#Department of Land and Natural Resources
Agriculture inspectors capture skunk in Hilo on Thanksgiving Day
Another skunk was captured in Hilo by agriculture inspectors from the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity on Nov. 27. It was the second captured in Hilo in the month of November.
State clarifies Central Maui pumping data; groundwater aquifer limits are under review
State water regulators have clarified data regarding groundwater pumping in Central Maui, acknowledging that while current withdrawals exceed official sustainable yield limits, those limits are conservative estimates that are now under re-evaluation. The clarification comes following an Oct. 28 staff briefing before the state Commission on Water Resource Management. The main focus of the briefing […]
Group that saved Honolua Bay from development now wants it to become a cultural sanctuary with fewer tourists
The Save Honolua Coalition wants to follow the success of places like Hā‘ena State Park on Kaua’i where visitor numbers were drastically reduced.
Endangered snails transferred to Bishop Museum’s Pūpū Ola: Kāhuli Captive Rearing Research Center
The public will be able to view these rare snails for the first time during Bishop Museum’s 4th Annual Kāhuli Festival on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025.
Hunting, camping, watershed protection in plan for Maui’s new Kamehamenui State Forest Reserve in Upper Kula
The State of Hawaiʻi continues to work on a 10-year management plan for a 3,434-acre parcel of watershed conservation land in Upper Kula that was acquired five years ago from a private trust.
Public hearing set for Kula Forest management plan
The state Department of Land and Natural Resources has scheduled a public hearing next week to solicit feedback on a comprehensive plan to manage the 3,434-acre Kamehamenui Forest Reserve in Kula.
Urban Design Review Board set to review Kahului Civic Center project Oct. 7
The Maui County Urban Design Review Board is scheduled Oct. 7 to review design plans for the proposed Kahului Civic Center mixed-use complex, a project that pairs more than 300 affordable rental apartments with a civic center featuring a wave-inspired roof design.
State proposes management plan for Kamehamenui Forest Reserve in Kula
The state Department of Land and Natural Resources has released a draft environmental assessment for the proposed Kamehamenui Forest Reserve Management Plan, covering 3,434 acres of state-owned land in Kula.
$30K settlement reached for boat grounding at Maui’s Honolua-Mokulē‘ia Bay
The Hawai‘i Board of Land and Natural Resources on Friday unanimously approved a proposed $30,448.67 settlement agreement with Kapalua Kai Sailing, Inc., for the grounding of its vessel, Hula Girl, inside Maui’s Honolua-Mokulē‘ia Bay Marine Life Conservation District, on Jan. 31, 2025.
Senate WAM Committee gains fire management insights during visit to Maui
Members were walked through the DOFAW’s Kahului Baseyard, where DLNR is leading current fire management efforts.
Army open to new land lease framework; Green insists on ‘Fair Deal’ for Hawaiʻi
Gov. Josh Green announced that his office has received a letter from the US Secretary of the Army, Dan P. Driscoll, signaling a commitment to a new framework for military land leases in Hawaiʻi. The leases involve thousands of acres of land on Oʻahu, and the potential terms could impact housing, environmental cleanup and Native […]
Hawaiian green sea turtle nesting season underway: How to kōkua
Sea turtle nesting season in Hawaiʻi is in full swing, with peak months running through November. This is a critical time for the Hawaiian green sea turtles, or honu, a species that has seen a steady increase in nesting activity across the islands since 2020. This positive trend brings a shared responsibility for all of […]
Where it’s at? The Hawaiian hoary bat, ʻōpeʻapeʻa
Wildlife biologists are asking residents to keep a lookout for ʻōpeʻapeʻa, the Hawaiian hoary bat, an endangered species and Hawaiʻi’s official state land mammal, the only land mammal native to the islands. Scientists want to know where it hangs out. Residents can help provide information about ʻōpeʻapeʻa habitat by reporting bat sightings online through iNaturalist, an online platform for […]
Enforcement increasing at Sacred Falls State Park on the North Shore of Oʻahu
Despite clearly posted park closure and hazardous conditions signs, people are continuing to ignore the risks and enter Sacred Falls State Park, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources reports.
Showcasing 300 job openings: State to host rapid-hiring recruitment on Maui, July 10
The State of Hawaiʻi Department of Human Resources Development will deliver job opportunities through direct recruitment on Maui. The Maui State Office Building in Wailuku will host a special recruitment event on Thursday, July 10, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Fully funded Olowalu fire station on hold over ‘iwi kupuna discovered 2 years ago in subdivision
The West Maui Improvement Foundation started advocating for a fire station in Olowalu after the 2018 Lahaina fire destroyed 21 houses in the area.
West Maui watershed restoration engages Native Hawaiian students
The forests stretching from Honokōwai all the way up to Honokōhau, and the watersheds they protect, have been managed for nearly two decades from the top of the mountains to the ocean. “You can’t just manage one part of it. You have to manage the whole, from the peak all the way to the ocean. They’re […]
Public input sought to shape 2025 State Wildlife Action Plan
As Hawaiʻi faces growing threats to its unique native wildlife and habitats, state officials are asking the public to determine conservation priorities in the next decade. The Department of Land and Natural Resources is inviting the public to participate in a review of the 2025 State Wildlife Action Plan, known by the acronym SWAP. Updated every […]
Wildfire safety legislation moves ahead in the Senate
The Senate Judiciary and Ways and Means committees have recommended passage of a House bill that would put into state law fire safety recommendations arising from a Hawaiʻi Attorney General investigation of the August 2023 Maui wildfire disaster. The bill has passed second reading and moves on to third reading in the Senate. House Bill […]
Vegetation removal bill cut back after concerns raised about letting utilities off the hook
Two state House committees have decided to defer action on a Senate bill that would, among other things, require private and public property owners to trim grass within certain proximities of public rights of way and utility lines.
