BYUH alumnae discuss how several species in Hawaii become endangered and how they can be protected
Hawaii is the “extinction capital of the world” because numerous native species have gone extinct or are at risk of extinction throughout its seven islands, said BYU–Hawaii alumnae, J. Ungos and Lexi Humpherys. Ungos, a 2023 marine biology graduate from Florida, said learning to “malama ‘aina,” or care for the land, is a crucial part of protecting endangered species.
Humpherys, a 2024 conservation biology graduate from Utah, shared, “Here in Hawaii, many species are endemic, which means this is the only place in the world where they can be found.”
She continued, “If it can’t survive in this one habitat, it can become endangered, then possibly extinct and lost forever.”
Ungos also said native species in Hawaii were untouched by predators for millions of years. “There wasn’t much competition… So when you bring all of these new plants and animals that are suddenly trampling them and harming them, they have no defenses,” she explained.
Additionally, factors such as urbanization, agriculture, overexploitation through hunting or fishing, diseases and climate change also make the island uninhabitable for native species and contribute to their decline, Ungos said.
An interconnected environment
Humpherys shared, “Ecosystems are this complex, living, breathing, beast and each species doesn’t only affect itself… One loss can have a bigger impact than you’d think, but so can one success.” Because there are several contributors to a single ecosystem, Humpherys said protecting all endangered species is important, even if their direct effects are unseen.
Referring to kahuli, or O’ahu tree snails, as an example, Ungos shared, “You have to care for the snail to care for the whale.” Kahuli eat the fungus that grows on native trees, she explained, which protects the trees from infection. She continued, healthy native plants keep the soil intact, preventing it from eroding into the ocean, subsequently protecting coral reefs. “[If] you lose a healthy coral reef, you no longer have a food supply for these whales… It’s all interconnected,” Ungos explained.
Humpherys said despite being the extinction capital of the world, “We also have so many people who care, and are putting in so much effort” to protect endangered species in Hawaii. Humpherys said this could be observed even in ancient times with the ahupua‘a system, a Hawaiian method of land division. “The Hawaiians believed the land, the sea, the clouds and all of nature had a certain interconnectedness, which is why they used all of the resources around them to reach the desired balance in life,” explains information on nationofhawaii.org.
Protecting endangered species through conservation
Ungos said one of her first introductions to conservation was helping to start the Habitat Restoration Site with Dr. Spencer Ingley in 2021. “[A] big part of that was, one, it used to be a dumping site, so taking out all the trash, but two, making sure invasive species weren’t growing there,” she explained. They filled two dumpsters with trash and invasive plants, Ungos said, but it was incredible to watch the site turn into what it is now.
Although she loves cats, Humphreys said, “They are not great for the ecosystem here. They hurt native bird species.” In an effort to help with this problem, Humpherys said she’s participated in Trap, Neuter, Release programs. “It’s completely free. It will help native birds and help reduce overwhelming shelters,” she explained.
During her internship with Kupu ‘Aina Corps at Malama Loko Ea Fishpond in Waialua, Ungos said, “My days were just teaching keiki and students about the fish pond, the restoration and the native and invasive species,” planting native plants and building rock walls. Through the project, Ungos said they have observed the growth of native bird and fish populations like the ae’o, or Hawaiian stilt, and the ulua, or giant trevally. “I learned just how much the ‘aina cares for us and why we need to reciprocate it,” she said.
Small actions with a big impact
The first part of protecting endangered species is to know what is native and what is invasive, Ungos explained. “Invasive species are species that have been brought somewhere new by people and negatively affect native species,” shared Humpherys. When invasive plants or animals have been recognized, Ungos said, one should make an effort to remove them from areas where native species are. “It also makes it really special to see native species thriving when you do find them,” she shared.
Humphreys shared other ways to protect endangered species such as, “Cleaning your shoes and clothes, [by] picking off seeds,” or with rubbing 70-percent alcohol before and after you go hiking. This will prevent invasive species and diseases from spreading to areas where native plants grow, she explained.
Ungos also said conservation organizations are found in every corner of Hawaii in a wide range of specialties. “If you can give an hour, if you can give two, if you can give two days a week - every little bit counts for these organizations, and you can be such a big help,” she said.