Division of Forestry and Wildlife

Learn about Hawai‘i’s unique natural resources and visit people and places that you might otherwise not have a chance to see. Our videos are organized into categories so you can find what interests you.

Video Categories

Cultural & ecological knowledge from community experts.

Hawaiʻi-based Documentaries (15 min and up)

Stories (4-15 min) exploring forests, birds, snails & insects, and hunting.

Shorts (0-3 min) that get right to the point

Student-made videos about issues in Hawaiʻi

Our staff are people who care, from the communities we serve

ʻIke Kaiāulu: Community Knowledge

This video series explores cultural practices related to natural resources in Hawaiʻi. Hear from community members who are experts in cultural practices and/or have a special connection to a particular place. This series is a partnership between DLNR Forestry & Wildlife and the Division of Aquatic Resources, exploring knowledge mauka to makai.

Caring for Kaʻena with William Aila, Jr

Lāʻau lapaʻau with Roddy Akau

Documentaries

These Hawaiʻi-based films take a deep dive into natural resource issues.

Kumu Niu: Learn about the connection between niu (coconut) and people in this award-winning short film (15min)

Protecting Hawaiʻi’s Native Forests: How hoofed-animal fences protect ʻōhiʻa from Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death. A followup to the award-winning Saving ʻŌhiʻa (9min)

Vanishing Voices: Explore the plight of our native forest birds and their hope for the future

Saving ʻŌhiʻa: This Emmy-Award-winning film from CGAPS & Club Sullivan explores the importance of ‘ōhi‘a and the impact of Rapid ‘Ōhi‘a Death.

The Rain Follows the Forest: Our native forests are our only source of fresh water.

Cliff Dwellers of Kaua’i, and the People who Hang with Them: This DLNR special highlights the lengths (and heights) botanists go to protect our rarest plants.

Saving Kiwikiu: This DLNR special follows biologists working to preserve the kiwikiu and its habitat.

Endangered Forest Birds of Hawaiʻi

Lehua Island: Restoration of a Tropical Bird Paradise

Conservation Stories

Our stories feature projects and people who help protect natural resources in Hawaiʻi. Explore below or use these links to jump directly to stories about forests, plants & natural areas, birds, snails & insects, and hunting.

Conservation Stories: Forests, Plants, and Natural Areas

Forests for Life: This 12-part series with KHON2 explores how forests support life in Hawaiʻi, and how we work to support forests. Topics include forest birds, culture, hunting, agroforestry, erosion, fire, flooding, climate change, and more.

Behind the Scenes of a Hawaiʻi Wildfire

Rebuilding the Mauna Lei of Haleakalā: Linking restoration projects in east Maui

Reflections on Kawainui Marsh

Kaʻena Point Video Tour: Visit this Natural Area Reserve from home.

Making Holiday Seed Paper Ornaments with Native Plants

Conservation Stories: Birds

Nēnē: A Recovery Story

Extraordinary Endangered Seabirds & Extraordinary Steps to Save Them

Tracking the ʻAkiapōlāʻau

Conservation Stories: Snails & Insects

Native yellow-faced bees get a new home at Kaʻena Point

Protecting the Kāhuli, Hawaiʻi’s Endangered Tree Snails

Protecting the Kamehameha Butterfly

Damsels in Distress: Hawaiʻi’s Native Damselflies

The Butterfly Effect: Releasing Kamehameha Butterlies

Conservation Stories: Hunting

Hear from staff and volunteer hunters who manage the put-and-take game bird system at Kuaokalā.

Learn about Outerspatial, the app Hawaiʻi hunters can use to check-in and report harvest data.

Hunters, staff, and researchers work together to survey game bird populations.

Shorts: Public Service Announcements

Learn about important topics and how to safely enjoy nature in Hawaiʻi. Our Be Pono Outdoors PSAs feature our mascot, Pono the Nēnē. You can learn more on our Be Pono Outdoors webpage.

Hike pono with Pono the Nēnē

Use fire safely with Pono the Nēnē

Mālama our wildlife with Pono the Nēnē

Gather Pono with Pono the Nēnē

Be a Pono Pet Parent with Pono the Nēnē

When Camping in Hawaiʻi, Be Like Smokey!

Keiki Can Help Smokey Prevent Wildfires!

How Biocontrol Helps Hawaiʻi

Spot the Ant, Stop the Ant!

Little Fire Ants: How to Collect a Sample

Rain Follows the Forest

Protecting Palila

Student Videos

Forestry & Wildlife sponsors a category each year in the Youth XChange Student Video Competition coordinated by ʻŌlelo Community Media. The videos below were created by local students to describe how they are inspired by Hawaiʻi’s environment.

Showcase: Makahiki o Nā Manu Nahele (Year of the Forest Birds): Twenty-four student groups across Hawaiʻi submitted videos to our 2024 contest for Makahiki o Nā Manu Nahele, the Year of the Forest Birds. Elementary, middle, and high school students used homemade bird puppets, original animations, moʻolelo, and other tools to share their thoughts about the importance of Hawaiian forest birds. Learn about our manu and the threats they face, directly from Hawaiʻi’s keiki.

Meet the People of Forestry & Wildlife

Who works at Forestry and Wildlife, and why do they choose to work here? Our staff are just like you: they’re people who care about Hawai‘i and are trying to help maintain and enhance the natural resources that make Hawai‘i a special place. If you’re interested in interning or working with us, or you’re just curious about what we do, watch the videos below to meet some our staff, hear about their work, why they do it, and their advice to anyone considering working in this field. You can learn more on our About Us page.

Emma Yuen, Statewide Program Manager, Native Ecosystems Protection & Management

Tiana Bolosan, Wildlife Biologist, O‘ahu Offshore Islands

Nick Vargas, O‘ahu Game Biologist

Jared Char, O‘ahu Natural Area Reserves Specialist

Pua Heimuli, O‘ahu Outreach Associate (DOFAW partner employed through UH Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit)

Riley De Mattos, Hawaiʻi Island Assistant Protection Forester

Alex Wang, Hawaiʻi Island Natural Area Reserve Specialist

Ande Buskirk, Hawaiʻi Island Outreach Specialist

Bret Nainoa Mossman, Hawaiʻi Island Avian Technician (DOFAW partner employed through UH Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit)

Dr. Elliott Parsons, Former Hawaiʻi Island Puʻu Waʻawaʻa Coordinator

Jason Flemming, Hawaiʻi Island Forestry Technician

Tyler Iaea, Natural Area Reserves Field Supervisor (DOFAW partner employed through UH Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit)

Kassandra Connor, Hawaiʻi Island Student Assistant (DOFAW partner employed through UH Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit)

Mapuana OʻSullivan, Kauaʻi Forest Management Supervisor

Chris Mottley, Kauaʻi Native Ecosystems Protection & Management Supervisor

Kawika Smith, Kauaʻi Nā Ala Hele Trails & Access Specialist

Kanoe Woodward, Field Technician, Kauaʻi Native Ecosystems Protection & Management

Fern Duvall, Former Maui NEPM Program Manager, Wildlife Biologist, and State Aviculturist

Betsy Gagne, Former Executive Secretary, Natural Area Reserves Commission