Hawaii DLNR (Department of Land and Natural Resources)

08/31/2026

DLNR is recruiting for the following position:

EQUIPMENT OPERATOR II - HALAWA TO KALIHI, OAHU
https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/hawaii/jobs/5445041/equipment-operator-ii-halawa-to-kalihi-oahu

08/27/2026

This morning, the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR) and Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) impounded the 72-foot vessel Treasure Seeker, also known as the “Pirate Ship,” for being illegally moored in Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor. The vessel was impounded at the sole risk and expense of the owner.
DOBOR immediately hired Henry Marine Services to tow the vessel out of the harbor. DOBOR staff will prepare the vessel to be disposed of in accordance with the Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes.

08/27/2026

KEAWAʻULA SECTION OF KA‘ENA POINT STATE PARK TO REOPEN SATURDAY, SEPT. 5

The DLNR Division of State Parks (DSP) announces the closure of the Keawaʻula Section of Ka‘ena Point State Park through Sept. 4 due to curing of new asphalt and speed bump additions to the roadway.

The Keawaʻula Section of the park will reopen for the Labor Day weekend on Saturday, Sept. 5.

Residents and visitors can still utilize the beach portion of the park during this time, but it is not advised, as parking outside of the gate is extremely limited. DSP reminds patrons to follow parking guidelines and regulations set for the area by the Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation and the Honolulu Police Department.

For the latest updates on important park notices, including park closures, please visit the Hawaiʻi State Parks webpage at https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/.

08/27/2026

INPUT INVITED ON MANAGEMENT OF PUAʻAHALA SECTION OF MOLOKAʻI STATE FOREST RESERVE

The Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DLNR DOFAW) is seeking input on a draft management plan for the Puaʻahala Section of the Molokaʻi State Forest Reserve. The plan will guide management priorities for this area over the next 10 years. The current plan contains a brief history of the area, a complete record of boundary changes over time, a description of natural and cultural resources, as well as an account of infrastructure, intended uses and management of the area.

In addition to producing the draft plan, DLNR DOFAW has developed an online platform to engage people in learning about the Puaʻahala Section of the Molokaʻi State Forest Reserve and contributing to the planning process. Using the State’s digital mapping system as a foundation, users can explore engaging, virtual information guides that describe the history, natural resources, threats, public uses and proposed management priorities of Puaʻahala. Users can also participate in an online community survey and find information on how to submit comments that will be included as part of the planning process. Written comments for the plan must be submitted electronically or postmarked no later than Friday, October 16, 2026

Details at:

JOSH GREEN, M.D. GOVERNOR RYAN K.P. KANAKAʻOLE CHAIRPERSON INPUT INVITED ON MANAGEMENT OF PUAʻAHALA SECTION OF MOLOKAʻI STATE FOREST RESERVE Digital Platform Launched to Engage Stakeholders Online MOLOKAʻI, HAWAIʻI – […]

08/26/2026

Volunteers are being sought for a large-scale restoration effort that is underway to remove invasive red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) from Kailua’s waterways. The goal is to restore natural water flow, improve water quality, reduce flood risk, and protect critical habitat for Hawaiʻi’s endangered native waterbirds.

Funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the multi-year project brings together the Oʻahu Branch of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DLNR DOFAW), the Kailua-based nonprofit Hui o Koʻolaupoko (HOK), and community partners to restore nearly two miles of streams and wetlands surrounding Kailua’s Kawainui Marsh.

HOK will coordinate volunteers, schools, community groups and public and private landowners to remove mangrove seedlings and propagules by hand. Native wetland plants will be restored in cleared areas to prevent reinvasion and strengthen habitat for native wildlife.

Monthly volunteer workdays begin Saturday, September 26, 2026, and are open to participants ages 18 and older. Initial efforts will focus on removing small mangrove trees and seed pods along Kawainui Stream between Kawainui Neighborhood Park (Kaha Garden) and the Hāmākua Street Bridge.

Community members interested in volunteering or learning more about the project can visit the Hui o Koʻolaupoko website.

More at:

JOSH GREEN, M.D. GOVERNOR RYAN K.P. KANAKAʻOLE CHAIRPERSON VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT FOR LARGE-SCALE PROJECT TO REMOVE INVASIVE MANGROVE FROM KAILUA WATERWAYS DLNR and Hui o Koʻolaupoko Partner on Multi-Year Restoration Effort […]

08/25/2026

VANDALS DESTROY TREES IN ʻEWA FOREST RESERVE

DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) staff report that vandals recently chopped down multiple trees in the ʻEwa Forest Reserve above Wahiawā, a place with some of Oʻahu’s most beautiful public lands.

At least 10 paperbark Eucalyptus trees were cut, with splintered trunks left standing several feet high. The vandals also installed a bench, suggesting that the illegal removal of trees was perhaps intended to establish a scenic viewpoint. Ironically, the situation left by the destruction of the trees is anything but picturesque.

While not native to Hawaiʻi, the species was intentionally introduced in the early 1900s to reduce erosion.

“This is not only illegal, it is disrespectful to the ‘āina,” said Ryan Peralta, a forestry program manager with DOFAW’s Oʻahu Branch. “These are public lands that belong to everyone. We’ve never seen anything like this. Chopping down trees and leaving such a mess not only disrupts the forest ecosystem, it creates an eyesore.”

Under Hawaiʻi Administrative Rules Chapter 104, it is illegal to remove, injure or kill plant life in public forest reserves.

Forest users are urged to report violations to the Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) at 808-643-DLNR (3567)

More at:

JOSH GREEN, M.D. GOVERNOR RYAN K.P. KANAKAʻOLE CHAIRPERSON VANDALS DESTROY TREES IN ʻEWA FOREST RESERVE Residents Urged to Protect Their Public Resources by Reporting Violations HONOLULU – DLNR Division of […]

08/24/2026

DLNR is recruiting for the following position:

Historic Preservation Archaeologist IV – Statewide

https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/hawaii/jobs/5441756/historic-preservation-archaeologist-iv

08/15/2026

BLNR TAKES ACTION ON TWO EAST MAUI WATER ISSUES

After hours of receiving public comments, the Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) voted today on two recommendations concerning the future of surface waters in East Maui.

“The Board of Land and Natural Resources has a responsibility to make decisions about the disposition of state water rights consistent with Hawaiʻi law and the state’s public trust obligations,” said BLNR Chairperson Ryan Kanakaʻole. “In considering the future use of East Maui water, the board must carefully consider the public purposes served by water use, including water for Maui communities, agriculture and other uses, while protecting stream resources and Native Hawaiian traditional and customary rights.

“The future disposition of East Maui water has been under consideration for many years and involves significant legal, environmental, cultural and community interests. The board recognizes the importance of these issues to the people and communities affected by its decisions and is committed to addressing them through the processes required by law.

“Moving forward with the contested case hearing ordered by the Environmental Court of the First Circuit in today’s agenda item D-6, demonstrates the BLNR’s commitment to developing a robust record of information that will inform the future of East Maui Water,” he added.

In the weeks to come, Chair Kanakaʻole will prioritize work on the selection of a hearing officer to comply with the court’s deadlines.

The relationship between CWRM and the BLNR:

The Department of Land and Natural Resources Commission on Water Resource Management (CWRM) is the state agency responsible for administering the State Water Code (Chapter 174C, Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes) and managing and protecting Hawaiʻi’s water resources. For surface water, that includes establishing instream flow standards to protect instream uses and values, regulating stream diversion works and balancing the protection of public trust uses with reasonable and beneficial offstream uses. The Hawaiʻi Supreme Court has recognized instream flow standards as the primary mechanism for protecting public trust purposes that depend on water remaining in streams, including traditional and customary practices.

The role of the BLNR is to dispose of rights to use water emanating from state lands, in accordance with the public trust; however, for all waters of the state, whether the water originates from state-owned land or private land, CWRM remains the primary guardian of public trust rights with respect to water resources and retains primary regulatory authority under the State Water Code. Even if licensed by BLNR, the amount of water physically and legally available for diversion remains subject to CWRM’s interim instream flow standard (IIFS) and other decisions under the State Water Code. A BLNR license does not replace or limit CWRM’s authority to establish or amend IIFS, regulate stream diversions, or act on matters such as Department of Hawaiian Homelands (DHHL) water reservations.

More at:
https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/blog/2026/08/14/nr26-100/

08/15/2026

CLOSURES OF STATE CAMPING, PARKS, LANDS AND TRAILS DUE TO TROPICAL STORM LALA

As Tropical Storm Lala continues its approach, a hurricane warning has gone into effect for Hawaiʻi Island and surrounding waters. Out of an abundance of caution for the safety of residents and visitors, the State Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) had announced the closures of camping, parks, lands and trails. See:

JOSH GREEN, M.D. GOVERNOR RYAN K.P. KANAKAʻOLE CHAIRPERSON CLOSURES OF STATE CAMPING, PARKS, LANDS AND TRAILS DUE TO TROPICAL STORM LALA HONOLULU – As Tropical Storm Lala continues its approach, […]

08/14/2026

LAND BOARD AUTHORIZES TRANSFER OF MORE THAN 300 ACRES TO DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS

The State Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) today authorized the transfer of more than 300 acres of state-owned lands in the Waiākea area of Hilo on Hawaiʻi Island, from the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) to the Department of Hawaiian Homelands (DHHL).

“The BLNR did Hawaiʻi proud today by approving this significant land transfer,” said Governor Josh Green. “Getting Native Hawaiian beneficiaries onto the land has been a top priority of my administration. We awarded more than 2,500 leases in 2025 and are on track to award approximately 3,000 this year, the most in state history. This transfer builds on that progress and brings us closer to helping even more beneficiaries turn their awards into homes, working farms and thriving communities.”

“Today’s action by the BLNR represents a significant milestone toward full satisfaction of the transfers required under Act 14, First Special Session Acts, passed by the State Legislature in 1995,” said DLNR Chairperson Ryan Kanakaʻole. “The parcels approved for transfer will provide meaningful opportunities for both homesteading and revenue generation, further supporting DHHL’s mission to provide for the economic self-sufficiency of native Hawaiians.”

Act 14 was adopted to compensate DHHL for the state’s use of DHHL trust lands between August 21, 1959, and July 1, 1988. Since its enactment, DLNR and DHHL have collaborated to fully implement the intent of Act 14.

The eight parcels identified under today’s transfer consist of two commercial-zoned parcels appropriate for revenue-generating industrial/commercial development, as well as six parcels in the Hilo town core suited to connected residential and agricultural homestead development.

Next steps are for DHHL to conduct due diligence evaluations of the parcels to determine the extent to which they satisfy or otherwise meet the needs of the Hawaiian Home Lands Trust. Evaluation efforts will include title, environmental, cultural and infrastructure assessments.

More at:
https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/blog/2026/08/14/nr26-98/