1. The refuge staff killed 11 pigs and 6 cattle during FY2004 using snares and firearms. 1,468 pigs and 293 cattle have been removed by staff hunting, public hunting, contract hunting, snaring and driving since the Refuge was established.

2. A 19-person team from Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and refuge staff replaced 1.1 miles of the Shipman Unit perimeter fence (Nukupahu section) which was damaged by wild cattle.

3. Forty-five miles of fence surrounding the eight Feral Ungulate Management Units (FUMUs) were inspected on a monthly basis and maintained to exclude feral cattle and pigs. Treefalls were removed, washouts were repaired and sections damaged by ungulates were re-wired. Seven of the eight FUMUs are currently cattle-free and the eighth (Unit 6) has only a couple head remaining. Six of the eight FUMUs are pig-free. Unit 6 still has a few pigs (about 6% of the 673 survey plots showed recent pig activity) and the Lower Honohina FUMU still has the original pig population (about 50% of the 381 plots surveyed showed pig activity).

4. 29,840 native trees (15 species) were propagated and outplanted on the Refuge. A total of 306,813 trees (23 species including 6 endangered species) have been outplanted since 1987. About 60% of the seedlings have survived. Some of the Koas are taller than 30 ft.

5. Understory plantings of native Ohia, Olapa, Pilo and other native seedlings continue to show high survival when planted under Koa trees planted 8-15 years ago. The Koa overstory adds nitrogen to the soil, collects cloud drip, shades weeds and protects understory plantings from frost damage.

6. The annual forest bird census was conducted in April. Data analysis from censuses conducted at the refuge between 1977 and 2000 show that the Hawaii Creeper, an endangered species, has doubled in population and that populations of five other species, including the endangered Hawaii Akepa, show significant increases. Five species of native forest birds, including the endangered Akiapola?au, have been observed within the outplanted Koa tree corridors and groves.

7. Approximately 1,854 acres of refuge land was spot sprayed with herbicide during FY 2004 to control Florida blackberry. Much of this effort was funded by an $84,000 grant from the U.S. Forest Service under their Forest Pest Management Program. Since 2001, about 3,200 acres of the 8,200 acre blackberry infestation at Hakalau have been treated with herbicide. Surveys show a 35% decrease in blackberry cover over the last 4 years due to control efforts by contractors and staff.

8. Bulldozing and herbicide spraying continue to be effective treatments for controlling the noxious weed, gorse. Most of the gorse has been removed from the Refuge over the past 16 years. Only the most recently acquired Unit (Pua Akala) still has a substantial amount of this weed.

9. The staff banded 17 wild Nene that hatched and fledged at Hakalau this year from 19 nests. The Refuge is working in cooperation with Hawaii State DNLR, Division of Forestry and Wildlife to establish a wild Nene flock at the Refuge which currently numbers about 60 individuals.

10. Trapping for feral cats and mongoose is conducted in selected areas during the Nene breeding season from November to March. Only four mongooses and one cat were trapped on the Refuge this year so predator populations remain low.

11. Hakalau Forest NWR met demand for public access by providing access to the Upper Maulua Unit for 111 visitors and by providing environmental education hikes for 404 volunteers.

12. Hakalau Forest NWR's 11th annual Open House was held October 18 to celebrate National Wildlife Refuge Week. Good weather and extensive publicity produced a record turnout of 281 guests who had the opportunity to participate in guided birding hikes, visit the refuge greenhouse and view the 115 year-old koa cabin at Pua Akala.

13. Refuge staff provided significant outreach services to the public off-refuge. 5,000 people viewed exhibits and talked with refuge staff at the Hawaii County Fair and 2,000 people were contacted at the University of Hawaii's Earth Day Celebration. Off-refuge group presentations (slide shows and talks) were given to 1,159 people.

14. A three-way partnership between the State Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Ecological Services ? FWS Honolulu, and the Refuge resulted in the outplanting of 38,000 koa seedlings on the narrow 195 acre parcel of land that abuts the western boundary of the Refuge between the top fence and Keanakolu Road.

15. 484 volunteers expended 1,068 days of effort at Hakalau during FY2004. Volunteers assisted with tree planting, native plant propagation in the refuge greenhouse, banana poka control, weed surveys, forest bird surveys and the Open House.

16. Three Student Conservation Association volunteers and 20 professors and students from the Hawaii Community College Forestry Program conducted an intensive weed survey under the Volunteer Invasive Species Monitoring Program. The results of this survey provided detailed information on the 8,200 acre distribution of Florida blackberry.

17. The Cooperative Conservation Initiative and the Challenge Cost Share program each provided $15k to match 650 days of volunteer tree planting and weed control effort. Wilderness Volunteers served as the umbrella volunteer organization for these grants.

18. The staff continued to play an active role in the Big Island Wildfire Coordinating Group and participated in a Joint Fire Science interagency prescribed fire off-refuge to reduce threats from roadside fires.

19. The road maintenance contractor completed $43k worth of upgrade/repair work on Pedro Road. Further road repairs await establishment of new gravel pits.

20. The refuge issued 26 Special Use Permits in FY2004, 9 for biological research, 11 for educational/birding tours and 6 for photography.