The National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG) currently has ex situ holdings of 1,480 seeds in its seed bank, which represents four out of the five populations.

For these accessions, initial viability tests are still ongoing and the germination after about nine months is 1.5-5.5% on agar substrate with all germination so far occurring within about a month.

In addition to competition from naturalized plants, introduced goats are the primary threat to its continued survival through direct browsing of all plants they can reach. Consequently, W. hobdyi is restricted to nearly vertical cliff faces where the goats are unable to reach, mostly on North-facing slopes from Haeleele Ridge in the Southwest to Waiahuakua Ridge in the Northeast.
 
UAS (unmanned aircraft systems, a.k.a. drone technology) have provided a platform for in-depth inventory and monitoring of cliff habitat, which often serves as refugia from invasive goats and pigs. In the last several years, development of UAS survey techniques has led to the discovery of new Endangered plant populations and range extensions for multiple rare plant species on Kauai.
 
The use of UAS will be continued to be refined in combination with rope-trained field botanists by focusing on the Endangered W. hobdyi. When utilized for survey and mapping, the UAS has allowed for remote observation of phenology, the creation of detailed maps of individuals and populations, and has led to a tremendous increase in known plants, from approximately 750 to 5,923. On the ground, the drone assists in locating fruiting plants and guiding collectors directly to them, greatly improving safety and efficiency while working on ropes, and leading to improved collections for ex situ conservation facilities. Building on these successes will allow for future habitat assessmen t and niche modeling to inform climate change adaptation efforts and guide in situ restoration and research activities.
 
For these accessions, initial viability tests are still ongoing and the germination after about nine months is 1.5-5.5% on agar substrate with all germination so far occurring within about a month. Storability of this species is unknown but seeds of a congener Wilkesia gymnoxiphium is storable for 10+ years at -18ºC. Seeds stored at -18ºC are scheduled to be tested for long-term viability tests in 10 years.

G1S1.2 Endemic to the northwestern coast of the island of Kauai. This species is known from fewer than 10 occurrences, totaling fewer than 1,000 plants. The cliffs of northwestern Kauai are experiencing heavy degradation by feral goats, affecting all of the Wilkesia hobdyi occurrences. Goats are also known to browse on the species. Other threats include alien plants.

Threats to W. hobdyi include habitat disturbance and browsing by feral goats. Although the low number of individuals and their restricted habitat could be considered a potential threat to the survival to the species, the plant appears to have vigorous rep

Number of Populations: 5 (USFWS 2001) Number of Plants: <300 (USFWS 2001)

Essential habitat areas for all listed, proposed, and candidate plants and evaluated species of concern were identified to determine if essential habitat areas would provide for their habitat needs (USFWS 2002). The seeds of W. hobdyi have been tested at the National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG) finding that they are orthodox and can tolerate freezing. The laboratory germination time was 2 months (Yoshinaga 2002).

A recovery goal stated for W. hobdyi included the establishment of eight to ten populations with a minimum of 300 individuals per population on Kaua'i (USFWS 2002). The National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG) currently has ex situ holdings of 1,480 seeds in its seed bank, which represents four out of the five populations. In addition, there is one plant growing in the nursery and 14 individuals representing two out of the five populations growing in the grounds of the botanical garden.

1. Pollination biology and seed dispersal mechanism studies need to be done. 2. Map genetic diversity in the surviving populations of W. hobdyi. 3. Test the influence of weeding and fencing on populations of W. hobdyi. Recommendations derived from M.H. Chapin and M. Maunder.

1. Establish secure ex situ stocks with full founder representation. 2. Develop proper horticultural protocols and pest management for W. hobdyi. 3. Survey ex situ holdings and conduct molecular fingerprinting. Recommendations derived from M.H. Chapin and M. Maunder.