hawaii

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DogHiking with your dog in Hawai‘i can be a wonderful experience. Access to State Forest Reserves provides the public with opportunities to hike in some of the island’s most beautiful natural areas. However, it is important to remember that these areas are highly sensitive to recreational activities. Leash laws and other regulations have been implemented in State Forest Reserves to protect the environment, as well as to protect you and your dog from any hazards you may encounter. When hiking with your dog, it is imperative to know, understand, and abide by the regulations of the area. This brochure will guide you in planning a safe hike for you and your dog, reducing the likelihood of incidents on the trail.

Pet Owners
If you are on a trail in a Public Hunting Area, you might encounter hunting dogs along the trail, and your pet may be at risk. Make sure that your dog is leashed, and kept at a safe distance. Please be considerate of other trail users, and remove any droppings from the trail.

Download the DLNR’s “Hiking with your dog in Hawaii” brochure here.

Download the Honolulu Forest Reserve “Control Hunt Program Rules and Conditions” report here.

Invasive species alert

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Miconia leaves. Photo courtesy Oahu Invasive Species Committee.

Miconia leaves. Photo courtesy Oahu Invasive Species Committee.

The Tantalus Community Association (TCA) welcomed the Oahu Invasive Species Committee (OISC) to educate our residents about threats from invasive species that are particularly relevant to our mountain environment. Below please find some information about plants to watch for:

The Oahu Invasive Species Committee has a variety of plant and pest species they target across the island, and three of these species have been found in the Tantalus area. However, with continued survey and removal they can be prevented from establishing on Oahu.

OISC regularly surveys for these targeted invasive species known to occur on Mount Tantalus:

The area and frequency with which surveys are conducted depend on the species itself. When a plant is found, a buffer zone is created around the plant. OISC routinely surveys these buffer zones according to how soon the plant reaches maturity. So, while miconia surveys are conducted every three years, glory bush and cape ivy surveys are much more frequent, conducted every 6 months and every 3 months, respectively. Continue reading →

Roadside guinea grass control

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The City of Honolulu has begun to spray and cut the invasive guinea grass that has grown to more than six feet tall and was spilling over into the road in some places.

They started cutting the grass at Makiki Drive at the end of May and are now working their way around Tantalus and Round Top. We have also asked them to trim back tree branches from the road. Please continue to support the City with this road clearing effort to improve the visibility and safety on Tantalus.

Thank you,
Verne Takagi
TCA Roadside Maintenance Committee Chair

Feral Animals on Tantalus

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By Jennie Peterson

Feral cats on the Big Island of Hawaii

Feral cats on the Big Island of Hawaii (image courtesy Wikimedia Commons)

As we all know, there is an abundance of feral animals on Tantalus– from wild pigs to chickens, rabbits, Jackson Chameleons, birds, dogs and cats. Many neighbors have helped with this problem, but a few have done an exceptional job and a real community service.

Our volunteers follow the Humane Society’s plan to trap, neuter, return and manage (TNRM) to compassionately reduce the number of strays over time. Some have commented that they don’t see kittens on Round Top anymore. That’s due to continuous trapping and sterilizing. The numbers are stabilizing and diminishing.

This is a community problem, and these efforts are particularly important now. Due to lack of funding the Hawaiian Humane Society will no longer be picking up strays unless it is an emergency.

We have formed a Feral Animal Committee and would love to have animal lovers join our on-going efforts to humanely control feral animals on the mountain. It would be terrific if other Tantalus residents would pitch in. Be part of the solution. We need your help!

There are many ways to volunteer. E-mail vdurand (at) hawaii.rr.com or kolekolea (at) gmail.com if you can help.