The Natural Area Reserves System (NARS) of Hawaii is a statewide attempt to preserve in perpetuity, as relatively unmodified as possible, specific land and water areas which support communities of the natural

flora Flora (: floras or florae) is all the plant life present in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring (indigenous (ecology), indigenous) native plant, native plants. The corresponding term for animals is ''fauna'', and for f ...

and

fauna Fauna (: faunae or faunas) is all of the animal life present in a particular region or time. The corresponding terms for plants and fungi are ''flora'' and '' funga'', respectively. Flora, fauna, funga and other forms of life are collectively ...

, as well as the geological sites, of

Hawaii Hawaii ( ; ) is an island U.S. state, state of the United States, in the Pacific Ocean about southwest of the U.S. mainland. One of the two Non-contiguous United States, non-contiguous U.S. states (along with Alaska), it is the only sta ...

History

Established in 1970 by Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 195, the system presently consists of 19 reserves on five islands, encompassing more than of the State's

ecosystem An ecosystem (or ecological system) is a system formed by Organism, organisms in interaction with their Biophysical environment, environment. The Biotic material, biotic and abiotic components are linked together through nutrient cycles and en ...

s. The diverse areas found in the NARS range from marine and coastal environments to

lava Lava is molten or partially molten rock (magma) that has been expelled from the interior of a terrestrial planet (such as Earth) or a Natural satellite, moon onto its surface. Lava may be erupted at a volcano or through a Fissure vent, fractu ...

flows,

tropical rainforest Tropical rainforests are dense and warm rainforests with high rainfall typically found between 10° north and south of the Equator. They are a subset of the tropical forest biome that occurs roughly within the 28° latitudes (in the torrid zo ...

s, and even an alpine

desert A desert is a landscape where little precipitation occurs and, consequently, living conditions create unique biomes and ecosystems. The lack of vegetation exposes the unprotected surface of the ground to denudation. About one-third of the la ...

. Within these areas one can find rare

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...

plants and animals, many of which are on the edge of extinction. The Natural Area Reserves System is administered by the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife. Currently, management teams are working to control the encroachment of non-native plants and animals which threaten the existence of the natural biota on the reserves. The reserves include:

Hawaii Island

* Kahaualea on Kilauea * Kipahoehoe on

Mauna Loa Mauna Loa (, ; ) is one of five volcanoes that form the Island of Hawaii in the U.S. state of Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean. Mauna Loa is Earth's largest active volcano by both mass and volume. It was historically considered to be the largest ...

* on

Mauna Kea Mauna Kea (, ; abbreviation for ''Mauna a Wākea''); is a dormant Shield volcano, shield volcano on the Hawaii (island), island of Hawaii. Its peak is above sea level, making it the List of U.S. states by elevation, highest point in Hawaii a ...

* Manuka * Mauna Kea Ice Age on upper slope of Mauna Kea * Puu Makaala * Puu O Umi above Waimanu Valley * Waiakea 1942 Lava Flow above

Hilo, Hawaii Hilo () is the largest settlement in and the county seat of Hawaii County, Hawaiʻi, United States, which encompasses the Island of Hawaiʻi, and is a census-designated place (CDP). The population was 44,186 according to the 2020 census. I ...

Kauai

* Hono O Na Pali * Kuia

Maui

* West Maui * Hanawi * Kanaio * Nakula * Āhihi-Kina‘u

Molokai

* Olokui * Puu Alii

Oahu

Kaena Point Kaena or Kaena Point is the westernmost tip of the island of Oahu. In Hawaiian, ''kaena'' means "the heat". The area was named after a brother or cousin of Pele. The point is designated as a Natural Area Reserve. History According to ancie ...

* Pahole *

Kaʻala Kaala or Mount Kaala (pronounced in Hawaiian) is the highest mountain on the island of Oahu, at . It is a part of the Waianae Range, an eroded shield volcano on the west side of the island. The FAA maintains an active tracking station at the ...

Notes

References

Hawaii State Government, Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 195The Natural Area Reserves System's web site
Natural history of Hawaii Protected areas of Hawaii Nature reserves in Hawaii 1970 in American law 1970 establishments in Hawaii Environmental law in the United States Protected areas established in 1970 {{Hawaii-protected-area-stub