Forestry & Wildlife

(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.

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.”

LIHU'E – The Department of Land and Natural Resources is reminding Kaua‘i residents that Laysan albatross breeding season on Kaua‘i is from November through July. DLNR’s Division of Forestry and Wildlife is distributing informational flyers on Kaua‘i in the Moloa‘a and Waipeke residential areas of north Kaua‘i, to encourage the public to help protect these vulnerable seabirds.

(HONOLULU) – While workers associated with the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) on Mauna Kea on Hawaii Island begin maintenance and repair activities, hunting and other recreational activities and research also continue on the mountain. Suzanne Case, Chairperson of the Department of Land and Natural Resources said, “Mauna Kea is very much a multiple-use area for a wide array of cultural, recreational and research activities. Our goal is to ensure that people on the mountain conduct themselves responsibly and with respect for other users. As local workers prepare to begin work at the TMT site, we want to remind people of other simultaneous activities that may be occurring on the mountain.”

Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi, November 3, 2015) A historic project more than 30 years in the making took place on Kauaʻi’s north shore on Monday when 10 downy endangered Hawaiian Petrel chicks were flown by helicopter from their montane nesting area to a new colony protected by a predator-proof fence at Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge.

KAMUELA, HAWAII ­ — The public is invited to an Arbor Day plant sale on Friday, November 5 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife Kamuela State Tree Nursery, located at 66-1220-A Lalamilo Rd. in Kamuela.

LIHU‘E ­ — The public is invited to an Arbor Day plant sale on November 6 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife baseyard and nursery at 4398-D Pua Loke St. (follow the palm trees past the Dept. of Water and Dept. of Agriculture offices).

HILO – The Department of Land and Natural Resources’ (DLNR) Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW), in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, is now accepting applications for vacant seats on the Laupāhoehoe Advisory Council (LAC) and the Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a Advisory Council (PAC) on Hawai‘i island.

HONOLULU -- The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife announces the opening of the 2015-2016 game bird hunting season on Saturday, November 7, 2015.

LIHU'E – Seven fledgling ‘A‘o (Newell’s Shearwaters) were released by school children from two Kauai schools this week as part of the annual E Ho‘opomaika‘i ‘ia na Manu ‘A‘o (A Cultural Release of the Native Newell’s Shearwater) event. This is the eighth year the Kauai Endangered Seabird Recovery Project (KESRP) and the Save Our Shearwaters (SOS) project teamed up to give local keiki the chance to be a part of the release of rehabilitated ‘A’o fledglings. Fourth-grade students from Wilcox Elementary School and Island School participated in the blessing and releases.