HEAR bibliography

Reeser, Donald W. (2001)

I had been superintendent of Haleakala National Park for little more than a year when on October 23, 1989, Lloyd Loope, a research scientist, briefed me about plans to expand Maui's airport to accommodate international flights. The $250-million expansion project and perceived economic benefits had widespread support from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the governor of Hawai'i, state legislators, the Hawai'i Department of Transportation (HDOT), the Maui mayor, and business. They eagerly anticipated Maui-to-Japan direct flights. Loope said that without better alien species prevention measures, the project would expose Maui to a greater quantity of biological invaders and new sources of origin. He stated that because oceanic island ecosystems are so susceptible to invasions and because Maui has such a diversity of habitats in close proximity to the airport, the project would result in severe ecological consequences for the park. All that Haleakala wanted was better invasive species inspection and interdiction practices for an airport quarantine system that Loope characterized as a leaky sieve. NPS in Hawaii was the leader in effectively dealing with goats, pigs, mongooses, and a myriad of non-native plants and insects. Park and university scientists had ample evidence of ecosystem destruction by alien species, as well as evidence that an average of 20 new immigrant insect species become established in the Hawaiian Islands annually. Furthermore, extraordinary numbers of Maui citizens were concerned about alien invasion, as well as other environmental impacts that come with an international airport. I signed and mailed the letter Loope had drafted and followed up by testifying at the Maui County Council General Plan meeting in which the airport expansion was discussed. [adapted from the introductory paragraphs]