12 • April 17, 2016 HAWAI‘I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK CENTENNIAL ZONES From page 10 We Hawaii Volcanoes National Park! Celebrating 100 Years! “Trust Your Generation of Power to a Family that’s been around for Generations!” Custom Photovoltaic Systems built to your needs Residential • Commercial • Industrial PHOTOVOLTAIC SOLAR SERVICES AVAILABLE Lava regeneration firsthand and can also catch a glimpse of the endangered nene or ‘io. East Rift Rain Forest Most visitors are familiar with the Hawaiian rain forest that surrounds Nahuku, also called Thurston Lava Tube. However, this 200-year-old rain forest extends an additional 9 miles to Napau Crater. Visitors who hike Napau or Naulu trails pass through pioneer plant communities on young lava flows and the largest expanse of lowland rain forest remaining in the park. Endangered species such as the ‘io (Hawaiian hawk), ‘ope‘ape‘a (Hawaiian hoary bat) and many rare plants occur throughout this SEA. The experienced hiker can enjoy a remote wilderness experience along the Napau (14-mile round trip) and the Naulu trails (10-mile round trip). ‘Apua Point – The largest patch of native coastal vegetation resides in a kipuka surrounded by massive Mauna Ulu lava flows. Two native plants, the beach naupaka and the endangered ‘ohai, sprawl across the salt-sprayed landscape. The beach provides important nesting habitat for the endangered honu‘ea (hawksbill turtle). The Hawaiian monk seal and the honu (green turtle) are known to bask on the beach and swim just offshore. Experienced hikers trek the rugged 13.2-mile round trip along the Puna Coast trail to reach ‘Apua Point. These SEAs within your national park provide a sanctuary for native species and are meant to be enjoyed and cherished by all. We hope you “Find Your Park” in 2016 and that you also find your SEA! Rhonda Loh is chief of natural resources management at HVNP. Ka‘u silverswords blooming in the Mauna Loa subalpine SEA.
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