ARMY PARTICIPATES IN PARTNERING MEETING FOR SADDLE ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. On June 30, 1998, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) conducted a partnering session to develop a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that outlines agency responsibilities for implementing the Palila (an endangered bird) mitigation plan. The all-day session proved to be very successful and the final MOU was signed shortly thereafter. Under the terms of the MOU, the Army will be responsible for using Ecosystem Management Program funding to restore Mamane habitat for possible future reintroduction of Palila in Kipuka Alala in the southwestern corner of the Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA) on the Island of Hawaii. Specifically, the agreement calls for fencing and ungulate control. The Army also agreed to assist with restoration of the Palila by "cooperating with necessary predator and alien species control and Mamane reforestation or protection efforts."

ARMY NATURAL RESOURCES PERSONNEL HELP OUT AT HELEMANO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL by Kerriann Paracuellas, Enrichment Teacher. This past school year, the Enrichment Program at Helemano Elementary School in Whitmore Village, Wahiawa, focused its curriculum on Hawaii’s natural history and culture. The 4th graders learned about the geologic formation of our island home and the many plants and animals that later arrived, many of which have become important representatives of the native Hawaiian culture. Several guest speakers, projects, and field trips were added to the program to provide the students with first hand experience and information. Matthew Burt, with the U.S. Army Garrison, Hawaii’s natural resources program visited our classroom and gave an informative slide show explaining the role that the U.S. Army plays in helping to protect our fragile ecosystems and native species. He also donated several native plants to the program’s native habitat project, and even helped the students plant them. The habitat is part of the Schoolyard Habitats Program, a project of The National Wildlife Federation, and supported locally by the Youth for Environmental Service (Y.E.S.) organization. In addition to growing native plants, the students engaged in projects such as making plant cards, sketching, researching their cultural and medicinal significance, and learning to become familiar with scientific names. The project proved to be a fun and significant learning experience for the students, largely due to the many experts like Matthew who gave generously of their time to work with the students. Mahalo nui loa!

POHAKULOA CURATION FACILITY by Jade Moniz Nakamura. With the help of PTA’s DPW workforce, and the support of the Ecosystem Management Program, the Pohakuloa Training Area now has its very own curation facility. This climate controlled, secure building will house all of the cultural materials collected on PTA’s training lands. Presently, artifacts collected from the field can be found in at least five different locations scattered across the islands. Soon, these remains will be able to come back home. Here, they will be properly cared for and will also be available for use by researchers, and for use in our Public Benefits Program. The Public Benefits Program is intended to inform and educate the community about the prehistoric use of Pohakuloa as well as the present use of the area by the U.S. military. This program is in its early stages of development; however, we have already reached several schools, community groups and local organizations. Housing the materials at PTA allows the Army to return the material to the area it came from, a desire often heard from the Native Hawaiian community. With this facility, the Army will be able to protect and preserve its resources for future generations. Recently, the Environmental Office at Pohakuloa also assembled an Artifact Display Case. The case consists of a wooden frame with lockable glass doors. A detachable fluorescent light piece can be affixed to the top. Glass shelves within the case now hold many fragile, rare artifacts found at Pohakuloa. Captions with information explaining the significance of each piece can also be found along-side the artifact. The Artifact Display Case is also an important part of the Public Benefits Program at PTA. Soldiers and civilians are able to visit the Environmental Office to view the many kinds of artifacts found in the caves systems and at other sites at PTA.

PIT FEATURES DESCRIBED AT PTA by Jade Moniz Nakamura, Kathleen Sherry and Laila Tamimi. Pit features and their use by ancient Hawaiians at Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA) are described in an article submitted for publication to Rapa Nui in July 1998. Precontact change in Hawaiian subsistence has been of interest to archaeologists for many years in Hawaii. In studies of subsistence change, much emphasis and research effort has focused on agricultural intensification and landscape alteration. While the expansion of both windward valley and leeward agricultural field systems have heretofore been the primary focus in studies of landscape alteration, other more amorphous features have received only brief examination. One example of such features are excavated pits. Excavated pit features have been briefly discussed by archaeologists working in coastal areas on the Island of Hawaii. Explanations for use of these coastal pits have ranged from sweet potato planting features to abrader quarry sites. Prior to 1997, these features were only known to occur on the coast. Subsequently, they have been found at high altitude locations. The distribution of excavated pits found at PTA on the Island of Hawaii was examined. The use of pits in the uplands suggests they functioned as artificial habitat and nesting sites for the Dark Rumped Petrel (Pterodroma phaeopygia), a favored food in precontact Hawaii. The creation of artificial habitat would not only make the birds more accessible to hunters, but by expanding habitat it would help sustain large numbers of the population.

WELCOME, MATHEW! Mathew Keir began work with the Oahu natural resources crew in May 1998. He graduated from the University of Oregon in Eugene with a degree in Environmental Studies. He participated in outdoor leadership training where he instructed University of Oregon students in navigational skills and rappelling. He has always had an avid interest in Hawaiian biology inspired by his Boy Scouting adventures that took him on backpacking trips to Kalalau, Waimanu and Haleakala National Park. Upon returning to Hawaii from Oregon, he began work at Mokes on Spokes, a bicycle delivery service in downtown Honolulu, and during his free time volunteered for The Nature Conservany's Stewardship Program on Oahu with high school students conducting weed control, restoration and monitoring in Honouliuli Preserve. He is learning at an exponential rate working for the Army's Natural Resources Program and we are very glad to have him aboard.

NEW FIRE PREVENTION POSTER. A new fire prevention poster was unveiled at the Hawaii Conservation Conference at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, July 30-31. The poster features just some of the many rare and endangered species of plants and animals found at Army training areas on Oahu. The poster was designed to raise the awareness level of soldiers training at these locations regarding the importance of fire prevention. Over 200 posters were distributed during the two-day conference. For those that weren't lucky enough to get a poster during the conference, a copy (albeit, a smaller one) is included here.