Soldiers In The Battle Against Rapid ‘Ōhi‘a Death; Passion for Hawaii Forests Prompts Participation

Announcements

(HILO & KAHULUI) - Dozens of scientists, foresters, surveyors, researchers, and educators are actively involved in the fight to try and stop the spread of Rapid ‘Ōhi‘a Death. The fungal

LIHU‘E, KAUA‘I -- The state is continuing its efforts to restore the Pu‘u Ka Pele Forest Reserve on Kaua‘i and the newly out-planted koa trees within the previously burned and logged area, by carrying out an animal control hunt within a designated portion of the forest reserve. This animal control will begin on June 6, 2016 and extend to the end of December 2016.

LIHUE, KAUAI -- On Sunday May 22 and continuing today, State wildlife officials on Kauai are responding to the discovery of 34 dead Wedge-tailed shearwaters in the seabird colony at Spouting Horn, Lawai area on the south coast. Most of the kills were found near the parking lot end of Lawai road.

(HONOLULU) - They use technology like radar, acoustic monitoring devices and lasers. They reach into cliff-top burrows to monitor breeding birds and they partner with other organizations to protect the birds from introduced predators like feral cats that attack them. They exemplify partnership by forging relationships with numerous organizations, working together to save endangered seabirds on Kauai from extinction. For their efforts, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) recognized the Kauai Endangered Seabird Recovery Project (KESRP) with its 2015 Endangered Species Recovery Champions Award.

(LIHUE, KAUAI) – When Kawika Smith was a boy, his father would take him trekking through the mud and bogs of the Alakai Plateau. Now as the Kauai supervisor for the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife’s Na Ala Hele Trail Access program, Smith is overseeing the replacement of nearly three-miles of 20-year-old boardwalk that carries hikers above the mud and water. Joined by every Na Ala Hele program staff member from around the state, this is a monumental undertaking.

(HONOLULU) – Government and non-government organizations from across the state today, announced a collaborative effort to raise awareness about the threat of wildfire and drought to Hawaii’s natural resources and to private and public property. Wildfire & Drought Look Out!, is a continuing campaign to keep people across the state informed of current fire and drought conditions, provide tips on protecting life and property from wildfire, and to provide information and education on how to deal with prolonged drought.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife would like to thank all wildlife artists that provided their amazing art work for the 2016-17 Hawaii Wildlife Conservation and Game Bird Stamp… Read More »

HONOLULU – The Department of Land and Natural Resources today posted the Judd hiking trail off Old Pali Road on Oahu as “CLOSED” until further notice due to a banyan tree which fell across the trail and Nuuanu stream this morning. A woman hiking the trail with eight companions was reportedly injured by the falling tree and assisted by Honolulu Fire Department. She was taken to a local hospital by Emergency Services in serious condition. No other injuries were reported. DLNR Enforcement division will further investigate this event.

Following a number of comments raised during our scoping period, the Fish and Wildlife Service and Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources has put together a resource for frequently asked questions regarding the Rodent and Mongoose Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement.

(LIHUE, KAUAI) - Captive-reared puaiohi flew into the forests of Kaua‘i today, marking the end of a successful breeding program for the species and beginning the next step in its recovery. Conservation biologists from the Kaua‘i Forest Bird Recovery Project (KFBRP), State of Hawai’i's Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DLNR-DOFAW), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office (USFWS-PIFWO) and San Diego Zoo Global’s Hawaiian Endangered Bird Conservation Program (HEBCP) worked together to bring the group of birds to the forest for release.