Public Meeting in Hilo Jan 28th, and Kona Jan 29th on the Proposal to Remove the Hawaiian Hawk from Endangered Species List

Two public meetings will be conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on the island of Hawai‘i in late January to discuss the proposal to remove the Hawaiian hawk or ‘io from the federal list of endangered and threatened wildlife.

Anyone interested in learning more about the proposed delisting of the ‘io is invited to attend the public meetings. The first will be held on January 28 at the Pu‘ueo Community Center, 145 Wainaku Street, in Hilo from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The second meeting will be held on January 29 at Yano Hall, 82-6156 Māmalahoa Highway in Captain Cook from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The proposed rule, if made final, would remove the ‘io from the federal list of endangered and threatened wildlife thereby removing all protections provided under the ESA. The ‘io would remain protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, a federal law that prohibits "taking" – killing, selling or otherwise harming migratory birds, their nests or eggs.

In traditional Hawaiian culture, the ‘io is believed to be an ‘aumakua – a family or personal god in the shape of an animal. Mortals did not harm or eat ‘aumakua, and in return, the ‘aumakua would warn and reprimand mortals in their dreams, visions, and calls. Also, ‘io are considered a symbol of Hawaiian royalty because of their lofty flight.

The ‘io is a small, broad-winged species of hawk endemic to the Hawaiian Islands and is the only member of the hawk family that nests and resides in the islands. The ‘io was listed as endangered in 1967 based on its restricted range on the island of Hawai‘i, its small population size, and the loss of native forest habitat from agriculture, logging, and commercial development.