Division of Forestry and Wildlife

Unless otherwise specified in the guidelines of a specific permit, requests for permits should be submitted, at minimum, 90 days prior to the expected start of field work to allow sufficient time for review and processing. Incomplete applications (including applications without maps when requested) may necessitate additional processing time. For electronic permit applications, the application must have valid electronic signatures and be submitted according to the permit guidelines and application form. For applicants submitting hardcopy or scanned applications, original signatures are required and applications should be submitted to the appropriate Forestry & Wildlife office via mail or be hand delivered before they are considered valid.

Note that more than one permit may be required depending on the location and type of activity, as well as the species impacted by the activity. Commercial activities ranging from guided hikes and tours to photography may require additional permits. It is the individual’s sole responsibility to ensure that all applicable permits are held prior to commencement of regulated activities. All permit applications received by Forestry & Wildlife may be reviewed at multiple levels. These include review by staff from the Forestry & Wildlife Administration office, by staff from local Forestry & Wildlife offices on a particular island, by peer reviewers, and in some cases, by the Board of Land and Natural Resources.

Fieldwork in Hawai‘i can be hazardous and must be approached accordingly. For permits with field components, the permit holders must check in with the appropriate local Forestry & Wildlife office on an island prior to the initiation of field work. Access to lands managed by Forestry & Wildlife may be denied or rescheduled for any reason, including but not limited to changes in field conditions such as hurricanes or fires. This is a safety issue and the primary reason why contact with the local Forestry & Wildlife office for that island must be made prior to beginning fieldwork. A copy of the signed permit must be carried with the permit holder(s) at all times while in the field, as either a hardcopy or a digital copy on a charged, accessible device. Additional permit information may be requested from Forestry & Wildlife staff. Staff contacts for specific permit topics are listed below, or applicants can contact any of our office via the information at https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dofaw/contact .

In addition to Forestry & Wildlife permits, permits from other divisions within the Department of Land and Natural Resources or from outside agencies may be required. It is the individual’s sole responsibility to ensure that all applicable permits are held prior to commencement of regulated activities. The following are examples of additional permits that may be needed:

• For studies involving federally protected species, such as migratory birds and Threatened and Endangered species, Federal permits must be obtained prior to initiation of fieldwork. It should be noted that State permits are not valid for species protected by federal law unless the appropriate federal permits are held. It is the responsibility of the permit applicant to determine what federal permits and approvals are required for their proposed activity prior to the commencement of such activity.

• For activities involving collection or possession of Threatened & Endangered Species or Migratory birds require a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service permit, contact USFWS Hawai‘i office at (808) 792- 9400.

• For transferring plant material of Threatened or Endangered Species outside of Hawaii, please contact the USFWS Hawaiʻi office for a Transfer Letter at (808) 792-9400.

• Permits for filming on lands managed by Forestry & Wildlife: Film permits are required for non-DLNR entities producing films (or any video content for large-scale distribution) on lands managed by Forestry and Wildlife. Film permits are issued by the Hawaii Film Office, not by the department. The Film Office will consult with the DLNR Communications Office (for media filming requests) and/or Forestry and Wildlife staff when evaluating a permit request. Note that applicants may need additional permits for access to certain areas or for other activities as described elsewhere on this page.

• For activities involving fresh water or marine species, contact Division of Aquatic Resources: 1151 Punchbowl Street, Room 330, Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96813; phone (808) 587-0100; fax (808) 587-0115.

• For research/activities involving State Parks, contact Division of State Parks: 1151 Punchbowl Street, Room 310, Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96813; phone (808) 587-0300; fax (808) 587-0311.

• For research/activities involving unencumbered state lands, contact Land Division: 1151 Punchbowl Street, Room 220, Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96813; phone (808) 587-0446; fax (808) 587-0455.

• For research/activities involving Conservation District (both private and public land), contact Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands at (808) 587-0377.

• For research/activities involving historical sites contact the Historic Preservation Division:  Kakuhihewa Building, 601 Kamokila Boulevard, Suite 555, Kapolei, Hawai‘i 96706; phone (808) 692-8015; fax (808) 692-8020.

• Activities involving Mauna Kea Ice Age NAR typically also require a permit from the Office of Mauna Kea Management: 640 N. Aohoku Place, Rm. 203, Hilo, HI 96720; phone (808) 933-0734; fax (808) 933-3208. Permits are required from OMKM for groups exceeding 10 people; groups wishing to film on Maunakea for the purpose of sale, video production, television transmission, or to publicize the visuals and other information in electronic or printing form; operation of a commercial tour; research; military groups. OMKM provides additional application details for activities involving research. 

Staff Contact: Jason Omick

Relevant Administrative Rules: Chapter 121 (Hunting), Chapter 122 (Game bird hunting), Chapter 123 (Game mammal hunting)

Permit Guidelines & Applications: Available on at the Hunting webpages

Staff Contact: William Stormont

Relevant Administrative Rules: Chapter 130 (Trails and access program)

Permit Guidelines & Application: Commercial tour vendors using approved Nā Ala Hele system trails and access roads must obtain a Commercial Trail Tour Activity (CTTA) permit. Guidelines are available at the permit application link below.

Staff Contact: Contact the local Forestry & WIldlife office on the island where your activity will occur

Relevant Administrative Rules: Chapter 104 (Activities within forest reserves) and Chapter 130 (Trails and access program)

Permit Guidelines & Application: Forestry & Wildlife provides permits for camping at certain sites managed as Forest Reserves and also along some Nā Ala Hele trails. Users can find a list of opportunities and guidelines at the link below. The link also provides information on campsites managed by the Division of State Parks.

Staff Contact: Contact the local Forestry & Wildlife office on the island where your activity will occur

Relevant Administrative Rules: Chapter 104 (Activities within forest reserves)

Permit Guidelines & Applications: The public is generally free to enter Forest Reserves during daylight hours, unless otherwise restricted. Access permits may be required to control impacts to sensitive areas, prevent incompatible uses, regulate entry during periods of high fire danger, or authorize the scientific collection of plants or animals. The following public use permits may be obtained from the Department at the local Forestry & Wildlife offices during normal business hours:

Staff Contact: Jaianne Rimando

Relevant Administrative Rules: Chapter 209 (Activities within Natural Area Reserves)

Permit Guidelines & Applications: Researchers, filmmakers, groups of more than 10 people or any activities outside of personal recreation require a special use permit. Please refer to the rules page for information on the what types of activities also require a special use permit. To apply for a NARS Special Use Permit, please visit the online permit application form:

A separate permit is required for applicants who wish to assist with wildlife control in the ʻĀhihi-Kīnaʻu Natural Area Reserve. Complete the application at the link below and email your application Peter Landon. If you do not have email access, contact the Maui district office.

Staff Contact: Local Forestry & Wildlife office

Relevant Administrative Rules: Chapter 126 (Wildlife Sanctuaries)

Permit Guidelines & Applications:  Because the primary purpose of Wildlife Sanctuaries is to protect wildlife, there are strict rules on if/when people can enter sanctuaries and what activities are allowed. Some Wildlife Sanctuaries are completely closed, while others have restricted access (for example, access is allowed on specific trails or below the high water mark). These are listed in the administrative rules for Wildlife Sanctuaries (HAR 126), including: 

• Exhibit 1: List of CLOSED wildlife sanctuaries
• Exhibit 2: List of RESTRICTED wildlife sanctuaries (including details on what restrictions apply for each sanctuary), and 
• Exhibit 3: List of wildlife sanctuaries in which commercial activities may be permitted (for example, guided visits or commercial videography or photography).

Permits for activities in sanctuaries should be coordinated by contacting your local Forestry & Wildlife office. For sanctuaries in Exhibit 3 that are coastal or offshore islands (Mokuauia, Popoʻia, and Mokunui Islets), landing a commercial vessel requires a Commercial Vessel Landing Permit. Permits for other activities may be possible, including permits for (1) scientific, research, or education purposes, (2) conservation and management, (3) subsistence, traditional, and customary practices by Native Hawaiians consistent with the long-term preservation of the wildlife sanctuary resources, or (4) any other purpose consistent with chapter 195D, Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes.

Kipuka ʻAinahou Nēnē Sanctuary is also a designated Public Hunting Area. All hunting on Hawaiʻi Island and in the State of Hawaiʻi is guided by the Rules Regulating Game Bird Hunting, Field Trials, and Commercial Shooting Preserves under Chapter 13-122 and the Rules Regulating Game Mammal Hunting under Chapter 13-123. For information on Hunter Education, hunting licenses, or other issues, visit the statewide Hunting Homepage.

Staff Contact: Jason Omick

Relevant Administrative Rules: Chapter 121 (Hunting), Chapter 122 (Game bird hunting), Chapter 123 (Game mammal hunting) Chapter 124 (Indigenous Wildlife, Endangered & Threatened Wildlife, Injurious Wildlife, Introduced Wild Birds, and Introduced Wildlife, lists found in Chapter 124, Exhibits), Chapter 126 (Wildlife Sanctuaries)

Permit Guidelines & Applications: For actions affecting any Endangered, Threatened, candidate or proposed species (bird, animal, or plant; terrestrial or marine); contact the Wildlife Program staff, and/or the Conservation Initiatives Coordinator. You can call the Forestry & Wildlife Admin office at (808) 587-0166. There are multiple permits related to this topic, described below.

• Protected Wildlife Permit for Scientific Collection:
  • Application Guidelines
  • Start New* Protected Wildlife Permit Application
• Wildlife Rehabilitation Permit
  • Wildlife Rehabilitation Guide
  • Start New* Wildlife Rehabilitation Permit Application
• Educational Display Permit
  • Educational Display Permit Information
  • Educational Display Permit Application Guidelines
  • Start New* Educational Display Permit Application

Staff Contact: Janis Matsunaga

Relevant Administrative Rules: Chapter 124 (Indigenous Wildlife, Endangered & Threatened Wildlife, Injurious Wildlife, Introduced Wild Birds, and Introduced Wildlife). Lists found in Chapter 124, Exhibits.

Permit Guidelines & Applications: To apply for a Native Invertebrate Research and Collecting Permit, please visit the online permit application form.

Staff Contact: Matthew Keir

Relevant Administrative Rules Chapter: Chapter 107 (Threatened and endangered plants)

Permit Guidelines & Applications: To apply for a permit to survey, monitor, research, collect, propagate, or outplant threatened and endangered plants, please use this online permit application form. For activities occurring on private lands, applicants will also need to provide Private Landowner Permission Information.

To apply for commercial use of Hawaiian threatened and endangered plant species, download, fill, and follow return directions using this pdf application:

Staff Contact: Wildlife staff at your local Forestry & Wildlife Office (see list below)

Permit Guidelines & Applications: When wildlife are harming crops, health, or are otherwise a nuisance as described in HAR 13-124-17, the division may issue permits for nuisance wildlife control outside of normal hunting areas, seasons, or limits. Full permit conditions and guidelines may be provided by the administering branch staff member. You can contact the local Forestry & Wildlife office or the Wildlife Program staff below:

• Kauaʻi: Thomas Kaʻiakapu ([email protected])
• Oʻahu: Jason Misaki ([email protected])
• Maui Nui: John Medeiros ([email protected])
• West Hawaiʻi Island: Kanalu Sproat ([email protected])
• East Hawaiʻi Island: Ian Cole ([email protected])

Staff Contact: Jack Reef, Statewide Admin Office

Relevant Administrative Rules Chapter: Chapter 124 (Indigenous Wildlife, Endangered & Threatened Wildlife, Injurious Wildlife, Introduced Wild Birds, and Introduced Wildlife). Lists found in Chapter 124, Exhibits.

Permit Guidelines & Application: Injurious wildlife are species or subspecies of animals (except game birds and game mammals) which are known to be harmful to agriculture, aquaculture, indigenous wildlife or plants, or constitute a nuisance or health hazard and are listed in HAR 124 Exhibit 5. It is prohibited to release injurious wildlife into the wild, transport them to locations within the State where they are not already established, or export any such species or parts thereof from the State. Permits for transport or export of injurious wildlife may be provided in certain situations, including: 

• Research, educational display, or exhibition (e.g., universities, zoos, museums)
• Personal use (e.g., as pets): Forestry & Wildlife may issue a one-time permit per residence/family as follows:
  • For Hawaiʻi residents moving out-of-state who already have injurious wildlife in their possession, Forestry & Wildlife may issue a permit to export up to four animals per species of injurious wildlife. Any injurious wildlife in your possession that you are unable to export when you depart the State cannot be released into the wild, nor can they be transported to new locations in the State of Hawaiʻi where that species is not already established.
  • For visitors to Hawaii who wish to export animals that are designated as injurious wildlife, Forestry & Wildlife may issue a permit to export one animal per species of injurious wildlife requested. 

No permits will be issued for export of injurious wildlife for commercial use. It is incumbent on the applicant to ensure that all other regulations and policies relating to animal transport are followed, including but not limited to collection permits or permissions, regulations of states to which specimens are exported, and the policies of airlines or mail carriers involved in transport or export. Applicants should contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to ensure compliance with federal and international regulations regarding wildlife transport. The USFWS maintains a separate list of federally-designated “injurious wildlife” under the Lacey Act with associated regulations and may require additional permits for international transport of wildlife, such as a Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) permit.

To receive an Injurious Wildlife Export Permit from Forestry & Wildlife, complete and return the permit application along with:

• A clear photocopy of a government issued photo ID
• A description of how the individuals will be transported and any regulations in your destination jurisdiction regarding import and possession of the requested species
• If you are requesting animals for research or educational display, include a brief letter on your organization’s letterhead stating how the animals will be used in your program.

Scan and email all materials to [email protected] or bring them to the Forestry & Wildlife Administration Office. Processing time is generally 1-5 days.

Staff Contact: Local Forestry & Wildlife office

Permit Guidelines & Applications: Landing a helicopter on lands managed by the Division of Forestry and Wildlife requires coordination with the local branch office.