Division of Forestry and Wildlife: Forestry Program

The Division of Forestry & Wildlife is proposing changes to the Rules for Establishing Forest Stewardship, section 13-109 of the Hawaiʻi Administrative Rules. These rules describe how our Forest Stewardship Program operates. The rules have not been updated since 1999 and an update is now needed to reflect changes made in 2021 by the Legislature to the authorizing law (Section 195F, Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes), and to reflect changes over time in management objectives, practices, procedures, and duties related to the program and to the Forest Stewardship Advisory Committee. The primary goals of these proposed changes are to: 

• Allow long-term leaseholders to participate in the program 
• Allow for an increase in the state cost-share support from 50% to 75% for the development of management plans 
• Allow non-timber forest products to qualify for the program 
• Allow for greater flexibility for applicants to match state cost-share support with non-state financial assistance programs (e.g., federal, county, and/or private programs). 

We value your review and comments on the proposed changes to these rules. Click the buttons below for a summary of the proposed changes, the full draft of proposed changes, or an input form for anyone interested in providing comments on the proposed rule changes. If you choose to read the full draft of the proposed changes, keep in mind that it is presented in Ramseyer format so you can see how the new version would differ from the old version. Ramseyer format works a bit like the “Track Changes” feature used to review edits in a Microsoft Word document.  Any text that is underlined is new language that we are proposing to add to the rules, and any test that is [bracketed and stricken] is old language that we are proposing to remove from the rules. Any language that is neither underlined nor stricken through is language that was present in the old rules and would remain unchanged in the proposed new rules.

Share your voice: provide a comment on the proposed rule changes 

There are multiple ways you can provide your input. You can type your comments into the input form below, or if you prefer, you can email [email protected]. Alternatively, you can send your comments via mail to: Division of Forestry and Wildlife Attn: Forest Stewardship Program, 1151 Punchbowl Street, Room 325, Honolulu, HI 96813. Comments must be received or postmarked no later than March 29, 2024. Please be advised that your comments may become part of public records or documents.

You can also attend the public hearing for these rules, scheduled for 5:30 PM, March 13, 2024, at 1151 Punchbowl St, Rm 132, Honolulu, HI, 96813. Parking will be available at the Frank Fasi Municipal Parking Lot nearby. Attendees may also join the meeting remotely and testify online or via telephone. To attend the meeting remotely please register using the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYsd-yvrD8sHNcgE2VENzMqHtJ6eL0N3ysz. If you do not receive an email with a Zoom link, please email [email protected] for assistance. We request that you register to testify at least one hour before the hearing to ensure that you receive the Zoom link on time.