KOKE'E, Kaua'i — A free guided hike into a new 486-acre addition to the Hono O Na Pali Natural Area Reserve is offered to Kaua'i residents on May 9.

The interpretive trip into the 3,579-acre reserve is offered by the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

"By adding undisturbed, intact native wet forest to the natural area reserve system, we are taking needed steps to protect Hawai'i's natural and cultural heritage," DLNR Director Laura H. Thielen said in an announcement of the outing.

The hike "is a great opportunity to learn about the dozens of rare native plants and animals in this area, as well as what DLNR is doing to protect these precious natural resources," Thielen said.

The area is part of the largest system of high-elevation bogs in the Hawaiian Islands, where many species of rare and endangered plants and animals survive. These include the rare plant Myrsine petiolata, commonly known as kolea, which only exists on Kaua'i.

The Natural Area Reserves System consists of 19 reserves on five islands. Its mission is to preserve and protect representative samples of Hawaiian biological ecosystems and geological formations.

For the May 9 tour, hikers should meet at 9:30 a.m. at the parking lot at the start of the Pihea trail.

From Waimea, go up Highway 550 past Koke'e Park headquarters and the Kalalau lookout to the end of the road at Pu'u O Kila lookout.

The group will hike for about 1.5 miles round-trip to visit the new natural area reserve, ending at 11:45 a.m. Those wanting to go farther than the Pihea vista are welcome to continue on their own.

A liter of water per hiker, sunscreen, rain gear and hiking boots are recommended.

For more information on the hike, contact Emma Yuen, NARS Enhancement Coordinator, 808-366-4788 or Emma.Yuen@hawaii.gov.

A map of the Hono O Na Pali natural area reserve, with the new addition, can be found at http://hawaii.gov/dlnr/dofaw/nars/reserves/kauai/honoonapali.