Forestry & Wildlife

LIHU‘E, KAUA‘I -- The latest step in the state’s ongoing efforts to restore the Pu‘u Ka Pele Forest Reserve on Kaua‘i is to protect 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 run for two months from Feb. 8, 2016 to April 8, 2016.

HILO -- The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), Division of Forestry and Wildlife is holding a public hearing to provide the public the opportunity to present comments on proposed changes to government forest reserve lands on the island of Hawaiʻi.

HILO -- The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) will conduct animal control activities specifically for trapping mouflon/feral sheep hybrids; staff hunting, and/or aerial shooting from helicopters for feral goats, feral sheep, mouflon and mouflon/feral sheep hybrids within palila critical habitat in the Mauna Kea Forest Reserve (Unit A), Mauna Kea Ice Age Natural Area Reserve (Unit K), Palila Mitigation Lands, and the Ka‘ohe Game Management Area (Unit G) on the island of Hawai‘i.

Hanalei, Hawai’i –The Kauai Nēnē Habitat Conservation Plan (KN HCP) will hold the first in a series of public talks next week on the state bird of Hawai’i the endangered Nēnē. Project Coordinator Dr. Christian Vlautin will provide information about the Hawaiian Goose’s ecology and recovery on Kaua'i at 6 p.m. on Thursday, January 28 at Hale Halawai ‘Ohana O Hanalei Community Center at 5299 Kuhio Highway.

HILO -- The Department of Land and Natural Resources has closed the Muliwai hiking trail on the far cliff side of Waipio Valley and its Waimanu Valley campground, following the closure of Waipio valley access road on Wednesday to residents only by Hawaii County officials following confirmation of two cases of dengue in Waipio residents. Muliwai trail and Waimanu Valley can only be accessed via Waipio valley. Campers with existing permits will be contacted by DLNR’s Division of Forestry and Wildlife. No new permits will be issued until further notice.

HONOLULU – The start of a new year also marks the beginning of the annual Hawai‘i Big Tree Competition. Sponsored by the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife and American Forests, the Big Tree program focuses attention on the largest trees of particular native species, as a way to raise awareness about the importance of healthy trees and forests.

HONOLULU -- The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) is investigating the deaths of three Laysan albatross and numerous destroyed nests in the Ka‘ena Point Natural Area Reserve. Thanks to a report made by a concerned citizen on Monday, an officer from DLNR’s Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement, accompanied by the natural area reserve manager, a natural area reserve specialist and a seabird biologist, conducted a site visit yesterday.

HILO — The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) announces the opening of bird hunting in the Kahua/Ponoholo Ranch Cooperative Game Management Area. Game bird hunting in this area will be open on Saturdays, Sundays, and State Holidays, beginning on Saturday, January 2, 2016 through January 31, 2016. Hunters must check in at the Von Holt Memorial Hunter check station.

(HILO) - For the safety of everyone, due to the dengue fever outbreak at Milolii, the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) has closed to the public all State unencumbered lands in the immediate vicinity of Milolii village and Honomalino Bay. These include the parcels designated by Tax Map Key numbers: (3) 8-9-003:001 and (3) 8-9-004:007.

(HONOLULU) – Rapid ‘Ōhi‘a Death, is a mysterious disease that has already killed hundreds of thousands of Hawaii’s iconic and native ‘Ōhi‘a, the backbone of Hawaii’s native forests and watersheds.