The Forestry Program at the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife is responsible for management forest resources and products. Much of this work is guided by the statewide Forest Action Plan: a document including an assessment of statewide forest conditions and trends, a report on all forest land ownership —state, private, and federal, and an evolving management plan for Hawaii’s forests. The plan identifies nine priority areas for Hawaii’s forests that include: forest health, invasive species, insects and disease; wildfire; urban and community forestry; climate change and sea level rise; conservation of native biodiversity; hunting, nature-based recreation, and tourism; forest products and carbon sequestration; and U.S. tropical island state and territorial issues. Much of the work accomplished by the DOFAW Forestry Program occurs under the major program areas below.

Hawaiʻi’s Forest Reserve System

The Forest Reserve System was created in 1903 to enhance important forested mauka lands for their abundance of public benefits and values. The links below provide an overview of the system, links to explore information on individual reserves, information on permits needed to conduct certain activities within reserves, and a collection of completed Forest Reserve management plans.

An image of a forest linking to the Forest Reserve System Overview page

An image of a forest reserve linking to a page to explore the reserves

An image of a person touching a tree linking to the permits page


Forest Management

The Forestry Program manages a number of management initiatives in addition to the Forest Reserve System. The links below describe the breadth of the program, the guiding Forest Action Plan, and notable projects including DOFAW’s fire management and response efforts and Hawaiʻi’s involvement in the national Big Tree competition.

An image of cut wood linking to a page on forestry program information

An image and button related to Fire Management

Landowner Assistance Programs

DOFAW manages a number of programs that are designed to assist residents and landowners, with the goal of better managing natural resources through collaboration. The programs below are those most closely related to forest management. You can find a full list of DOFAW’s landowner assistance programs through our top dropdown menu, or through the “More Landowner Programs” button below. 

An image of a community beyond a forest linking to Kaulunani Urban and community forestry pages

An image of trees and button related to the Forest Stewardship Program

An image of forested valleys linking to info on Forest Legacy Program information

An image of a person planting tree linking to info on the Community Forest Program

An image of a waterfall linking to a page on the watershed partnerships program

An image of a staff member walking near a waterbody linking to a page on more landowner assistance programs