Hawaii Wildfire

Management Organization
E s t a b l i s h e d 2 0 0 2
Protecting Hawaiis Communities and Irreplaceable Natural and Cultural Resources from Wildfire
HWMO History and Mission
Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization
(HWMO) is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization
dedicated to protecting communities and natural
resources across the Hawaiian Islands from the
devastating impacts of wildfire. HWMO was founded in
2002 by a diverse group of stakeholders including
scientists, ranchers, land managers, representatives of
state and federal agencies, fire fighters, and
environmentalists who came together to characterize
wildfire threats and develop strategies to mitigate those
threats. HWMO is the only organization of its kind in the
state and operates with a passion for innovation and
through extensive collaboration. Cumulatively, its diverse
Board of Directors, Technical Advisory Committee,
agency partners, and staff offer the best wildfire mitigation
expertise in Hawaii. Through the implementation of
projects such as fuelbreaks, diptanks, outreach efforts,
community workshops, and wildfire protection plans,
HWMOs work has saved lives and homes, safeguarded
communities, enhanced firefighting, and protected some
of the last remaining native dryland forests from wildfire.
Hawaii's ecosystems are not adapted to fire. Damage from
wildfire can be devastating in many ways, including:
1) Threatening human lives, homes, and communities.
2) Causing soil erosion and thus:
* decreasing air quality & impacting human health.
* polluting run off that affects the oceans & reefs.
3) Destroying native plants & forests, especially Hawaiis
dryland forests, thus:
* depriving native animals of their homes,
hurting the island economy by decreasing
agricultural capabilities
* increasing the spread of flammable invasives
creating a vicious cycle of hazardous conditions
that are susceptible to accidental or intentional
fires (a vast majority of fires in Hawaii are
human ignited)
* perpetuating the cycle, over and over again!
The Challenge The Hope
Much can be achieved if everyone does their part! A
collaborative effort among Hawaiis residents and
landowners, natural resource managers, and fire agencies,
can substantially reduce the threat of wildfire. At HWMO,
we are committed to facilitating this type of multi-faceted,
multi-partner approach.
Enhanced Fire Suppression Capabilities
Increased Community Awareness and Participation
Protection & Restoration of Natural Resources
HawaiiWildre.org
HWMO is the only non-profit organization in Hawaii that focuses specifically
on wildfire prevention, preparedness, and mitigation projects.
We devote a large portion of our
time and effort towards educating
community members of all ages
about wildfire, which in turn fosters
community empowerment and
action-taking.
Our projects include:
* Waikoloa Dryland Safety Park
* In-School Assemblies
* Outreach Events
* Community Workshops
* KNOW FIRE K-8th Wildfire
Curriculum (Youth education
pictured below)
Effective actions taken before
wildfires occur can drastically reduce
the size, severity, frequency, damage,
and costs of wildland fires. Through
research collaborations and our own
GIS mapping and spatial analyses,
HWMO has been able to identify
key resource needs and high hazard
priority areas and issues. We use this
information to implement pre-fire
risk reduction projects on high-risk
fire-prone private and public lands.
Our projects include:
* Community-Based Fuels Reduction
and Defensible Space
* Communities at Risk Assessments
* Community Wildfire Protection
Plans (CWPPs)
* Wildfire Hazard Assessments
* Helicopter Dip Tank Installations
* Living and Conventional Fuel
Breaks (Puako Fuelbreak below)
The aftermath of a fire poses
unprecedented challenges in Hawaii
due to our unique ecology and the
immediate link between upland
ecosystem damage and downslope/
coastal impacts. At HWMO, we are
working with statewide partners to
build a greater understanding of
social and ecological post-fire options
for restoring burned landscapes and
creating more resilient human and
natural communities.
Our projects include:
* Fire History Mapping and Analysis
(pictured above)
* Post-fire Rehabilitation Assessment
Manual
Prevention Pre-Suppression Post-Fire
Pawall Wlldre ManagemenL Crganlzauon's work ls maklng a dlerence. lor lnsLance,
Lhe PWMC fuelbreak aL Walkoloa gave reghLers a chance Lo sLop Lhe re before lL
enLered Lhe vlllage. 1he dlpLanks we lnsLalled allow for fasLer re suppresslon. We are also
bulldlng on our unlque research on re fuels managemenL Lo lncrease mlugauon
eecuveness." - Mlles nakahara, PWMC 8oard resldenL
Elizabeth Pickett, Executive Director
65!1279 Kawaihae Rd., Suite 211
Kamuela, HI 96743
t: "808# 885!0900
e: admin@hawaiiwildre.org
HawaiiWildre.org