Hawaii DLNR (Department of Land and Natural Resources)

06/19/2026

DLNR PREPARES FOR 2026 WILDFIRE AND HURRICANE SEASONS

As Hawaiʻi enters the wildfire and hurricane seasons, the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) is strengthening its statewide readiness. Over the past year, DLNR’s preparedness and response capabilities have been enhanced with new equipment, expanded aerial firefighting support, ongoing vegetation management and increased coordination with partner agencies.

Among DLNR’s recent acquisitions for the Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) firefighting fleet are 15 new wildland fire engines statewide. The engines provide increased capacity to deliver personnel, equipment and water to wildfire incidents, while improving firefighter safety and operational effectiveness.

In addition to expanding ground-based resources, DOFAW personnel have been actively developing and improving water sources available for helicopter operations. These efforts include identifying, establishing and enhancing water-dipping locations that can be utilized by firefighting aircraft during wildfire suppression efforts.

Increasing the availability of aerial water resources helps reduce turnaround times for helicopters and improves the effectiveness of aerial firefighting operations, particularly in remote and difficult-to-access areas.

State parks and small boat harbors continue to reduce wildfire risk and improve firefighter access with routine removal of dry vegetation, invasive plant species and accumulated fuels that may spread wildfire. Focus areas include clearing defensible spaces around facilities, maintenance areas, parking lots and visitor-use areas.

DOFAW has worked to remove invasive trees with shallow roots (e.g., miconia) or broad canopies prone to wind shear (e.g., albizia) – and work with program partners and volunteers to plant native forests that stabilize our island soils. Staff are assessing the feasibility of planting eroded areas for slope stabilization and will initiate planting where safety is not an issue.

Everyone has a role to play in keeping their communities safe. See safety tips at:

JOSH GREEN, M.D. GOVERNOR RYAN KANAKAʻOLE ACTING CHAIRPERSON DLNR PREPARES FOR 2026 WILDFIRE AND HURRICANE SEASONS HONOLULU – As Hawaiʻi enters the wildfire and hurricane seasons, the Department of Land and […]

06/15/2026

DLNR is recruiting for the following positions:

Forestry & Wildlife Technician IV – Maui
https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/hawaii/jobs/5367191/forestry-wildlife-technician-iv-maui

Forestry & Wildlife Worker II – Maui
https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/hawaii/jobs/5366444/forestry-wildlife-worker-ii-maui-ohhi

Automotive Mechanic I – Hawaiʻi
https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/hawaii/jobs/5370081/automotive-mechanic-i-hilo-hawaii-island

06/13/2026

NEW TOOL TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF RAPID ʻŌHIʻA DEATH

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 12, 2026

LĪHUʻE, Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi – The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) partnered with the United States Forest Service (USFS) on Kauaʻi in recent months to deploy an innovative treatment for slowing the spread of Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death (ROD). Foresters applied the beetle repellent SPLAT® Verb to ʻōhiʻa trees killed by the ROD fungal disease as well as healthy ʻōhiʻa in the Kōkeʻe State Park area.

SPLAT® Verb has been shown to repel the ambrosia beetles that directly spread ROD through their frass (chewed, undigested wood and solid excrement left behind by beetles and their larvae). The repellent interrupts the beetle disease cycle by emitting a pheromone that discourages the beetles from burrowing into diseased and stressed trees, preventing the release of active fungal pathogens into the environment.

“This is a significant step forward in mitigating the spread of ROD,” said DOFAW State Protection Forester Robert Hauff. “For the first time we have conservation professionals in the field using a beetle repellent as a preventive tool to help protect healthy ʻōhiʻa by keeping ROD from spreading in areas where the disease has already been detected.

“Thanks to the State Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity’s Pesticide Branch, SPLAT® Verb has been registered for use in Hawaiʻi to protect ʻōhiʻa trees and is also approved for use against pests on coffee plants and macadamia nut trees, when used according to label,” he added.

The use of this beetle repellent follows more than five years of work led by Kylle Roy, Ph.D., a Forest Entomologist with the USFS Forest Health Protection Branch, based at the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry (IPIF) in Hilo.

“It’s exciting to see this dream come to fruition,” said Roy. “SPLAT® Verb is the only tool that can both protect healthy trees from succumbing to ROD and slow the spread of ROD. The formulation can be easily applied using a caulking gun and is environmentally friendly, biodegrading in the field after about four months.”

It is estimated more than a million trees on Hawaiʻi Island have died due to ROD, and approximately 1,000 on Kauaʻi since the fungus began killing trees in the Puna District of Hawaiʻi Island more than 15 years ago. Roy’s science is part of a decade-long, multiagency effort by land managers, scientists, and pathologists across the state and beyond to save ʻōhiʻa, a keystone species linked to the health of watersheds in Hawaiʻi.

More at:

JOSH GREEN, M.D. GOVERNOR RYAN KANAKAʻOLE ACTING CHAIRPERSON NEW TOOL TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF RAPID ʻŌHIʻA DEATH Beetle Repellant Will Slow the Spread of Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death LĪHUʻE, Kauaʻi, […]

06/13/2026

COORDINATED RESPONSE TO INVASIVE ANEMONE CONTINUES AT KĀNEʻOHE BAY

The DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) reports encouraging progress in efforts to contain and eradicate an invasive sea anemone in O‘ahu’s Kāne‘ohe Bay. While the Manjano anemone has been observed and monitored in the bay since 2020, DAR staff detected additional spread following the Kona low storms in March.

Detection and eradication efforts are complex, requiring substantial planning and many hands to execute. DAR staff members have been working expeditiously with project partners to contain the introduced species.

“This isn’t a unilateral effort. There has been significant collaboration and input from the Hawaiʻi Departments of Health and Agriculture and Biosecurity, the United States (U.S.) Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, research partners and members of the Kāneʻohe Bay community through all steps of the process,” said Jesse Boord, aquatic biologist with DAR. “Additionally, Heʻeia National Estuarine Research Reserve has been actively engaged in this response as co-managers of the space.”

Current response efforts employ both physical and chemical control methods. Four impermeable tarps, measuring roughly 40 x 60 feet, are deployed and secured over the infested reef area forming isolated treatment zones. High concentration chlorine is dispensed below the tarps, and the perimeter of each tarp is sealed and held in place by 30-pound sandbags. Due to the large area of the infestation, teams are working in sections. So far, two of three sections have been completed and more than 600 sandbags used, in total.

Initial inspections indicate substantial mortality of the invasive anemone within completed treatment areas and staff members are pleased to report that monitoring has not identified any unintended impacts outside the treatment footprint.

Distinguished for its small size, rapid growth and few known predators, the Manjano anemone is poised to do significant damage to Hawaiʻi’s reef ecosystems. The anemones occupy pukas (gaps) within reefs, can colonize a variety of corals and easily fragment, with each piece potentially growing into a viable adult. Because conventional removal methods can promote fragmentation and spawning, the tarped treatment approach was selected and allows the team to contain and target the infestation.

The anemone was first detected in the bay in 2020, when local divers, Gabby and Hiʻilei Kawelo, noticed suspicious corals growing on the reef. They notified DAR staff who identified the non-native corals as a common aquarium species released into the bay. Only two Manjano anemones were seen on the coral at the time. Both the corals and the anemones were removed by DAR staff in 2020.

Subsequent surveys later identified additional anemones that expanded into the current infestation. This year’s March storms brought heavy rains which delivered more nutrients to the area, providing a potential contributing factor to its spread. What started as a problem area no larger than 300 square feet a couple of years ago, has grown to about one-third of an acre. The focused joint response is necessary to suppress the spread throughout the bay and into neighboring reef systems.

Adverse environmental impacts resulting from Hawaiʻi residents releasing pets and non-native species into the environment, both on land and into coastal ecosystems, continue to be felt statewide. The Manjano infestation is a prime example of how a seemingly harmless action, like releasing aquarium species into Hawaiʻi waters, can have widespread negative effects on our native marine life.

“We’ve had 20 aquarium-related responses in the last five years, a significant increase for the state,” Boord added. “Many of these responses have originated from intentional or accidental aquarium releases. Raising community awareness about responsible pet ownership, the dangers of pet release and diligence around preventing the spread of invasives is something that DAR and our partners take seriously.”

This extends to ocean users scanning the reef and reporting anything out of the ordinary or taking care to rinse and inspect fishing and diving gear before and after each use. The Manjano anemone can attach to almost anything, from rocks and debris to boats, anchors and fins. Prevention on the front end is more cost effective than the monetary resources and personnel required for a potentially lengthy repair and restoration effort.

The Manjano eradication project was supported by legislative funding through Act 104, Session Laws of Hawaiʻi 2025, due to the potential ecological risk posed by further spread of the species. Follow-up monitoring and surveys are ongoing to identify any surviving or satellite colonies outside the primary infestation area.

06/04/2026

WAIʻĀNAPANAPA STATE PARK FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT BEGINS JULY 6

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 03, 2026

HĀNA, Maui, Hawaiʻi – A facility improvements project at Waiʻānapanapa State Park in Hana, Maui, will enter the construction phase on Saturday, July 6. The project includes a new comfort station adjacent to the park’s eastern parking area and resurfacing of Honokalani Road. Construction of the comfort station is expected to be completed in the fall, with road improvements scheduled for completion in early 2027.

“The uniqueness of the natural and cultural environment of Waiʻānapanapa State Park makes it a visitor hot spot drawing large crowds throughout the year,” said State Parks Acting Administrator Alan Carpenter. “We saw some success in addressing the high traffic by adding a timed entry reservation system in 2022. This substantially reduced visitation from more than 2,000 visitors per day to 1,200-1,500 visitors per day. Despite these changes, the area continues to be impacted by heavy visitor traffic.

“The new comfort station will include aerobic treatment to diminish environmental impacts,” Carpenter added. “Additionally, the work on Honokalani Road will address several deficiencies, including large potholes and deteriorated conditions, improving the travel for residents, park visitors and park personnel.”

Visitors and area residents are advised that:

• The eastern day-use and tour bus parking area will be closed for the duration of the project. Access to the black sand beach of Pailoa Bay will be routed through the western end of the park.

• Work on the road improvements may necessitate temporary park closures, however, access will be maintained for all Honokalani Road residents throughout the duration of the project.

• The Division of State Parks will temporarily close campervan camping during the project. The campervan lot will be temporarily redesignated for day-use visitors and tent campers.

• The existing day-use parking along the shoulder of the park access road will be redesignated for tour buses.

• Refunds have already been issued to individuals who had reservations for the campervan camping area for the month of June.

“DLNR and the Division of State Parks appreciates the patience and cooperation of all our park users and neighbors. We look forward to providing a better experience for everyone through this project,” said Carpenter.

For questions or concerns, please contact the DLNR Division of State Parks at [email protected], or 808-587-0300.

More at:
https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/blog/2026/06/03/nr26-73/

05/29/2026

LAHAINA SMALL BOAT HARBOR DREDGING PROJECT STARTS JUNE 1

The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR) has scheduled regular maintenance dredging of the Lahaina Small Boat Harbor to begin Monday, June 1, 2026.

Over time, sediment accumulates and reduces harbor entrance depths, blocking safe vessel navigation and disrupting water flow. Routine dredging is necessary to ensure safe access for recreational, commercial and emergency vessels.

The targets for this dredging project are the original design depths of -13 feet for the harbor entrance channel and -10 feet for the harbor basin. All dredged material will be disposed at the landfill, due to the potential presence of debris from the 2023 wildfires in the sediment.

“The permitted commercial operations will continue without interruption during the dredging work,” said DOBOR Administrator Meghan Statts. “We have continued to engage with the operators and everyone is aware of the plans for the dredging. We appreciate the cooperation from the operators as well as the contractor to ensure that both operations can take place simultaneously.”

“Completing the work now gives us a rare opportunity to dredge the main harbor basin, which our records show was last done in 1966,” she added. “We typically only dredge the entrance channel where sediment build-up occurs, however, because of the ongoing restoration, we are taking advantage of the open space in the main harbor to dredge the basin as well. This would have been nearly impossible to do with a harbor occupied by all the vessels. When the Lahaina Small Boat Harbor fully re-opens, users will enjoy the benefits of restored harbor and channel depths.”

No facility closures are anticipated, however, the harbor parking area adjacent to the King Kamehameha III Elementary School lot, currently accommodating commercial operator vehicles, will be used for stockpiling dredged material. DOBOR staff is working with the commercial operators and the county to determine alternative parking arrangements during the construction period.

The contractor for the dredging work is American Marine Corporation. Construction completion is estimated for December 2026.

05/28/2026

5/28/26 – COMMUNITY INPUT INVITED FOR KOHALA FOREST PROTECTION

KOHALA, Hawaiʻi Island, Hawaiʻi – Community members are invited to provide input on a project to protect 1,200 acres of the Puʻu o ʻUmi Natural Area Reserve and adjacent private lands near Puʻu Ahia. The project is a collaborative effort of the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW), with Fiscal Year 2024 funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) through the Pili Nā Moku Project, as well as the Kohala Watershed Partnership.

As Hawaiʻi trends drier and hotter, protection of Kohala’s native forest becomes increasingly pivotal.

The urgency to protect these forests has increased significantly because of Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death, which is exacerbated by wounds from feral pigs barking and rubbing on ʻōhiʻa trees. Studies have shown two to 69 times more suspected dead ʻōhiʻa trees in unfenced areas with feral pigs, compared to neighboring areas that are fenced and protected.

The proposed project would use multiple strategies to preserve Puʻu Ahia’s natural resources. Crews would construct a fence that includes gates and stepovers for public access, while excluding invasive hoofed animals. The project would remove Himalayan ginger and other invasive species, as well as invasive animals within the protected area. The project aims to minimize impacts to hunters by placing the fence in a remote, infrequently used area.

Individuals interested in this project are encouraged to review an educational StoryMap produced by DOFAW, titled “Expanding Protection of Our Kohala Forest.” The StoryMap describes the benefits, management challenges and next steps.

A survey link at the bottom of the StoryMap can be used by readers to provide their feedback and thoughts on the proposed project. Those interested can also sign up to visit the area on June 27 to talk story with project partners and learn more. RSVP information for the site visit can be found at the bottom of the StoryMap.

More at:

JOSH GREEN, M.D. GOVERNOR DAWN CHANG CHAIRPERSON COMMUNITY INPUT INVITED FOR KOHALA FOREST PROTECTION A New Project Would Protect Forests in Puʻu o ʻUmi and Puʻu Ahia KOHALA, Hawaiʻi Island, […]

05/27/2026

VIRTUAL VISITS TO REMOTE SEABIRD SANCTUARIES OFFERED IN “THE YEAR OF OUR COASTAL KULEANA”
360˚ Videos and Interviews Allow Exploration of Inaccessible Areas

New virtual field trips are being offered this year to remote seabird sanctuaries: Lehua Island, 19 miles west of Kauaʻi, and Hōlanikū (also known as Kure Atoll), 1,400 miles away at the furthest reaches of the Northwest Hawaiian Islands. The virtual excursions use 360˚ photos and videos, as well as interviews with field biologists and cultural practitioners, to provide educational exploration of otherwise inaccessible locations.

These online interactive resources were produced by the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) as part of the Year of Our Coastal Kuleana, a celebration of coastal ecosystems proclaimed earlier this year by Governor Josh Green.

“Our virtual field trips are designed with classrooms in mind,” said Dr. Josh Atwood, Education Specialist for DLNR DOFAW. “They include alignment guides to the Next Generation Science Standards, but students of any age can use these tools. We want to help people connect with remote natural areas, see the important work done by conservation professionals and be inspired to help protect Hawaiʻi.”

The Lehua Island virtual field trip explores the 284-acre crescent island just north of Niʻihau and follows a team of biologists from the Kauaʻi Endangered Seabird Recovery Project (KESRP). As students navigate around the island, clickable hotspots introduce native seabirds and plants. KESRP staff demonstrate the tools and strategies used to protect this remote seabird sanctuary. The field trip also tells the remarkable story of the restoration of the seabird sanctuary through the removal of invasive rats and rabbits.

The Hōlanikū virtual field trip explores an even more remote seabird sanctuary at the northwest edge of the Hawaiian archipelago. During the field trip, students meet biologists from DLNR DOFAW and the Kure Atoll Conservancy, who share their efforts to provide safe nesting habitat for seabirds including mōlī (Laysan albatross), kaʻupu (black-footed albatross), koloa pōhaka (Laysan duck) and more.

An in-person guide through the Hōlanikū virtual field trip will be offered on May 28, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Pacific Islands Ocean Education Center, located at Aloha Tower Marketplace, as part of its After Hours series. Field staff will share their experiences working on this remote atoll. In addition to the virtual field trip, a virtual reality headset will be available for attendees to step inside 360˚ footage taken at Hōlanikū.

Free registration for this event is required at:

https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/event/a-virtual-trip-to-holaniku-in-papahanaumokuakea-pioec-after-hours-speaker-series/

More at:
https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/blog/2026/05/26/nr26-71/

JOSH GREEN, M.D. GOVERNOR RYAN KANAKAʻOLE ACTING CHAIRPERSON VIRTUAL VISITS TO REMOTE SEABIRD SANCTUARIES OFFERED IN “THE YEAR OF OUR COASTAL KULEANA” 360˚ Videos and Interviews Allow Exploration of Inaccessible […]

05/26/2026

COMMUNITY INVITED TO NĀ ALA HELE PROGRAM PLAN MEETING WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2026

The Nā Ala Hele Program Plan on trails and access for the state is being updated for the first time since 1991. Community members are invited to provide their input:

Nā Ala Hele Trail and Access Program Plan Presentation
Wednesday, May 27, 2026
4 – 5:30 p.m.

Register for the Zoom meeting at:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/zUQNNEIUStWLTOvTpmQpsA #/registration

A draft of the Program Plan Update Project is available for review on the Nā Ala Hele website:

https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/recreation/nah/na-ala-hele-program-plan/

Nā Ala Hele Trail & Access Program staff members and their planning consultants will provide a virtual presentation summarizing the new plan update. During the meeting, participants will learn about proposed changes to Nā Ala Hele operations and how they can get involved.

Community input will also be accepted via the Nā Ala Hele website through July 31, 2026.

More at:
https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/blog/2026/05/26/nr26-70/

05/23/2026

5/22/26 – JOIN THE STATEWIDE “MAKAHIKI KULEANA KAHAKAI” COASTAL RESTORATION DAY ON JUNE 6

The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) – Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) invites people on all islands to join in the Makahiki Kuleana Kahakai on June 6, 2026. As part of the Year of Our Coastal Kuleana, this event serves as a day of collective action to mālama the shorelines, waterways and community spaces that sustain life in Hawaiʻi.

Several groups have already committed to the initiative and the DLNR is seeking statewide participation to ensure every corner of Hawaiʻi is represented. Organizations, schools, community groups, nonprofits, businesses and stewardship partners are all encouraged to lead their own local efforts.

How to Participate
Participation is designed to be flexible, allowing organizations to host events from anywhere in Hawaiʻi. Groups are invited to organize community restoration activities on or around June 6, focusing on the specific needs of their local environment.

More at:

JOSH GREEN, M.D. GOVERNOR RYAN KANAKAʻOLE ACTING CHAIRPERSON JOIN THE STATEWIDE “MAKAHIKI KULEANA KAHAKAI” COASTAL RESTORATION DAY ON JUNE 6 HONOLULU — The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) […]