Division of Forestry and Wildlife

For Immediate News Release August 28, 2018 

HAWAII’S NATIONAL HUNTING AND FISHING DAY
RECOGNIZES CONTRIBUTIONS OF SPORTSMEN AND WOMEN

Two Events Planned in September

(HONOLULU) –  The contributions of hunters and fishers to conservation will again be recognized nationally and in Hawai‘i during National Hunting and Fishing Day events.  This will be Hawai‘i’s 28^th year of recognizing the event and for the first-time activities are scheduled over two separate weekends.

On Saturday, September 8, 2018, a National Hunting and Fishing Day Archery Fun Day is scheduled at the Kapolei “Bushwackers” Archery Range, just off of Fort Barrette Road. It’s from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm and is open to everyone. Entire families are encouraged to join the fun and no archery experience is necessary. Admission is free. For every dollar or pound of canned food donated to the Hawai‘i Food Bank, participants will receive one activity coupon for archery activities. Activity coupons can also be exchanged for bow and arrow rental and basic archery instruction. The fun day will include a 3-D archery target field course, vendor demo day, and archery games.

On Sunday, September 16, 2018, a National Hunting and Fishing Day Range Day is scheduled at Koko Head Shooting Complex in east O‘ahu from 10:00am to 4:00pm. This range day is also open to everyone and families are encouraged to attend. Age appropriate activities are available.  Admission is free and again for every dollar or pound of canned food that participants donate to the Hawaii Food Bank, they will receive one coupon for activities like trap (shotgun) shooting, .22 rifle and handgun, high power rifles and cowboy action shooting.

Andrew Choy, Hunter Education Program Manager said, “We are changing it up this year to provide a more stratified sequence of activities, in a safe and welcoming environment, that will not only provide more hands-on activities for families but also welcome a wider range of participants with varying degrees of interest in the field. We’d also like to remind Hunter Education graduates about our First Shots program: if you received your Hawaii Hunter Education certification within the last year, show your Hawai‘i Hunter Education card and your first shots are on us.”

National Hunting and Fishing Day began in 1972 as a way for states to celebrate the ongoing contributions of sportsmen and women to wildlife and sport fish conservation and education efforts. Over $1.1 billion of federal funding were made available to states in 2018 for wildlife and sport fish restoration programs. Over $8.3 million alone was made available to Hawai‘i. The Pittman-Robertson (1937) and Dingell-Johnson (1950) Acts administered through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program provides the funding. Revenue from taxes administered through these Acts goes right back into state wildlife agencies, like the Department of Land and Natural Resources, for wildlife and sport fish restoration projects, education, and shooting range development.

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Media Contact:

Dan Dennison
Senior Communications Manager
Hawaii Dept. of Land and Natural Resources
1151 Punchbowl Street, Room 131
Honolulu, HI  96813
[email protected]
[email protected]

(808) 587-0396 (Communications Office)
(808) 587-0407 (Direct Line)
(808) 295-8749 (Cell)