Department of Land and Natural Resources

HONOLULU --   The Department of Land and Natural Resources announces the 2018-2019 Game Bird Hunting Season opened on Saturday, November 3, 2018.  The fall game bird hunting season will run through Sunday, January 27, 2019.  A valid hunting license and a game bird stamp are required for all game bird hunting on public and private lands.  All game bird hunting is regulated by Hawaii Administrative Rules Title 13, Chapter 122 (see https://hawaii.gov/dlnr/dofaw “Administrative Rules” for all legal hunting days). 

(Honolulu) - Grassroots groups Ka Iwi Coalition and Livable Hawaii Kai Hui (LHK), together with the DLNR Division of State Parks, will unveil and dedicate a bronze commemorative plaque during a ceremony at noon on Thursday, November 8, 2018. The ceremony is open to everyone.  The date marks the 30th anniversary of the historic Sandy Beach Initiative vote, a key turning point in the people-powered defense of the open-space wilderness between Hanauma Bay and Makapu’u. 

KAHULUI - The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) and State Parks Division today opened the Kula Forest Reserve, Waipoli access road, Kahikinui Forest Reserve – Papa‘anui Tract, and Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area, following completion of a two-month project for road repairs, road safety improvements, and fuel mitigation work.  

(Honolulu) - Just before 10:30 this morning DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources (DOCARE) officers monitoring fishing activities on the first day of the Akule (Big Eye Scad) season, off Haleiwa on O‘ahu’s north shore, began watching the vessel Isao. It is a commercial shark diving boat (North Shore Shark Adventures) based at Haleiwa Small Boat Harbor.  Officers witnessed a crew member holding a bucket and chum the water by throwing fish into the ocean. Several sharks appeared, attracted by the chumming. 

KAUNAKAKAI, MOLOKAI --  A project at Kaunakakai Small Boat Harbor is underway to remove an existing wooden loading dock and replace it with a new aluminum framed loading dock with plastic lumber fenders and fiber reinforced plastic decking.  Work is scheduled to be completed by November 15, 2018

(Lihue) – In 1968, Hawai‘i had its first official Arbor Day plant and tree sale or giveaway, building on more than a century of recognizing this internationally designated holiday. It was on Kaua‘i and for the past 50 years the annual celebration of trees and plants has continued, expanding across the state with a multitude of tree and plant giveaways and sales. This week thousands of plants are being readied for sale with lots of help from ample rain.

(Hilo) – The Hawaii Ant Lab has won the 2018 Conservation Innovation Award by the Hawaii Conservation Alliance. The Ant Lab is a collaboration of the University of Hawaii’s Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit and the Hawaii Department of Agriculture, and was established in response to the Little Fire Ant invasion.

(Honolulu) – A recent land acquisition involving federal, state and private-sector partners will result in Oʻahu residents gaining new outdoor recreational opportunities, while protecting Central O‘ahu’s aquifer and improving habitat for native species, many of them endangered.

(Hilo) – The DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) is asking for help in identifying two men they’d like to question in connection with the recent apparent poisonings of several East Hawai‘i streams. Hundreds of dead Tahitian prawns were found in the streams shortly after the men were picked up on surveillance cameras at the Hawai‘i Tropical Botanical Garden.

(Honolulu) – The wreckage of a Robinson R44 helicopter was airlifted out of waist deep water in Kaneohe Bay just before noon today.  Two DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) officers assisted a rigger from Pacific Helicopters in getting straps and ropes around the chopper, which had turned on one side during or after the accident.