Division of Forestry and Wildlife: Forestry Program

Gathering of non-listed species or common materials from a State Forest Reserve, requested in quantities that are determined by DLNR as representing personal use, is regulated through issuance of a Collection Permit, free of charge. If quantities are determined to represent commercial use, a Commercial Harvest Permit may be issued at a fee. Consult the Forest Product Price List on the DOFAW website for information on personal versus commercial use quantities, as well as current commercial use pricing. You can apply for a permit at any DOFAW District office or online. Please read through permit limits and guidelines below before you apply.

Permit Limits:

• Personal collection permit limit 
  §13-104-21 (f) No more than one permit within a seven-day period may be issued to the same person or persons, group, organization, or association listed on the permit for collecting any of the same forest products.
• Commercial harvest permit limit 
  §13-104-22 (b)(4) No more than one permit within a thirty day period or six permits within a calendar year may be issued to the same person, group, organization, or association for harvesting the same product.

Permit Application Guidelines:

• This permit and application process is for collection in the Forest Reserve System only.
• Requests for permits should be submitted 10 working days prior to the collection date, to allow sufficient time for review and processing.
• You cannot apply for paid and free items on the same permit application. You must submit separate applications.
• If the item you are interested in, is not listed in the permit application form, please call or email your DOFAW District Office for assistance.
• If you are approved for a permit that includes paid items you will be instructed visit your local DOFAW District Office to pay for your permit. Payments are accepted in cash or check only.
• Collection of endangered or threatened wildlife or plants will not be permitted except as provided by Chapter §13-124 HAR.
• If you apply for a permit online and it is approved, you must print out a copy of the permit and the audit report. You must have the printed permit with you when collecting the permitted items.

Before you apply for a collection permit you need to know what non-timber forest product you want to collect and what forest reserve on your island that you can find them. Listed below are some commonly requested items and a list of forest reserves that they can be found in. If the item you are interested in collecting is not listed, please call or email your DOFAW District Office for assistance.

Online permit application:

To apply for a collection permit online click on the forest reserve you would like to collect from in the map below and then click on the link in the pop-up to fill out an application. There is a tutorial on how to fill out the application if you need further instructions.

Commonly requested items by District:

Please call or email your DOFAW District Office if you have any questions or need additional assistance.

Forestry and Wildlife District Offices:

Kaua‘i District:
3060 Eiwa Street, Room 306, Lihue, Hawaii 96766
Phone: (808) 274-3433; fax: (808) 274-3438

O‘ahu District:
2135 Makiki Heights Drive, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822
Phone: (808) 973-9778; fax: (808) 973-9781
Email: [email protected]

Maui District (includes Maui, Moloka‘i, and Lāna‘i):
685 Haleakala Hwy., Kahului, Hawaii 96732
Phone: (808) 984-8100; fax: (808) 984-8116

Hawai‘i District:
19 East Kawili Street, Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Phone: (808) 974-4221; fax (808) 974-4226