Department of Land and Natural Resources

(Kailua, Oahu) – While prepping to board a nearby amphibious vehicle, Hawai’i State Senators Chris Lee and Jarrett Keohokalole are briefed by DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) Administrator David Smith and staff on the ecological significance of the Kawainui Marsh State Wildlife Sanctuary. Last month, the two senators embarked on a tour of the restoration efforts in the historic wetlands. 

(Kahului, Maui) – As Maui County crews and contractors continued cleaning up trash, personal belongings, and abandoned vehicles from a ¾ mile stretch of Amala Place, staff from three DLNR divisions (Land, Forestry & Wildlife, Conservation and Resources Enforcement) began removing illegal camps from adjoining State lands. 

Numerous presentations and leaders from around the world at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Marseille emphasize the close connection between climate change mitigation and adaptation and biodiversity conservation.

(HILO) – The Mana Road fire that burned along Old Saddle Road on the slopes of Mauna Kea on Hawai‘i Island was one of the largest wildland fires in recorded Hawai‘i history. In late July and early August, it scorched more than 42,000 acres of mostly grassland above Waimea and largely on the Parker Ranch. 

(HONOLULU) – The DLNR has received one redevelopment proposal for the former Uncle Billy’s Hilo Bay Hotel, and three for the former Country Club Condominium Hotel, both located on Banyan Drive in Hilo. 

(Kailua-Kona) - Marine debris comes in many shapes and sizes, but there are certain types of debris items that are more hazardous than others to boaters and aquatic wildlife.  In recent years, Hawai‘i has been experiencing an uptick in the amount of foreign and domestic fish aggregating devices, or “FADs”, adrift in nearshore waters and washing up along our coasts.

Governor Ige joined the Hawai’i delegation to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress in Marseille by live remote link to officially open the Hawai’i Pavilion and welcome all. Hawai’i brings a unique and powerful message to the world, of close conservation and culture connections, ambitious goals and strong partnerships and collaboration to implement them, and aloha as the overarching value.

(Līhuʻe) – Two fences, one predator proof and the other ungulate proof, are currently under construction in the Nā Pali-Kona Forest Reserve and adjacent Kōke’e State Park. Much of the funding for the project is coming from the Department of Defense’s Readiness Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) program. The funding is the first in the nation for what is considered a non-mitigation project.

(Kailua-Kona) - The DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR) will hold an online public hearing via Zoom on September 8, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. for proposed amendments of Hawai’i Administrative Rules (HAR) relating to surfing school regulations for Kahalu’u Bay ocean waters.

 (Haiku) – On August 26 Alexander & Baldwin (A&B) and East Maui Irrigation Company, Limited (EMI) (collectively A&B), filed its Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the proposed water lease for the Nāhiku, Keʻanae, Honomanū, and Huelo License Areas with both the DLNR Land Division and the State of Hawai‘I Environmental Review Program.