Hawaii DLNR (Department of Land and Natural Resources)

10/08/2026

Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB) Community Day, West Oahu

The Community Coconut Program (of the Kaulunani Urban and Community Forestry Program within the Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife), in partnership with the University of Hawaiʻi (UH) West Oʻahu and UH Mānoa, hosted the first-ever Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB) Community Day at the UH West Oʻahu campus on Thursday, September 24.

The event highlighted the important roles of community groups in managing, detecting, and controlling CRB to protect our beloved niu (coconut) and loulu (palm trees endemic to Hawaiʻi).

Over 100 community members, cultural practitioners, agricultural resource managers, tree-care workers, plant nursery and landscape workers, and researchers attended the event.

The Community Day capped off the third annual Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Science and Management Symposium, which brought together researchers, CRB responders, and natural resources managers from Hawaiʻi, North America, and 20 Pacific Island countries and territories to share knowledge and coordinate response strategies.

The event included:
• Demonstrations on how to safeguard plants from CRB with mulch management, netting, and other measures.
• Discussions with local CRB responders, cultural practitioners, and researchers.
• Information booths from local organizations on CRB identification, management, and vulnerable plant preservation.

10/07/2026

OCTOBER IS “STOP THE ANT MONTH”

October is “Stop the Ant Month” in Hawaiʻi. Residents are encouraged to collect and submit ants from their properties to help find and control the spread of invasive little fire ants (LFA) and to detect other harmful ant pests that could be new to the state, like the red imported fire ant (RIFA). A multiagency effort throughout the month will support residents’ efforts.

The campaign is supported by the Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council (HISC) and administered by the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) in cooperation with the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity (HDAB) and University of Hawaiʻi programs including the Hawaiʻi Ant Lab, Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species and the Invasive Species Committees on each island.

“Each year, more residents are helping us by collecting and submitting ants so we have a better understanding of where they are,” said DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife Administrator Marigold Zoll.

Dr. Helmuth Rogg, coordinator for the HISC, added, “LFA are a major concern, but we are also asking people to help us detect other invasive ants that aren’t yet established here. RIFA, for example, costs as much as $8 billion in economic impacts each year across southern U.S. states. We don’t want that ant here and by collecting and submitting ants, you expand our ability to detect and eradicate these harmful species.”

Most detections of invasive ants on each island are by community members who collect and send their ants for identification. LFA is considered among the world’s worst invasive species because they form dense colonies and their painful sting can cause itchy red welts that last for weeks. Stings to pets’ eyes cause injuries that may result in blindness. Unlike the tropical fire ant, a ground-nesting ant that has been present in Hawaiʻi since the 1800s and is commonly encountered at beach parks and dry, sunny areas, LFA are tiny, orange ants, measuring 1/16 of an inch long.

Anyone can request a free ant collection kit by visiting www.StopTheAnt.org, or can make their own using household supplies. A one-minute video, “How to Collect a Sample,” is available at the website and shows the step-by-step procedure for collecting ants from your property, freezing them, then submitting them for identification. Samples can be mailed or dropped off for identification at any of these locations:

Oʻahu Invasive Species Committee: 808-266-7994, 743 Ulukahiki Street, Kailua, HI 96734

Maui Invasive Species Committee (also accepting samples from Lānaʻi), 808-573-6472, PO Box 983, Makawao, HI 96768

Kauaʻi Invasive Species Committee, 808-821-1490, 7370K Kuamoo Road, Kapaʻa, HI 96746

Moloka‘i Invasive Species Committee, 808-553-4236, P.O. Box 220, Kualapuʻu, HI 96757

Big Island Invasive Species Committee, 808-933-3346, 23 East Kawili Street, Hilo, HI 96720

Hawai‘i Ant Lab in Hilo, 808-315-5656, 875 Komohana Street #213, Hilo, HI 96720

Hawai‘i Ant Lab in Kona, 808-209-9014, c/o CTAHR Extension Office, 79-7381 Old Māmalahoa Hwy, Kealakekua, HI 96750

https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/blog/2026/10/06/nr26-121/

JOSH GREEN, M.D. GOVERNOR RYAN K.P. KANAKAʻOLE CHAIRPERSON OCTOBER IS “STOP THE ANT MONTH” Hawaiʻi Residents Can Help Detect and Stop the Spread of Invasive Ants HONOLULU – October is “Stop the Ant Month” in Hawaiʻi. Residents are encouraged to collect and submit ants from their propert...

10/05/2026

DLNR is recruiting for the following positions:

Cultural Field Specialist - Oahu
https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/hawaii/jobs/5497622/cultural-field-specialist

Cultural Historian
https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/hawaii/jobs/5441758/cultural-historian

Hawaii and National Registers Coordinator
https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/hawaii/jobs/5501429/hawaii-and-national-registers-coordinator

10/02/2026

The launch ramp at Port Allen Small Boat Harbor has reopened effective immediately, Friday, October 2, 2026. The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation completed both an engineering site inspection and a sonar survey of the harbor waters and seafloor, confirming that the launch ramp is safe for use and there are no navigational hazards to boating.

Harbor slips and moorings are still closed due to the extensive damage from Hurricane Lowell.

“We understand the importance of this facility to the people of Kauaʻi and are using all available resources to ensure that their access to the ocean from Port Allen will be restored as quickly as possible,” said Board of Land and Natural Resources Chairperson Ryan Kanakaʻole.

Anyone with questions about harbor and ramp access is encouraged to contact the Port Allen Harbor Office at 808-335-8400.

More at:

JOSH GREEN, M.D. GOVERNOR RYAN K.P. KANAKAʻOLE CHAIRPERSON LAUNCH RAMP AT PORT ALLEN SMALL BOAT HARBOR REOPENS OCTOBER 2 LĪHUʻE, Kauaʻi – The launch ramp at Port Allen Small Boat […]

10/02/2026

2027 LĀNAʻI AXIS DEER HUNTING SEASON ANNOUNCED

Hunters, mark your calendars — applications for the 2027 Lānaʻi Axis Deer Hunting Season will be available starting Monday, October 12, 2026. Secure your spot by visiting the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Go Hunt, Hawaiʻi website: https://gohunthawaii.ehawaii.gov and clicking the “Apply for Hunts” button.

The Lānaʻi axis deer season will be organized into four hunt groups: archery, youth, muzzleloader and general r***e. All four hunts may be subject to a lottery drawing.

Standby hunting opportunities may be offered for the archery, muzzleloader, and general r***e season depending on the number of applications received. If application levels are lower than anticipated for the archery and general r***e seasons, one or more draws/weekends may be eliminated.

For more information, go to: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/recreation/hunting/ or call DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife offices for staff assistance:

O‘ahu: 1-808-587-0166 Maui: 1-808-984-8100
Hawai‘i: 1-808-974-4221 Moloka‘i: 1-808-553-1745
Kauaʻi: 1-808-274-3433 Lāna‘i: 1-808-565-7916

10/01/2026

New Date Announced for Public Meeting on Rulemaking Related to Hawaii's Historic Preservation Program

PUBLIC SCOPING MEETING
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2026
5:30 P.M. - 7:30 P.M.

This virtual meeting will serve as the first of many opportunities for
community members to share comments, ask questions, and provide input on issues related to the Petition and the overall direction of Hawai'i's historic preservation rules.

Register at Huliauapaa's website: https://www.huliauapaa.org/shpdpublicscoping

10/01/2026

The DLNR has reopened the following areas after the passing of Hurricane Nolo:

Hawai‘i Island
All forestry and wildlife lands are open to the public except those for which staff are performing damage assessments and repairs including:
• Muliwai Trail, Waimanu campground, Keanakolu and ʻĀinapō cabins: Closed until staff can complete damage and safety assessments.

Most state parks except:
• Waialea Section of Hāpuna Beach State Recreation Area: Closed due to fallen trees from Hurricane Lala.
• Lapakahi State Historical Park: Closed due to fallen trees from Hurricane Lala.
• ʻAkaka Falls State Park: The right side of the trail is closed due to fallen trees. The rest of the ʻAkaka Falls trail remains partially open.

Most state park camping areas and lodging facilities remain closed, including:
• Kalopā Cabins: Closed for repairs. The park remains open for daytime use and overnight camping.
• Hāpuna Cabins: Closed for repairs.
• Kīholo Campground: Closed due to fallen trees. The park remains open for daytime use only.

Maui and Molokaʻi
All forestry and wildlife lands are open to the public except:
• Makawao State Forest Reserve, Kula Forest Reserve and Waihou Spring Forest Reserve: Closed pending storm damage repairs.

All state parks except:
• Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area: Closed due to surrounding forest reserve closure.

Oʻahu
All forestry and wildlife lands are open to the public.

Kauaʻi
All forestry and wildlife lands and trails are closed to the public except:
• Mana Plains Forest Reserve
• Hunting Unit C: Check stations at Princeville, Moloaʻan and Kapahi (Closed: Moalepe and Loop Road check stations).
• Līhuʻe- Kōloa Forest Reserve: Keāhua Arboretum to the parking lot.
• Pu‘u ka Pele Forest Reserve: Waimea Canyon (access from canyon bottom).
• Hunting Unit F: Access below the junction of Kōke‘e Road and Waimea Canyon Drive.

The public is advised to use caution when entering any state parks and forest lands as unidentified and unmitigated hazards may still exist.

More at:

JOSH GREEN, M.D. GOVERNOR RYAN K.P. KANAKAʻOLE CHAIRPERSON MOST STATE PARKS, FOREST LANDS AND CAMPGROUNDS REOPENING AFTER NOLO – PUBLIC CAUTIONED ABOUT HAZARDS HONOLULU – The Department of Land and […]

10/01/2026

COMMUNITY COMMITMENT TO COQUI FROG CONTROL ON OʻAHU HITS MILESTONE

Volunteers and Professionals Undaunted After Two Years of Coqui Captures

The Coqui Frog Task Force is marking two years since its September 2024 establishment by reporting the hand-capturing of 3,847 invasive frogs and encouraging additional volunteers to join in its efforts.

The volunteer task force has worked with professionals from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DLNR DOFAW), the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity (DAB) and the Oʻahu Invasive Species Committee (OISC). The group meets for coqui capture nights four times a month on Thursdays, hiking in the dark and listening for the unique call of the coqui frog. When a frog is spotted, it is captured by hand or in a long tube and provided to DAB for recording and analysis.

“The problem is serious, but motivation and morale are high,” said Dave Day, DLNR Deputy and participant in a recent coqui capture night in Waimānalo. “It’s amazing to see how this issue has brought together community and inspired new research.”

Controlling invasive species in Hawaiʻi is often a long process and working with coqui frogs is no exception. In Waimānalo, the persistence of a coqui frog population first detected in 2021 is, thankfully, checked by the persistence of this dedicated group of volunteers and conservation professionals.

Coqui can reach much higher densities in Hawaiʻi than in their native habitat. They produce loud calls and prey on native insect populations. The task force is working to keep the Waimānalo population, which now spans roughly 275 acres, from spreading further until new tools can be developed to reduce or eliminate the infestation.

Representatives from the group recently presented at the Hawaiʻi Conservation Conference, discussing the unique collaboration and its outcomes. The group discussed new research on coqui frog diets and control tools, including attempts to use drones to apply citric acid in areas that are too steep for crews to reach on foot. While the aerial control tool has not yet yielded the desired results, the group soldiers on, capturing the frogs mostly by hand.

“Coqui frogs are just one of many species that require more robust collective research, resourcing and collaborative response actions,” said Kimeona Kane, Waimānalo Neighborhood Board Chair and member of the Coqui Frog Task Force. “It is so critical to include the community in the long-term management, recognizing that no one can do it alone. Mahalo nui to all who are collectively working toward a better future; Hawaiʻi deserves it and it will take all of us to do so.”

Coqui frogs are thought to have first arrived to Maui and Hawaiʻi Island in the late 1980s and early 1990s as hitchhikers on nursery plants and other materials. In the following decades, coqui have been introduced to Oʻahu multiple times. A breeding population in Wahiawā was successfully eradicated by 2007. Current infestations on Oʻahu include Waimānalo, Kuliʻouʻou and Pālolo.

https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/blog/2026/09/30/nr26-117/

09/28/2026

DLNR is recruiting for the following positions:

Forestry & Wildlife Worker II – Maui
https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/hawaii/jobs/5485031/forestry-wildlife-worker-ii-maui-ohhi

Information Technology – Telecommunications Analyst – Oahu
https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/hawaii/jobs/5490308/information-technology-band-b-telecommunications-analyst-oahu

Park Caretaker I – Kapaa, Kauai
https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/hawaii/jobs/5485244/park-caretaker-i-kapaa-kauai-ohhi

Program Specialist IV – Oahu
https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/hawaii/jobs/5483929/program-specialist-iv-oahu

09/26/2026

Happy National Hunting and Fishing Day!

Mahalo to all of our ‘ohana who actively keep this legacy of sustainable food self-sufficiency alive in Hawai’i. Today we honor you, and encourage all to join in this opportunity to provide for your communities, and to foster a deeper connection with ‘āina.

Share how you celebrate National Hunting & Fishing Day! Post your photo using and tag . By submitting your photo, you confirm that you own or have permission to share the content and grant Hawaiʻi DLNR permission to repost and use it for educational and outreach purposes.