Department of Land and Natural Resources

(LIHU‘E)— To reduce the risk of fires in the Pu‘u Ka Pele Forest Reserve on Kaua‘i, the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife ( DOFAW) is proposing forest thinning and fire break maintenance. Community members are invited to provide input on the proposed efforts via a virtual public meeting. This meeting will be at 9:00am on December 1, 2020. In addition to gathering people’s input, this meeting is intended to address questions or concerns regarding this project.

(Honolulu) – A roughly 1,260-acre parcel in Waiea, on Hawai‘i island is being proposed as an addition to the Hawai‘i Natural Area Reserve (NAR) System. The DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) will hold a virtual hearing at 6:00 p.m. on November 30, 2020 to receive community testimony about this proposal. The area is contiguous to other land parcels that are under management for forest, wildlife, and water conservation, and its addition would strengthen native ecosystem protection in the South Kona area.

(Honolulu) – While organizers always hope for more people to participate, experience has shown that the first meeting of community members, experts, and researchers, to discuss wildfire, always leads to good things.  

(Honolulu) - The COVID-19 pandemic is providing the opportunity for ‘ōhi‘a lovers across Hawai‘i to participate in the annual ʻŌhiʻa Love Fest, which previously has been held as an in-person event in Hilo. Anyone, anywhere can celebrate Hawai‘i’s most abundant tree, ‘ōhi‘a lehua, during this week-long virtual event.  

(O‘ahu) – The first step toward a community proactively protecting itself from wildfire is the development of a wildfire protection plan. People on O‘ahu’s North Shore have an opportunity on   November 14 to attend a virtual workshop to begin the development of a North Shore Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). 

(HONOLULU)–Hidden behind a thick barrier of kiawe trees, on beaches facing the airport, dozens of homeless people set up their tents and hand-fashioned homes. They are doing this on state-owned land at the Sand Island State Recreation Area SRA). Scattered across the beach and near the trees are personal belongings, the frames, wheels and components of many bicycles, mopeds, cooking & eating utensils, bottles and cans…pretty much everything one would associate with living off the land. 

(Honolulu) - Although 2020 has no doubt been a challenging year, the Kaulunani Urban and Community Forestry Program (part of the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife) and their partners are committed to continue the state’s annual tradition of planting and giving away trees in their 115th year celebrating Arbor Day Hawaiʻi.

(HONOLULU) – Closed, since nearly the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic the Nuʻuanu Pali State Wayside on O‘ahu, reopens on Wednesday, November 4, 2020. The DLNR Division of State Parks had the park and scenic lookout closed due to crowding concerns (lack of physical distancing) and budgetary constraints. 

(Honolulu) – The CARES Act, authorizes and provides appropriations to the U.S. Department of Commerce to aid qualified fisheries impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Over $300 million was identified for fisheries and aquaculture with a total sum of $4,337,445 allocated for eligible Hawai‘i fishery sectors. The application period opens on Monday, Nov. 2, 2020. 

(Honolulu) – Sea urchins and some fish species are critical for helping protect and restore Hawai‘i’s coral reefs which are facing serious threats due to warming oceans and coral bleaching. The DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) is holding a series of virtual scoping meetings to compile input on increasing the management of key herbivores.