Forestry & Wildlife

(HONOLULU) – More than 30 government and non-government organizations from across the state launched the 2018 Wildfire LOOKOUT! campaign this week to raise awareness about the threat of wildfire to Hawaii’s natural resources as well as private and public property. This comes on the heels of a series of wildfires across the state over the past few weeks.

(Honolulu) -The National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) of the US Department of Agriculture has provided the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) with a final report of its monitoring efforts relating to the presence of diphacinone, an anticoagulant rodenticide, used as part of an effort to restore native species habitat on Lehua Island. The multi-feed bait containing the rodenticide was applied to the island in August and September 2017. This is an attempt to eradicate invasive rats from the island and increase reproductive success for native birds and plants.

HONOLULU—The Ka‘iwa Ridge or “Lanikai Pillbox” hike will re-open on Monday, August 20 after a 60-day closure to rehabilitate the two observation stations, commonly called “pillboxes.”  DLNR requests the cooperation of hikers to not prematurely hike the closed trail while final work is still being completed this weekend.

(HONOLULU) - The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW), will close the Manoa Falls Trail next week to conduct a rockfall mitigation survey on August 20, 21, and 22. The survey, conducted by DLNR and AECOM, will assess and document potential hazards within the falls viewing area.

HILO -- The DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife will close the Waimanu valley campground and Ainapo cabin Tuesday through Wednesday, for public safety due to the approach of Hurricane Hector.  There may be flooding risk at Waimanu due to possible effects of a king tide, storm surge and heavy rainfall. Ainapo may face possible impacts due to tropical strength winds and rainfall. 

(Honolulu) – Thirty (30) DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) firefighters continue battling a 1,500 acre wildfire in the Wai‘anae Kai Forest Reserve which started Saturday morning around 10.  The Honolulu Fire Dept. requested DOFAW assistance at noon and Ryan Peralta, a DOFAW fire incident commander, was on scene at 2 p.m.

HILO – The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) announces the release of “Saving ʻŌhiʻa, Hawaii’s Sacred Tree,” a new half-hour documentary on Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death, the disease that is killing ʻōhiʻa lehua, Hawaii's most widespread and important native tree. 

HONOLULU -- Grants from the State of Hawai‘i Land Conservation Fund support efforts by state agencies, counties, and nonprofit land conservation organizations to acquire land and protect resources for public benefit.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), through its Legacy Land Conservation Program, seeks applications from these partners for grants to preserve — forever — land that has natural, environmental, recreational, scenic, cultural, agricultural production, or historic value, including park and trail systems that provide access to such land.

(HONOLULU) - Are you a part of the community that cares for our lands and waters?  While natural resource managers and conservation professionals prepare to gather in Honolulu this week for the annual Hawaiʻi Conservation Conference, they represent only a part of the larger community of stewards.  Community-based and civic stewardship groups are crucial to the well-being of our communities, yet many of their activities are not understood or even recognized.  

(Honolulu)- DLNR Chair Suzanne Case has notified Hawai‘i County Mayor Harry Kim of the State’s termination of a grant agreement with the County that would have provided $1.33 million in matching funds from the State Land Conservation Fund for the acquisition of over 300 acres of private property that formerly reached the Waiʻōpae coastline immediately south of Vacationland at Kapoho, Puna.