Department of Land and Natural Resources

(KAHULUI, MAUI) – With a large presence of workers from the DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR), and under the watchful eye of officers with the DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE), today the public parking areas at the state’s Kahului Boat Harbor are relatively clean of camps, and more than five dozen vehicles, many of them abandoned.

(WAILUKU, MAUI) – Maui Mayor Richard T. Bissen, Jr. signed a proclamation to recognize 2024 as Ka Makahiki o Nā Manu Nahele, Year of The Forest Birds, on Wednesday. This action follows Governor Josh Green, M.D.’s proclamation in January and county proclamations on Hawaiʻi Island on Feb. 1, and on Kaua‘i on March 11.

(HONOLULU) – Federal, state and county agencies and nonprofit organizations have again joined together to keep people and Hawaiian monk seals safe during peak pupping season.

(HONOLULU) – Today marks the beginning of Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Awareness Month (HISAM), an annual campaign to prevent and minimize the impacts of invasive species and highlight the positive steps being taken to protect our islands.

(HILO, HAWAI‘I ISLAND) – Like many family stories, this one begins with the mother. Mom is an adult female nēnē, one of Hawai‘i’s State Birds, banded NTC.

(HONOLULU) – “A slap on the wrist in this situation, would be a slap in the face of this community,” exclaimed John Carty of the Save Honolua Coalition. This, after the Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) greatly increased a fine against the owners and operator of the yacht Nakoa. The luxury yacht grounded on a reef approximately 600 yards north of the Honolua-Mokulē‘ia Bay Marine Life Conservation District in February 2023.

(HONOLULU) – The Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) today fined Janell Jensen, dba Ohana Kayak Rentals, for unpermitted commercial ocean use activity on at least five separate occasions within Kāneʻohe Bay waters. The board received numerous comments from people supporting the penalties.

(HONOLULU) – Handmade bird puppets, lab scientist costumes, moʻolelo, and animated infographics are just some of the tools that K-12 students across Hawaiʻi used to create video projects about forest birds as part of the 2024 ʻŌlelo Youth Xchange Video Challenge. The video contest, run by ʻŌlelo Community Media, includes a video category called “Makahiki o Nā Manu Nahele: Year of the Forest Birds,” sponsored by the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW).

(HILO, HAWAI‘I ISLAND) – Toxoplasmosis, an infection spread only in the feces of feral cats, is likely what killed a nēnē gosling last month in Liliʻuokalani Park and Gardens. 

(KAHULUI, MAUI) – Fifty-four trucks and cars, many inoperable, will be towed from the state’s Kahului Harbor on May 6. A team from the DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR) and officers from the DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement placed notices on each of the vehicles on Monday.

(HILO) – The DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) will conduct animal control activities (trapping, ground and/or aerial shooting) for feral goats, feral sheep, mouflon, and mouflon/feral sheep hybrids within the palila critical habitat in the Mauna Kea Forest Reserve (Unit A), Mauna Kea Ice Age Natural Area Reserve (Unit K), Palila Mitigation Lands, and the Ka‘ohe Game Management Area (Unit G) on Hawai‘i Island.

(MAKIKI VALLEY STATE RECREATION AREA, O‘AHU) – Gloved hands, swinging blades, cutting with saws, and digging with shovels dug up and chopped down invasive plants along the banks of Makiki Stream today, during an annual Earth Day clean-up.

(HANAPĒPĒ, KAUA‘I) – Seven lucky Kaua‘i residents are the excited new lease-holders of state-owned cabins in Kōkeʻe and Waimea Canyon State Parks. One-hundred-twenty-three others went home empty-handed after Thursday's high-interest auction to lease out the rarely available cabins.

(HONOLULU) – Newly awarded grant funding through the federal Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is boosting support for local projects addressing diverse aspects of urban and community forestry.

(HONOLULU) – Kahana Bay Boat Ramp users are invited to attend a community meeting on Friday, April 19 to provide input on proposed designs for a new boat ramp and loading dock at the Hauʻula location. The DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR) will host the meeting and encourages community involvement in the process.

(HONOLULU) – Winners of the 2024-2025 Hawai‘i Wildlife Conservation and Game Bird Stamp Art Contest have been announced by the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW). The DLNR thanks all wildlife artists who submitted entries for this year’s contest. A committee reviewed all submissions, and two winners were chosen.

HONOLULU – Governor Josh Green, M.D., has signed legislation designating an official state kāhuli, or snail, for each of the main Hawaiian islands, as well as the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. In a ceremony today at Washington Place, Governor Green signed into law House Bill 1899, which recognizes nine native snail species as state snails.

The 150-year-old Lahaina banyan tree continues to show signs of recovery, eight months after the Maui fires. In video provided by the Hawai'i Department of Land and Natural Resources, Duane Sparkman of the Lahaina Treecovery project provides an update, describes some of the challenges the iconic tree still faces, and talks about what lies ahead. 

(LAHAINA, MAUI) – Commercial operators, with permits, will again be able to use Mala Wharf seven days a week beginning Saturday April 13.

(WAILUKU, MAUI) – A 39-year-old Kī]hei man has been arrested by officers from the DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) for allegedly discharging a firearm in a state park and other offenses, one of them, a felony.

(ANINI BEACH, KAUA‘I) – Expecting to only remove two species of non-native coral, a team from the DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR), ended up extracting four coral colonies from one of the longest and widest fringing reef in Hawai‘i, on Thursday.

(HONOLULU) – A one-dollar fee that can generate millions of dollars in funding for the protection of marine resources, is the idea behind the Hawai‘i Ocean Stewardship Fee Program or Aloha i ke Kai.

(VOLCANO, HAWAI‘I) – Students across Hawai‘i are being offered rare access to learn about endangered Hawaiian forest birds. The Keauhou Bird Conservation Center (KBCC), near Volcano, on Hawai‘i Island is one of two centers operated through a partnership between San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife, for the care and perpetuation of numerous critically endangered Hawaiian forest birds.

(HONOLULU) – Forty-one-year-old Jeffrey Moufa of Honolulu is facing four charges, after allegedly spearfishing at night in the Waikīkī Fisheries Management Area (FMA).

(HILO, HAWAI‘I) – The long-awaited dredging of the Wailoa Small Boat Harbor, on Hawai‘i Island, could begin this summer. Initial funding for the project was released in January 2024; a consultant has been hired, and the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) has indicated it will expeditiously handle the required permitting process.

(MAKAWAO, MAUI) – Waihou Spring Forest Reserve and trail will reopen to residents and visitors on April 1, seven months after its emergency closure due to damage caused by wildfire and high winds.

(HONOLULU) – The DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) has cited Bumper Productions LLC for a pair of violations of Division of State Parks (DSP) rules during taping of “Rescue: HI Surf,” an ocean-related reality series.

(HONOLULU) – Starting this weekend, federal and state agencies, local groups and individuals will come together for Hawai‘i Climate Week (March 23-31), hosting a series of events that underscores the importance of taking action and supporting efforts to build a climate ready Hawai’i.

(HILO) – The Hawaiʻi Forest Reserve System is open for expansion, with two new parcels containing 7,200 acres being proposed for addition to state forest lands on the island of Hawaiʻi. The DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) invites comment on the proposed additions at a community hearing it will host on March 28, 2024.

DLNR ANNUAL REPORT 2023 Achievements | 2024 Goals PDF (97MB)  

HONOLULU - Five of nine men, cited for illegal fishing activity in the Pūpūkea Marine Life Conservation District (MLCD) on November 4, 2023, have been sentenced to perform 50 hours community service, ordered to pay fines of $500 to $1,000 and ordered to forfeit illegal fishing gear (spearguns).

(KŌKE‘E STATE PARK, KAUA‘I) –A muddy and weary team from the Kaua‘i Forest Bird Recovery Project (KFBRP), arrived here in time for the annual blessing of the field season for conservationists working against the clock to save numerous species of Hawaiian Honeycreepers from extinction.

(HONOLULU) –  Accessing Hawaiʻi’s natural and cultural resources is a popular activity for locals and visitors. The Nā Manu ʻElele Steward Program, a collaboration between Kupu, Hawaiʻi’s largest youth-focused conservation and sustainability nonprofit, the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA), and the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) aims to inform and connect the people at wahi pana (legendary places, and living, breathing spaces).

(HONOLULU) – The only visible sign of Ian Snyder’s serious injuries is a patch over one eye. “My right eye has double vision, but other than that, doing pretty well, all things considered,” Snyder said during a recent interview on a trail near his Ferndale, Calif., home.

(KEALAKEKUA BAY, HAWAI‘I ISLAND) - The Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) took part in a second collaborative coral restoration project today with Hawaiian cultural practices and protocols in the waters of Kealakekua Bay, on the Kona side of Hawai‘i Island. Kanu Ko‘a is the name of a community-led project integrating Hawaiian culture, the local community, and the science of coral restoration, and the ceremony emphasized ‘ohana (family) and relationships with ko‘a (corals).

(HONOLULU) – Applications for the 2024 Lānaʻi mouflon sheep hunting season will be available next month, beginning Monday, March 4, 2024. Applications can be filed online at gohunthawaii.ehawaii.gov by clicking “Apply for Hunts.”

(LĪHU‘E) – Kikiaola Small Boat Harbor users are invited to attend a community meeting next week to discuss proposed designs for a new boat ramp and loading dock. The DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR) will host the event and encourages community involvement in the process.

(HANAPĒPĒ, KAUA‘I) – Two dozen federal, state, and county firefighters have completed what is known as ignition training. It will become another tool in the box for Hawai‘i wildland firefighters who anticipate more frequent and more ferocious fires due to the impacts of global climate change.

(HONOLULU) – The 2024 Spring Bearded Turkey Hunting Season will begin on Friday, March 1, 2024 and run for 46 consecutive days through Monday, April 15.

(HONOLULU) – The same day O‘ahu slack line aficionados became aware of concerns about lines strung high in the trees behind Sunset Elementary School, they were removed.

  JOSH GREEN, M.D. GOVERNOR DAWN CHANG CHAIRPERSON THIRD KŌKE‘E CABIN AUCTION IN HISTORY COMING UP FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Feb. 12, 2024 (KŌKE‘E STATE PARK, KAUA‘I) ¾ Seven cabins in ...
Read More 02/12/24 – THIRD KŌKE‘E CABIN AUCTION IN HISTORY COMING UP

  JOSH GREEN, M.D. GOVERNOR DAWN CHANG CHAIRPERSON FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Feb. 6, 2024 (HONOLULU) – First Circuit Court Judge John M. Tonaki has ruled in favor of the DLNR ...
Read More 02/06/24 – JUDGE’S RULING GIVES HAWAI‘I’S ENDANGERED BIRDS A CHANCE FOR SURVIVAL

JOSH GREEN, M.D. GOVERNOR DAWN CHANG CHAIRPERSON Hawai‘i Drought Council Reports Winter Precipitation Near Normal FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Feb. 5, 2024 (HONOLULU) – The Hawai‘i Drought Council is a collaborative ...
Read More 02/05/24 – THE ATMOSPHERE DID NOT GET THE MEMO

JOSH GREEN, M.D. GOVERNOR DAWN CHANG CHAIRPERSON Funds from DOH to DLNR and partners support shared interests in protecting water quality and watershed forests FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Feb. 5, 2024 (HONOLULU) — New ...
Read More 02/05/24 – NEW PROTECTIONS FOR WEST MAUI WATERSHEDS SUPPORT BOTH HUMAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

JOSH GREEN, M.D. GOVERNOR DAWN CHANG CHAIRPERSON KAUA‘I YEAR OF THE FOREST BIRDS PROCLAMATION FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  Feb. 2, 2024 (LĪHUʻE, KAUA‘I) – Kaua‘i Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami, on Thursday, presented ...
Read More 02/02/24 – KAUA‘I YEAR OF THE FOREST BIRDS PROCLAMATION

(WAILUKU, MAUI) – Starting next week, the damaged seawall at Mā'alaea Small Boat Harbor will undergo repairs to shore up its protection against current and wave action. Mocon Corporation will begin construction of a new, reinforced concrete seawall on Monday, Feb. 5.

(MĀ'ALAEA SMALL BOAT HARBOR, MAUI) – A series of powerful storms in 2023 and the first part of 2024 contributed to a higher-than-usual number of boat groundings in Maui.

(KIHEI, MAUI) – Foul weather may have contributed to the grounding of two large vessels at Kihei and Mā'alaea, and now weather continues to slow efforts to remove them. 

(HONOLULU) – The Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) on Friday approved plans by the DLNR, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to conduct a pilot release of captive-bred ʻalalā onto forest reserve lands in east Maui. 

(HONOLULU) – On Friday, the Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) approved amendments to Hawai‘i Administrative Rules pertaining to “License and Permit Provisions and Fees for Fishing, Fish, and Fish Products.” 

(HONOLULU) – The owners of two homes on Ke Nui Road were each ordered to pay nearly $1 million by the Board of Land and Natural Resources today, for repeated violations of State Conservation District rules. The homes front Paumalū Beach, on O‘ahu’s north shore.

(HONOLULU) – The year 2024 is for the birds, thanks to a proclamation signed by Governor Josh Green, M.D., today.

(KAHULUI, MAUI) – A 30-year-old Haiku man was taken to the hospital today after encountering a shark at Paia Bay. He was surfing and water conditions were reported as ‘mixed’ due to high surf conditions.

(HONOLULU) – The He‘eia Kea Small Boat Harbor in Kāne‘ohe is scheduled to undergo wastewater system improvements beginning on January 8, 2024. The DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR) has contracted Oceanic Companies, Inc. for the project.

(HONOLULU) – As one of the largest-attended and unique First Day Hike events in the country, the trek to the summit of Kaiwi State Scenic Shoreline on Jan. 1 for the first sunrise of the year is a go. 

(KAHULUI, MAUI) – The Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) announces the 2024 Axis Deer Control Landowner Incentive Program (LIP) for Maui Nui, through a competitive Request for Proposals for axis deer harvest from eligible private landowners and lessees.

(HONOLULU) – Officers with the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) will be on patrol over the New Year's holiday to enforce the law and protect the environment, including the sacred Ahu o Laka (Kāne‘ohe Bay sandbar).

(HONOLULU) - Arbor Day is one day formally designated across the United States to honor, plant and enjoy trees. Kaulunani Urban and Community Forestry, a program of the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW), is now seeking grant proposals from community organizations that would like to share the benefits of trees with their communities for Arbor Day 2024.

(HONOLULU) – Artists are welcome to submit entries to the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) in the 2024-25 Hawai‘i Wildlife Conservation and Game Bird Stamp annual art contest. The wildlife conservation stamp is a requirement for Hawai‘i state hunting licensees. The game bird stamp is required for anyone intending to hunt game birds. Both stamps will also be available to stamp collectors.

(NAKULA NATURAL AREA RESERVE, MAUI) – Remarkably, a single kiwikiu, a Hawaiian honeycreeper, its species on the verge of extinction, continues to defy the odds and may provide important clues as to how he has survived deadly avian malaria, when many birds exposed to the mosquito-borne disease perish.

(HONOLULU) — This year’s series of wildfires on Maui, Hawai‘i Island, and O‘ahu raised awareness about this threat to a new level. It is reflected in the proposed budget Governor Josh Green, M.D., submitted to the state Legislature yesterday. 

(MILILANI, OʻAHU) – In light of the recent wildfires on Maui and in Mililani Mauka and the continued forecast for drought conditions throughout the state, both state and city leaders last night hosted a Wildfire Prevention and Disaster Preparedness Workshop for the Central Oʻahu community and other interested residents.

(HONOLULU) – On Friday, the Hawai‘i Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) will be asked to approve a new chapter in Hawai‘i Administrative Rules (HAR) to enable an ocean stewardship user fee.

(HONOLULU) – Its scientific name is Cyanea rivularis. In the mountains of Kaua‘i it produces conical-shaped lavender and white flowers, which like many endangered plant species across the state, are key components to a fully functioning and healthy native ecosystem.