The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed taking over the management of a small islet off the southwest coast of Maui in its effort to expand federal wildlife refuge areas for native birds.

The agency would manage the 23-acre Molokini islet, currently owned by the U.S. Coast Guard and managed by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.

While the ownership would remain with the Coast Guard, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would take over management from the state.

Federal wildlife manager Glynnis Nakai said the state is agreeable to the transfer.

Nakai said a long-term goal is to transfer the land ownership to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from the Coast Guard, which has navigational equipment on the islet.

On Maui, colonies of shearwater have been killed by feral animals, including mongoose, dogs and cats.

Nakai said Molokini islet has provided a safe haven for birds, including shearwaters.

"They don’t have cats. They don’t have mongoose on the island, so you have a nice population of shearwaters," Nakai said.

Under a 15-year draft conservation plan, the Maui National Wildlife Refuge Complex would be in charge of managing the islet, while the surrounding ocean waters would continue to be managed by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Nakai said the agency wants to expand Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge mudflats at Maalaea westward and would enter into negotiations with land owner Alexander & Baldwin, if the proposal for expansion is adopted and federally funded.

The draft plan also proposes clearing alien weeds from the Kakahaia National Wildlife Refuge on Molokai, once frequented by coots and other migratory waterfowl.

The Kakahaia refuge would undergo restoration of a 15-acre pond, in addition to a 5.5-acre pond expansion. Federal officials also want to install fencing to keep predators out of the Kakahaia wetlands.

At Kealia National Wildlife Pond on Maui, federal officials have been completing the development of a $5 million office and visitor center funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The refuge staff is scheduled to hold two open houses to hear comments from the public about the draft conservation plan.

On Molokai, the open house is Wednesday from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Mitchell Pauole Community Center in Kaunakakai.

On Maui, the open house will be on Thursday from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Kihei Community Center.

Copies of the full documents and/or a summary (planning update) can be obtained at the refuge administrative office or by calling the refuge at 875-1582. The documents are available online at www.fws.gov/kealiapond/planning.html and www.fws.gov/kakahaia/planning.html.

Comments on the draft plans and environmental assessments may be made at an open house meeting or by letter, fax or email.

All comments must be emailed or postmarked by Sept. 19 to be considered.

Comments may be sent by email to FW1PlanningComments@fws.gov, with "Maui NWRC CCP" in the subject line; or by mail to Glynnis Nakai, Project Leader, P.O. Box 1042, Kihei, HI 96753; or by fax to 875-2945