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2001 SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY ANNUAL MEETING29 JULY--1 AUGUST, UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT HILO
NOTE: The following text appeared in the November 2000 newsletter. For the most current information on the meeting, visit http://www.uhh.hawaii.edu/~scb.
WelcomeColleagues and friends, It is our pleasure to invite you to attend SCB's 15th Annual Meeting, to be held in the quiet tropical town of Hilo, Hawaii, against the stunning backdrop of the Hawaiian islands. The meeting will be co-hosted by the Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center (PIERC) of the Biological Resources Division, USGS, the University of Hawaii, and Hawaii's Secretariat for Conservation Biology. The meeting will commence with an oceanside welcoming reception on Sunday evening, 29 July. The three-day scientific program will begin on Monday morning with a Plenary Address by Sir Robert May, former Advisor of Science to Her Majesty's Government and President of the Royal Society. A featured symposium, Sustaining Island Ecosystems, sponsored by PIERC, will take place on opening day. We anticipate a dynamic program of symposia, contributed papers and posters, workshops, and discussions on a broad range of issues of vital importance to conservation biologists from around the world. The meeting theme is Ecological Lessons from Islands. Islands have served as "natural laboratories" since the seminal works of Darwin and Wallace in the nineteenth century. Since then, studies of island biotas have continued to generate ideas, theories, and models that have played central roles in the development of mainstream biogeography, evolutionary biology, and basic and applied ecology. Islands serve as microcosms of processes taking place on larger scales in continental systems and are crucibles for forging innovative solutions to conservation problems. The conservation challenges facing islands are both unique and common to mainland systems: exotic species, habitat loss and isolation, small populations, reserve planning, balancing conservation needs and the rights of indigenous peoples, and finding ways to ensure sustainability of ecosystem functions. The island of Hawaii, with its active volcanoes and diversity of ecosystems, from coral reef and lowland forest to permafrost, will provide a dramatic setting for meeting. We are planning a variety of field trips to give participants an opportunity to gain familiarity with the highly endemic Hawaiian biota, the agents acting to diminish it, and the efforts of local conservation biologists and managers to protect what remains. The meeting will conclude with a banquet and awards ceremony. Festivities will take the form of a Hawaiian dinner/luau with an ancient Hawaiian hula performance ("hula kahiko"), highlighting the island's cultural heritage. Hilo is a popular travel destination in the summer, and the concurrent timing of the 2001 World Conference on Hula will mean that airline flights and rental cars will be in great demand. We encourage you to make all travel plans as soon as possible. We look forward to welcoming you here at the University of Hawaii at Hilo in July to take part in the scientific programs and social events, and to enjoy the community and surroundings. NOTE: The call for submission of abstracts appeared in the August 2000 newsletter. Please refer to the newsletter, online newsletter, or meeting website for complete details. Sincerely, David Duffy, Chair For the SCB 2001 Organizing Committee Earl Campbell
Concurrent hula conference -- make your travel plans earlyConcurrent with SCB's 2001 Annual Meeting, Hilo will be hosting Ka Aha Hula O Halauaola, the 2001 World Conference on Hula. The Hula Conference will provide a wonderful opportunity to experience Hawaiian dance, chants, food, and artistry. However, it will also present a challenge in terms of travel to and from Hilo. For this reason, it is important to make travel and rental car reservations as soon as possible. You may want to consider traveling on days other than 28 July and 5 August (Hula Conference arrival and departure days). To help you make your arrangements, we have provided all the necessary information on travel and lodging in this newsletter. Please do not wait until the last minute to make your travel plans, or you may find yourself snorkeling to the meeting from San Francisco.
Meeting hostsPacific Island Ecosystems Research Center (PIERC) is one of 16 regional centers of the Biological Resources Division of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS/BRD). PIERC works with federal, state, local, and private organizations to provide objective research, baseline information, and technical assistance relating to conservation of indigenous biological resources in Hawaii and Pacific islands under U.S. jurisdiction. The University of Hawaii, a statewide system of post-secondary education, is the premier institution integrating undergraduate and graduate education, research, and extension in Hawaii and the Pacific/Asian region. The graduate program in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology (EECB) at UH-Manoa and UH-Hilo will play a major role in co-hosting the meeting. The Hawaii Secretariat for Conservation Biology is an innovative partnership guided by ten organizations involved in natural resource management, conservation biology research, and training programs. Its goals are to foster communication between researchers and managers to promote management-oriented research and to increase and sustain support for high-priority, management-oriented conservation research in Hawaii.
SettingHilo, on the windward side of Hawaii, is an old agricultural town, on a wide bay, with views of Mauna Kea. The city is famous for its tropical vegetation, especially orchids. The University of Hawaii at Hilo, 115 acres in the heart of tropical Hilo, is an intimate campus, and an attractive and convenient meeting venue. The campus is within 2 hours' drive of habitats ranging from rocky intertidal to montane wet and dry forests. The Hawaiian archipelago, the most isolated island group of comparable size and topographic diversity on Earth, is located about 4000 km from the nearest continent. These islands are part of a longer chain that was produced over 70 million years by the northwestward movement of the ocean floor over a hot spot below Earth's crust. The youngest island, Hawaii, is comprised of five volcanoes; two are active, and one is currently erupting. The island is 10,000 km2 and has elevations to over 4000 m, as well as the most massive and tallest (from the sea floor) mountains on Earth. Consequently, Hawaii has an abundance of ecosystems, from coral reef and lowland forest to permafrost. The mountains also create sharp rainfall gradients, with rainforest on the windward coast and desert and savannah-like conditions in the interior. Finally, the island is a mosaic of recent and ancient lava-flows, creating islands of habitat of known age and of varying diversity. The island is the last stronghold for many of Hawaii's endangered species and ecosystems, as well as an outstanding classroom for many of the problems that threaten Hawaii and other tropical islands.
RegistrationRegistration will include admission to the welcoming reception, contributed paper sessions, symposia, plenary sessions, poster receptions, refreshment breaks, and a copy of the program and abstracts. On-line registration will be available on the meeting website in mid-November.
Important dates 31 January 2001: Abstracts for papers and posters due
Program at a glance Sunday 29 July
Monday 30 July
Tuesday 31 July
Wednesday 1 August
Thursday 2 August and Friday 3 August
Symposia and special sessionsFeatured PIERC symposium. Sustaining island ecosystems: can it be achieved in Hawaii? David Duffy, University of Hawaii at Manoa, dduffy@hawaii.edu and Joan Canfield, PIERC, Joan_Canfield@usgs.gov. Removal of exotic animals from islands in the Americas. David Garcelon, Institute for Wildlife Studies, Arcata, California; C. Josh Donlan, Island Conservation and Ecology Group, Santa Cruz, California; and Mike Scott, University of Idaho. Island paleoecology: draining the past to irrigate the future. David Burney, Fordham University, burney@fordham.edu. Conservation research in tropical island stream systems: importance of a watershed perspective. Anne Brasher, U.S. Geological Survey, Honolulu, Hawaii, abrasher@usgs.gov. Perspectives in conservation genetics: novel approaches to old issues in conservation biology. Juan Bouzat, Bowling Green State University, jbouzat@bgnet.bgsu.edu and Robert Lacy, Chicago Zoological Society, rlacy@ix.netcom.com. Population biology of invasive species. Fred Allendorf, University of Montana, darwin@selway.umt.edu. The application of top predator distribution to the design and efficacy of marine reserves. Leah Gerber, NCEAS, gerber@nceas.ucsb.edu and Sascha Hooker, British Antarctic Survey, shooker@is2.dal.ca.
WorkshopsGetting to "Yes": overcoming obstacles to establishing marine reserves. Burr Heneman, Bolinas, California, burr@igc.org. New approaches to planning conservation areas. Doug Reagan, URS Corporation, Denver, Colorado, douglas_reagan@urscorp.com and Brendan Moyle, Massey University, B.J.Moyle@massey.ac.nz. Involving K-12 educators and students with conservation research. Daniel Gruner, University of Hawaii at Manoa, dgruner@hawaii.edu. Introduced game species vs. hunters' rights: how the media can make or break public opinion. Robin Meadows, SCB Media Committee, Fairfield, California, robin@nasw.org. Communicating the conservation message: an interactive session on how to inform the press and public. Nancy Baron, SeaWeb, NBaron@mbayaq.org, and COMPASS. Building better bridges: strategic communications for conservation results. Sheila Donoghue, Biodiversity Support Program, World Wildlife Fund, sheila.donoghue@wwfus.org.
DiscussionsThe policy activities of SCB. Michael O'Connell, SCB Policy Committee, Newport Beach, California, moconnell@tnc.org. Formation of South Pacific Chapter of SCB. Malcolm Hunter, Jr., University of Maine, Hunter@umenfa.maine.edu. Marine issues. Dee Boersma, University of Washington, boersma@u.washington.edu.
Field tripsWe are planning a variety of pre- and post-meeting field trips to give participants an opportunity to gain familiarity with the highly endemic Hawaiian biota, the agents acting to diminish it, and the efforts of local conservation biologists and managers to protect what remains. Field trips are scheduled for Sunday 29 July and for Thursday and Friday 2-3 August. Longer field trips also will be available for those wishing to explore other islands in the archipelago. Details of field trips will be posted soon on the meeting website, http://www.uhh.hawaii.edu/~scb.
General and visitor informationWeather. Located on the windward side of the Hawaii Islands, Hilo receives about 120" of rain per year, and can be hot and muggy in late July. Be prepared for rain. All meeting rooms are air-conditioned. Temperatures and rainfall patterns change dramatically as you move across the island. The upper slopes of the mountains can be very cool, especially in early morning and late evening, so if you will be visiting Volcano, Mauna Kea, or other high-elevation sites, bring appropriate clothing. The leeward side of the island (e.g., Kailua-Kona) is much drier. Time Zones. Hawaii is on Hawaii Standard Time, which during the summer is 3 hours earlier than Pacific Daylight Time and 6 hours earlier than Eastern Daylight Time. To convert from Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), subtract 10 hours. Maps. Please refer to the meeting website (http://www.uhh.hawaii.edu/~scb) for maps of the state of Hawaii, the island of Hawaii, Hilo town, and the University of Hawaii at Hilo campus to help you plan your stay.
Traveling to HiloHilo is a popular travel destination in the summer. The World Conference on Hula, which will take place in Hilo concurrently with the SCB meeting, will make it imperative that you make your airline and car rental reservations well in advance. Do not count on being able to make last-minute travel plans. Travelers may fly into either Hilo Airport or Kona International Airport (3 hours from Hilo by car). 17 flights a day service Hilo airport from Honolulu International Airport on Oahu, where connections can be made with most major national and international carriers via Hawaiian and Aloha Airlines. The flight from Honolulu is approximately 50 minutes. The last flight leaving Honolulu for Hilo each day departs at 6:45 P.M. Participants wishing to bypass Honolulu and sight-see on their way to Hilo may fly directly into Kailua-Kona, a 3-hour drive from Hilo. Kailua-Kona is located on the "sunny" side of the island and is a popular tourist destination. The drive is a wonderful opportunity for sightseeing. The drive along the south coast takes you on winding rural roads, past coffee farms and macadamia nut orchards and black-sand beaches. The north coast drive takes you through scenic Waimea (home of the paniolo or Hawaiian cowboy), within a short drive of dramatic Waipio Valley, and along the windward ocean shore. Or, drive across the middle of the island on the saddle between Mauna Loa (long mountain) and Mauna Kea (white mountain).
AirlinesWe have selected Hawaiian, Delta, and Northwest Airlines as preferred airlines for the meeting. Hawaiian Airlines is offering special fares for participants traveling from the west coast of the U.S. (Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, and Las Vegas), and excellent discounted inter-island fares for those wishing to visit other islands before or after the meeting. The special rates will be available for seven days pre-and post-meeting. Call Hawaiian Airlines directly (800 882-8811) and indicate that you are an SCB member to get the special rates. Delta and Northwest Airlines are offering discounts of 5% off the lowest published fare (10% if booked more than 60 days in advance) and special zone fares for SCB travelers. Special fares are available for five days before and after the meeting on Delta and seven days on Northwest. Call the Meetings Services Reservations Desk (numbers below) to make your reservations; you must use the Ticket Designator Code for the SCB meeting listed below to receive the discount. Delta Airlines. (800) 241-6760, Monday-Friday 0730 - 2300 (eastern time), DMN169103A. Northwest Airlines. (800) 328-1111, Monday-Friday 0730 - 1930 (central time), NYNBE.
Airport ShuttleWe will have van shuttle service operating between the Hilo airport, dormitories, and official meeting hotels on Saturday and Sunday, 28 and 29 July (arrivals) and Wednesday and Thursday, 1 and 2 August (departures). To help us provide adequate shuttle service, please indicate your approximate arrival and departure times on the registration form. Travelers arriving or departing on other dates, or who have made other lodging arrangements, will need to make their own transportation arrangements. The airport is serviced by a number of taxi operators (see below). Hilo hotels do not offer airport shuttles.
Hilo taxi servicesSeveral companies offer taxi service in the Hilo area. No taxis are based at the airport, so you will need to call from the airport to request pick-up. The numbers below are provided for your convenience and do not imply any endorsement of the service. A-1 Bob's Taxi: (808) 959-4800 AA Marshall's Taxi: (808) 936-2654 Hilo Harry's Taxi: (808) 935-7091 Mom's Taxi: (808) 939-9111 Percy's Taxi: (808) 969-7060
Car rentalRental cars in Hilo are limited, and we recommend that you make reservations far in advance, even if you need to change them later. The following car rental agencies operate out of the Hilo Airport. Be aware that some areas of the Big Island are not accessible to 2-wheel drive vehicles. For example, although 2-wheel drive vehicles can reach the Mauna Kea Visitors Center at over 9000', 4x4 vehicles are needed to reach the observatories at the summit. In addition, some rental car agencies prohibit driving their vehicles on the Saddle Road; inquire at the time of booking. Harper's on the Big Island (number below) specializes in 4x4 recreational vehicles. Alamo: (800) 327-9633, Toll-free worldwide
On-campus housingThe University of Hawaii at Hilo is reserving space in four residence halls for the meeting. We have blocked residence hall space for the nights of 28 July - 4 August. Dormitory facilities are spartan and are not air-conditioned, but they provide an inexpensive option for those wishing to stay on campus. A limited number of rooms include a living room, kitchen, and bath; these will be assigned on a first-come, first served basis. Linens (sheets, blankets, and towels) are provided. People staying in residence halls should be aware that the nearest restaurants are a 45-minute walk from campus (5-10 minutes by car). We strongly recommend that persons staying on campus purchase a meal plan (see Meals). The last date to reserve dormitory space is 15 June. Dormitory reservations must be made directly through the University of Hawaii at Hilo Conference Center, using the official housing registration form available on the meeting website. Payment must accompany the application. Cancellations must be made prior to 15 June in order to receive a refund. If you have additional questions about dormitory housing, please contact Nicky Reiss, (808) 974-7555, reiss@hawaii.edu. Hale Kehau. Room rates are based on quad occupancy. Each unit has 2 rooms, with 2 single beds in each (4 total), and 1 shared bathroom.
Hale Ikena. Room rates are based on quad occupancy. Each unit has 2 rooms, with 4 single beds, and shares 1 bathroom, a small living room, and a kitchen with stove and refrigerator (Note: kitchens are not equipped with cooking or eating utensils).
Hale Kauanoe & Hale Kanilehua. Rates are based on double occupancy. Community bathrooms are located on each level.
HotelsFive hotels are holding space for SCB members until 30 days prior to the meeting. Three of the hotels - the Naniloa, Hilo Hawaiian, and Uncle Billy's - are located on Banyan Drive in Hilo, about 2 miles from the campus. All front Hilo Bay and the Pacific Ocean. The Seaside (on nearby Banyan Way) sits alongside a small harbor. There is access to the water and dramatic views, but the nearest swimming beach is 2 miles away. The fifth hotel, Waiakea Villas, is located next to Wailoa County Park in central Hilo, about 1 mile from campus. Frequent shuttle service will be provided between these hotels and the campus throughout the meeting from 0700-2100. Unless otherwise noted, rates are for double occupancy and do not include tax (11.4%). The Naniloa, Hilo Hawaiian, and Uncle Billy's require that reservations be made using special forms, available on the meeting website. Please state that you are with the SCB meeting in order to get the special rates. Hawaii Naniloa Hotel
Hilo Hawaiian
Uncle Billy's Hilo Bay Hotel
Hilo Seaside Hotel
Waiakea Villas
Many other hotels and bed and breakfasts are available in Hilo and surrounding areas. See http://www.stayhawaii.com/ for a listing of Bed and Breakfasts on the Big Island. Those with cars may wish to stay in one of the small lodges in Volcano, a small community just outside of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, about 1 hour's drive from campus. See the meeting website for a list of Volcano accommodations.
MealsA Note on Lunches. The university is a 45-minute walk (5-10 minutes by car) from most downtown restaurants, and lunch options on campus will be limited to pre-paid meal plans and boxed lunches or "bentos" for sale at kiosks around campus. For this reason, we strongly suggest that meeting participants purchase a meal plan for lunches Monday-Wednesday. Pre-Paid Meal Plans. The university dining services will offer a variety of meal plans. The Hale Kehau Dining Hall will be available for pre-paid meals during designated hours. Diners can chose among a variety of food styles including ethnic, vegetarian, and traditional. Pre-paid lunches also will be available at the Campus Center Dining Hall. Individual meals in the dining hall will not be available for purchase. Meal Plan 1: $73
Meal Plan 2: $63
Meal Plan 3: $30
Pre-meeting meals. Must be ordered in advance.
Restaurants. Hilo offers a rich variety of restaurants. Most are in the historic downtown area. Others are located within walking distance of the hotels along Banyan Drive. A list and map will be included with the registration packet.
Travel awardsAt this time we anticipate offering a number of travel awards to assist students and international members. Students in North America will be eligible to apply for $200 and international attendees will be eligible for up to $1000. Awards will be based on financial need and the quality and relevance of submitted abstracts. Applications are due 15 February 2001 and awards will be announced no later than 15 March. Full details on how to apply will be posted on the website by the end of December.
For more informationVisit http://www.uhh.hawaii.edu/~scb for further information about the meeting, the university, and the local area, or contact Bethany Woodworth (Scientific Program Coordinator)
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