A draft management plan proposes no hunting of game animals, except possibly birds, at the new Kamehamenui Forest Reserve in Kula.

The proposal is one of many developed by the state Division of Forestry and Wildlife after studies, testimonies and public meetings.

Another public meeting about the Kamehamenui Forest Reserve Management Plan is scheduled for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. today at the Von Tempsky Community Center in Kula.

Hawaii Forest Association member Tom Calhoun said he’s glad the day has arrived where work can start on restoring portions of the 3,433-acre Kamehamenui Forest Reserve on the northwestern slopes of Haleakala.

“I’m hoping we can get something going here,” said Calhoun, a Maui resident.

The state acquired the reserve from the Trust for Public Lands, which bought the property from the Shizuka Asakawa Revocable Trust in July 2020.

According to the draft management plan, medium to low level recreation areas could include trails for hiking, non-motorized biking, equestrian use and remote camping. Areas not designated as critical habitat for endangered species, could be considered for hunting game birds if that’s compatible with management goals.

The draft plan also says ranching is an important part of the history of these lands and should not be excluded from the future use of the project area, though ranching may need to be “downsized” given the nature of the proposed activities, such as restoring some of the region’s traditional agricultural practices by working with a school or community program.

Part pasture land and native forest, the forest reserve has been grazed for cattle mainly in the lower sections of the property, but it also contains native shrublands where there are nesting endangered seabirds and other wildlife. One of them is the yellow-faced bee that pollinates native plants including the Haleakala silversword.

The draft says the bees are abundant in the subalpine scrubland of the reserve, especially near pūkiawe and ʻaʻaliʻi plants in bloom.

“Once common across all Hawaiʻi, subalpine East Maui is now one of the only places these native bees are still abundant,” according to the draft.

About 1,171 acres of the uppermost alpine and subalpine shrubland in Kamehamenui overlap federally designated areas critical to the conservation of endangered and threatened species that may require special management or protection.

The pastureland is located below the 6,500 foot level non-native grassland dominated by kikuyu grass, and about 1,233 acres are still used as native ranch land under a state grazing lease.

Another native species found in Kamehamenui include the native wolf spider which hunts prey in the subalpine shrubland.

A survey in 2021 found 38 native plant species, including 22 endemic species such as ʻŌhiʻa, sandalwood and koa.

Comments on the draft are due by 11:59 p.m. Oct. 23.

A copy of the plan is available at tinyurl.com/4aksd9yu. Comments can be submitted at tinyurl.com/3hw3wynb or by mail to Kamehamenui Forest Reserve Draft Management Plan — Comments, P.O. Box 2143, Ewa Beach, Hi 96706-9998.