DLNR places on-site ranger at North Shore state parks

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources has added its first on-site resource ranger at Kaua‘i’s Ha‘ena and Na Pali Coast State Parks, with the help of funding from the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, a DLNR press release states.

Chairman Peter Young said the ranger program is a pilot program at this time, but it could become a permanent program at some “appropriate” state parks.

“Other potential locations might be at Diamond Head State Monument, or at Ka‘ena Point State Park and Natural Area Reserve,” Young said in the release.

Young said the ranger program began in 2004 at ‘Ahihi-Kina‘u Natural Area Reserve on Maui “out of a need to protect fragile marine and coastal resources from damage by very large numbers of visitors who did not realize they were having a negative impact.”

The DLNR began placing rangers in sensitive locations around the state to protect and monitor natural and historical resources, as well as provide information for visitors, the release states.

Megan Juran is the most recently hired park resource ranger, who started earlier this year, covering both Ha‘ena and Na Pali Coast State Parks. She is knowledgeable about Kaua‘i’s North Shore, including Na Pali Coast and Ke‘e beach.

Juran is a graduate of University of Hawai‘i at Hilo where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Marine Science, the release states. While at UH-Hilo, she was trained and qualified as a scientific SCUBA diver, completed two marine science education internships and took courses that include teaching marine science and biology of marine mammals.

She has been a DLNR monk seal volunteer at Ke‘e beach since last October, where she was on call to set up protective barriers around hauled-out seals, and to inform and educate the public about the seals, Ke‘e Beach and the Na Pali coast area.

Ha‘ena State Park on the North Shore is known for its wet caves — ancient sea caves formed during a higher stand of sea around 4,000 years ago. Local lore says Pele the volcano goddess dug the caves in her search for a new home. The trailhead for the 11-mile Kalalau Trail also begins at Ha‘ena.

“Everyday in the parks is a learning experience for me,” Juran said in the release. “I have learned that, for most visitors, this is a totally foreign environment. One of my main challenges lies in trying to educate visitors in hopes of changing their behaviors to help relieve the stresses they are placing on our unique island environment.”

While the job of minimizing the negative impact of island visitors to the natural environment is an often thankless, uphill battle, Juran finds satisfaction in the knowledge she shares.

“It is very rewarding for me to see people change their attitudes and behaviors based on the knowledge that I have shared with them,” she said.

The toll of more than 7 million visitors each year on the natural environment is inevitable, but Juran said mutual respect is the key.

“Visitors need to learn that their actions are affecting our environment,” she said. “Respect for the people and the place needs to be a priority for them, as well as local residents, in order to protect and preserve the environment, as well as perpetuate the culture and way of life for future generations.”

Juran has been a volunteer with the Waipa Foundation and has researched, written and photographed native plants of the Waipa ‘ahupua‘a to compile as a plant guide for local school groups visiting the valley. She educated summer school groups on native stream fish and coastal plants, and has assisted in coastal native plant restoration, as well as garden and taro lo‘i maintenance at Waipa.

She has also been a volunteer with the Hanalei Watershed Hui, and an intern with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association Mokupapapa Discovery Center for Hawai‘i’s remote coral reefs in Hilo.

In addition to one ranger at Ha‘ena and two rangers on Maui, a fourth one will be placed at the Kekaha Kai State Wilderness Area on Hawai‘i by this summer, the release states.