Isolated by cliffs almost 2,000 feet (600 meters) tall, Kalaupapa National Historical Park, on the Hawaian island of Moloka‘i, tells the story of the forced isolation of people afflicted with Hansen's disease. The park also preserves an array of natural resources. Coral reefs, a crater with an 800-foot-deep lake, intact coastal salt-spray plant communities, high-elevation rain forest, and the steep forested Waikolu Valley contain a wide variety of aquatic, terrestrial, and marine habitats.
What's Monitored Here
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Benthic Marine Communities
Four parks within the Pacific Island Network contain rich benthic marine communities that are home to algae, corals, and other invertebrates
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Climate
Climate is widely recognized as a major driver for both terrestrial and marine ecosystems
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Established Invasive Plant Species
Nonnative plant species invasions present a serious threat to Pacific island ecosystems
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Focal Terrestrial Plant Communities
Long-term vegetation monitoring helps us determine plant community health, ecosystem stability, and the effectiveness of management
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Landbirds
On Pacific islands, birds pollinate the majority of woody plant species and disperse their seeds
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Landscape Dynamics
Landscape dynamics monitoring in parks provides information on land use and land cover change
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Marine Fish Communities
Marine fish are a major component of coral reef ecosystems and serve many ecological functions
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Stream Communities
Freshwater ecosystems are considered to be among the world's most vulnerable
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Fresh & Brackish Water Quality
Fresh and brackish water quality monitoring occurs in places like streams and anchialine pools
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Marine Water Quality
The quality of surface waters, marine waters, and groundwater is fundamental to the ecosystems across the Pacific islands
PACN I&M Inventory and Monitoring Reports, Protocols, and Articles from Kalaupapa National Park
Discovering species in our parks
Last updated: December 21, 2023