Forestry & Wildlife

(Lihu‘e) --  For the past two years the Wailua Management Road (Loop Road) in the Lihu‘e Koloa Forest Reserve has experienced severe damage and continues to pose a public safety hazard.  This road leads to the Blue Hole area. Due to unforeseen circumstances, construction has not started, but that is about to change.

(Li‘hue) – Off-leash dogs and feral cats are responsible for the massacre of between 140 and 150 Wedge-tailed Shearwaters (ʻUaʻu kani)  on Kaua‘i during this year’s nesting season.  The shoreline burrowing seabirds are easy prey for both dogs and cats. In the most recent incident, earlier this week at least 35 birds were found dead.

(Honolulu)-The DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) announces the opening of the 2019-2020 Game Bird Hunting Season on Saturday, November 2, 2019.  The fall game bird hunting season will run through Sunday, January 25, 2020.  A valid hunting license and a game bird stamp are required for all game bird hunting on public and private lands. 

(Honolulu) – On November 2nd, thousands of trees will be given away on Hawaii’s 51st annual Arbor Day. The Kaulunani Urban and Community Forestry Program will be supporting a total of five Arbor Day giveaway events. Kaulunani is part of the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) and focuses on improving the health and viability of trees statewide.  

(Lihu'e) –  As part of the annual E Ho‘opomaika‘i ‘ia na Manu ‘A‘o (A Cultural Release of the Native Newell’s Shearwater) event held at Lydgate Park, students from Island School and Kawaikini Charter School helped release three fledgling ‘A‘o (Newell’s Shearwaters). The event was organized by the Kaua’i Endangered Seabird Recovery Project (KESRP) and the Save Our Shearwaters (SOS) project.   

(Hanawi Natural Area Reserve, Maui) – Five male and two female kiwikiu (Maui Parrotbill; Pseudonestor xanthophrys) have now been moved from the Hanawi Natural Area Reserve (NAR) on the windward slopes of Haleakalā, to the Nakula NAR on the leeward slope of Maui’s highest mountain. The goal is to establish a second “insurance” population that will significantly lower the risks of extinction.

(Honolulu) – The Legacy Land Conservation Commission has prioritized applications to protect 19,270 acres stretching from the southeast shore at Ka‘ū, Hawai‘i, to Kaua‘i's north shore, including lands on Maui, Moloka‘i, and O‘ahu.

(Honolulu)- One of Hawaii’s most important native plants is the Naio tree. Naio has been widely planted in landscapes and is an important component of our island’s coastal ecosystems. A decade ago naio became threatened with a small invasive insect pest known as thrips found on Hawai’i Island. Thrips are narrow, dark brown to black and approximately 2.2.5 mm in size and are native to Tasmania. They were likely first accidentally introduced in the U.S. in California.

Haleakalā, Maui; September 30, 2019) In a bold action aimed at saving the endangered Kiwikiu (Maui Parrotbill, or Pseudonestor xanthophrys), in October four conservation partners will begin translocating both captive-bred and wild birds to a restored forest with the goal of creating a second, “insurance” population for this species. The Kiwikiu has declined by over 50 percent in recent years, and fewer than 312 birds remain in the wild.

(Honolulu) – Deer hunting enthusiasts can soon apply to hunt for the new season. The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) announces that application forms for the 2019 Lana’i Axis deer hunting season, together with instruction sheets, will be available at all DOFAW Offices statewide beginning next Monday September 30, 2019.