Department of Land and Natural Resources

(Lihue) - Rapid ʻŌhi‘a Death (ROD), a disease killing ʻōhiʻa trees, has been confirmed at two new locations on Kaua‘i. Since ROD was discovered in Moloa‘a State Forest Reserve in 14 trees earlier this year, a collaborative team of scientists from state, federal, and private organizations has been working together to survey the island and develop response plans to an introduced disease threat facing Hawai‘i’s native tree. ʻŌhiʻa is considered foundational to Hawaiian forests and culture.

HONOLULU – The year 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the formal opening of the Hawai‘i State Capitol. Dedicated on March 15, 1969, the 10th anniversary of the passing of the Hawai‘i Statehood Bill by Congress, the building stands unique among the other 49 state capitol buildings, proclaiming Hawai‘i to be part of the United States, but not part of America.

(Honolulu) – Mosquitos and rats can be pests for people, but they’re also very harmful to our endangered native birds. The Kauai Forest Bird Recovery Project (KFBRP) is starting an end-of-the-year fundraising and outreach campaign to help the native birds on the island recover their population.

(Wai`anae) –The Wai`anae Small Boat Harbor comfort station will undergo renovations over the next few months. The project is slated to begin on November 26, 2018 with completion in late February 2019 but could take an additional few months for completion. The project contractor is Maxum Construction of Hawaii, LLC at a cost of $384,215.

HONOLULU – The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of State Parks has received a $100,396 grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Marine Debris Program to install water bottle filling stations in 15 State Parks statewide over the next three years. The goal of the project is to reduce the use of single-use plastic water bottles which can become marine debris and harm Hawai‘i’s environment and marine life.

(Hilo) -  Next week staff from the Big Island Invasive Species Committee, the DLNR Divisions of State Parks and Forestry and Wildlife will be working to fell and remove several `ohi`a trees that show symptoms of the fungal disease known as Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death (ROD). After the first suspected detection at Kalōpā State Recreation Area in late July, three trees were sampled in the park and three in an adjacent forest reserve.  Five of the six samples tested positive for C. lukuohia, one of a pair of fungi associated with Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death and the most aggressive of the two.

HONOLULU --   The Department of Land and Natural Resources announces the 2018-2019 Game Bird Hunting Season opened on Saturday, November 3, 2018.  The fall game bird hunting season will run through Sunday, January 27, 2019.  A valid hunting license and a game bird stamp are required for all game bird hunting on public and private lands.  All game bird hunting is regulated by Hawaii Administrative Rules Title 13, Chapter 122 (see https://hawaii.gov/dlnr/dofaw “Administrative Rules” for all legal hunting days). 

(Honolulu) - Grassroots groups Ka Iwi Coalition and Livable Hawaii Kai Hui (LHK), together with the DLNR Division of State Parks, will unveil and dedicate a bronze commemorative plaque during a ceremony at noon on Thursday, November 8, 2018. The ceremony is open to everyone.  The date marks the 30th anniversary of the historic Sandy Beach Initiative vote, a key turning point in the people-powered defense of the open-space wilderness between Hanauma Bay and Makapu’u. 

KAHULUI - The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) and State Parks Division today opened the Kula Forest Reserve, Waipoli access road, Kahikinui Forest Reserve – Papa‘anui Tract, and Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area, following completion of a two-month project for road repairs, road safety improvements, and fuel mitigation work.  

KAUNAKAKAI, MOLOKAI --  A project at Kaunakakai Small Boat Harbor is underway to remove an existing wooden loading dock and replace it with a new aluminum framed loading dock with plastic lumber fenders and fiber reinforced plastic decking.  Work is scheduled to be completed by November 15, 2018