KAHULUI – ‘Iao Valley State Monument on Maui will be closed from January 11, 2016 through January 22, 2016 for various park improvements, including closures of the two large capacity cesspools in the park that were mandated via a consent agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
(HONOLULU) – It’s a five-year long tradition now and when several hundred early-risers make the two-mile roundtrip hike to the Makapu’u Lookout in the Kaiwi State Scenic Shoreline on Jan. 1, 2016 they’ll be greeted with a variety of improvements to the park.
HONOLULU -- The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife is seeking entries in an art contest to depict a Game Mammal and Game Bird for its 2016-2017 Hawai‘i Wildlife Conservation and Game Bird Stamp. The conservation stamp is required on the Hawai‘i State hunting license, and the game bird hunting stamp is required for those intending to hunt game birds. Both stamps (differing slightly in text) will be available for purchase by wildlife stamp collectors.
(HONOLULU) – Two massive, twin-rotor, CH-47 Hawaii Army National Guard Chinook helicopters airlifted some one hundred tons of fence panels, poles, and associated equipment to two separate locations in the Koolau Mountains on Oahu. The materials will be used to erect predator-proof fencing in the Poamoho Forest Reserve and the Kaluanui Natural Area Reserve (NAR), both units of the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW).
(HONOLULU) – The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of State Parks has set up a new on-line format to issue free annual permits for anyone wanting to drive a vehicle into the Mokuleia section of Kaena Point State Park Reserve on Oahu’s north shore. Today the DLNR Division of State Parks released a 2 ½-minute-long video that walks interested people through the new application process. It can be viewed at https://vimeo.com/148168047
(HONOLULU) – The Kokee Forest Restoration and Recovery Project on Kauai is being recognized by the U.S.D.A. Forest Service for the 2015 Western Regional Forester’s Honor Award. The project is ambitious in that it strives to reforest nearly 1,000 acres of burnt Eucalyptus and Pine plantations using koa and other native trees and plants. The forest (1,000 acres) and brushland (2,000 acres) was severely scorched by three wildfires during the summer of 2012. This unprecedented attempt to re-forest using native species is a first on State lands and thus far has involved the removal of some 6,000 tons of non-native trees burned during the fires. Once complete, there will be over 15,000 tons of flammable biomass removed from the area.
HONOLULU -- Fans of Department of Land and Natural Resources’ annual State Historic Preservation Division (SHPD) photographic calendar will find a unique historic journey in the 2016 edition, which highlights the evolution of Hawaii’s agricultural field systems, from the first Polynesian voyagers, up to the modern revitalization of some systems by nonprofit groups. Proponents of this style of ‘malama ‘aina’ are now enriching lives through sustenance agriculture as well as education and cultural practices.
(KIHEI, MAUI) – Today, a group of volunteers returned from Kanapou, Kaho’olawe after spending the last four days removing marine debris from the shores of the protected and culturally significant island. This project was funded by the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ “Japan Goodwill Fund.” In 2013 the State of Hawaii received $250,000 as part of an initial partial distribution of a $5 million gift to the United States by the Government of Japan to help the Pacific Coast States (AK, WA, OR, CA & HI) address marine debris associated with the massive 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. For this week’s project, an estimated 1.5 tons was collected by the volunteers and removed by helicopter airlift from Kahoolawe to Maui for disposal. Some materials were kept on island for use in erosion control projects.
The Aiea Loop Trail has been opened. Damages caused by large fallen trees and landslides have been repaired. The Keaiwa Heiau State Recreation Area and Aiea Loop Trail are open.
LIHU‘E, KAUA‘I -- The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) announces the availability of feral goat control permits in Hunting Unit A, Kekaha Game Management Area (GMA) on the island of Kaua‘i, pursuant to Title 13, Chapter 123-2.2, 5, 5.1 and 9 in “Rules Regulating Game Mammal Hunting.”