HEAR bibliography
Herpetological inventory in West Hawaii National Parks: Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park, Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, Puukohola Heiau National Historic Site
Bazzano, Jason. (2007)

The National Park Service Pacific Island Network initiated an inventory of the species of amphibians and reptiles within the national parks of Hawaii with the goal of documenting 90% or greater of the species present. This report addresses inventories of herpetofauna at the three coastal national parks in West Hawaii: Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park (PUHO), Kaloko-Honokhau National Historical Park (KAHO), and Puukohola Heiau National Historic Site (PUHE). Work was conducted between 19 July 2004 and 15 September 2004, surveying for all reptile and amphibian species that had established populations on park properties. Throughout this project, special emphasis was placed upon the following three species of herpetofauna: coqui frog (Eleutherodactylus coqui), Jackson's chameleon (Chamaeleo jacksonii xantholophus), and brown anole (Anolis sagrei); these species were identified as "aliens of concern," or species that pose the greatest risk to native Hawaiian species or ecosystems. We found nine species of herpetofauna that did not fall into the high-risk category at PUHO, seven species at KAHO, and three species at PUHE. At this time, we suspect that none of the alien species of concern have established breeding populations in any of the three parks investigated. However, there are reports of several populations of some of these species of concern located on adjacent properties that may establish residence within the parks in the immediate future. We recommend close monitoring on behalf of the parks in identifying outbreaks, and initiating containment measures outside the national parks while control remains a viable option.