Current Human Impacts (Q4)

Currently, 90 percent of Hawaii's tropical dry forests have vanished(Cabin 2000). The Polynesians were the first group of people to inhabit the Hawaiian Islands. The Polynesians changed the natural landscape of Hawaii by cutting and burning trees such as the Koa and introducing new non-native plant species. Evidence has also shown that about 50 percent of Hawaii’s indigenous bird population was extinct even before the arrival of the Europeans (Loope 2013). And so, this emphasizes the impact of the Polynesians on the Hawaiian natural landscape.
After the arrival of Europeans in 1778, the destruction of the Islands native habitats were accelerated. This acceleration was a direct result of the introduction of non-native ungulate grazing animals, such as cattle, sheep and goat (Loope 2013). These animals had large hooves that would destroy the vegetation they walked on. Furthermore, these animals would graze on indigenous plants, causing many to go extinct (Cabin 2000).

Today, the expansion of infrastructure, real estate, and ranching, along with the logging of ohia and koa trees, has resulted in the deforestation of the tropical dry forests of Hawaii. Furthermore, scientists believe that the inadvertent introduction of non-native plants and animals through transportation and commerce has brought the most significant damage to the tropical dry forests of Hawaii (Loope 2013).


The fountain grass (pennisetum setaceum) is an example of a non-native plant that has spread throughout the island. It was first observed in 1914, and since then has interfered with the growth of Hawaii's native vegetation and has increased the frequency of fires in areas that are traditionally not designed to withstand frequent burns (Cabin 2000).

Hawaiian Honeycreepers illustrate the immense diversity that exists within the tropical dry forests of Hawaii. 

Picture Sources:

Loope, Lloyd L. Hawaii and the Pacific Islands. Rep. U.S. 
     Geological Survey Biological Resources Division, n.d.
     Web. 23 Nov. 2013.

 "History of Na Pali." Na Pali Coast Kauai Boat Tours. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2013.

"Hawaii Real Estate Lawyers." Honolulu Real Estate Attorney. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2013.

Sources for writing:

Cabin, Robert J., Stephen G. Weller, David H. Lorence, Tim 
     W. Flynn, Ann K. Sakai, Darren Sandquist, and Lisa J. 
     Hadway. "Effects of Long-Term Ungulate Exclusion and 
     Recent Alien Species Control on the Preservation and      
     Restoration of a Hawaiian Tropical Dry Forest." 
     Conservation Biology 14.2 (2000): 439-53. Print.

Loope, Lloyd L. Hawaii and the Pacific Islands. Rep. U.S. 

     Geological Survey Biological Resources Division, 19 Aug. 
     2013, Web. 23 Nov. 2013.