Hawaiʻi Division of Forestry and Wildlife

Hawaiʻi Division of Forestry and Wildlife
Agency name	Division of Forestry and Wildlife
Nativename	DLNR DOFAW
Formed	1903
Preceding1	Territorial Board of Agriculture and Forestry
Jurisdiction	State of Hawaiʻi
Headquarters	Honolulu, Oʻahu
Parent agency	Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources
Chief1 name	(Director)
Website	(state webpage)

Hawaiʻi Division of Forestry and Wildlife is the state agency within the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources responsible for conservation, protection, and management of forested lands, native ecosystems, and wildlife resources across the Hawaiian Islands. It administers public forest reserves, natural area reserves, watershed partnerships, and endangered species recovery efforts while coordinating with federal, tribal, academic, and nongovernmental partners.

History

The agency traces administrative roots to territorial-era institutions such as the Territory of Hawaii's Board of Commissioners of Agriculture and Forestry and later reorganization under the Hawaii Statehood transition, reflecting early ties to the US Forest Service and federal conservation policies like the National Forest Management Act of 1976. Throughout the 20th century the division intersected with agencies and events including the Civilian Conservation Corps, the establishment of the Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge, and landmark legal frameworks such as the Endangered Species Act of 1973 and state statutes codified in the Hawaii Revised Statutes. Key historical conservation figures and institutions connected to its evolution include Charles Reed Bishop, Queen Liliʻuokalani, Alexander & Baldwin, Castle & Cooke, Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association, Bishop Museum, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, and the Hawaii Board of Land and Natural Resources initiatives that created natural area reserves and watershed protection programs. The division’s history also intersects with high-profile events like the establishment of the Kīlauea conservation area, responses to invasive introductions tied to Columbus-era global exchanges, and policy debates influenced by rulings such as Lujan v. Defenders of Wildlife.

Organization and Administration

The division operates under the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources with administrative oversight linked to the Hawaii Board of Land and Natural Resources and coordination with federal agencies including the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, the US Geological Survey, and the US Army Corps of Engineers. Regional offices on islands such as Hawaiʻi Island, Maui, Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, and Molokaʻi align with community partners like Hawaiʻi County, Maui County, Kauaʻi County, and City and County of Honolulu. Personnel classifications derive from the Hawaiʻi State Personnel System and intersect with professional associations such as the Society for Conservation Biology and the American Fisheries Society. Administrative tools include planning frameworks used by the Hawaii State Planning Office, regulatory instruments under the Hawaii Environmental Policy Act, and land management techniques informed by research at institutions like Hawaiʻi Pacific University, Hawaiʻi Community College, and the East-West Center.

Programs and Responsibilities

Core programs include management of forest reserves, natural area reserves, wildlife sanctuaries, and watershed protection tied to major programs like the Kohala Watershed Partnership, the Waikamoi Preserve work on Maui, and the Kīpuka Puaulu restoration on Hawaiʻi Island. Species recovery programs coordinate with Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office, focusing on listed taxa such as the Nēnē, Hawaiʻi ʻAmakihi, ʻIʻiwi, Kākāpo-related conservation networks, and endangered flora managed via ex situ partnerships with San Diego Zoo Global, Smithsonian Institution, and Botanical Research Institute of Texas. The division administers permits and enforcement for activities affecting resources tied to laws like the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and state statutes, and oversees community-based programs including ʻAha Moku advisory processes, volunteer initiatives with The Nature Conservancy, Sierra Club, and civic groups including Hawaiʻi Audubon Society chapters.

Conservation and Resource Management

Management emphasizes native forest restoration, invasive species control, watershed protection, and ecosystem services such as hydrological recharge that support infrastructure projects linked to Board of Water Supply (Honolulu), agriculture interests like Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company, and renewable energy siting reviews connected to agencies such as the Hawaii State Energy Office. Techniques incorporate traditional Hawaiian practices promoted by entities like Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Kamehameha Schools, and community ʻāina management groups, scientific monitoring by Hawaii Cooperative Studies Unit, Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit, and collaborations with research programs at University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo and University of Hawaiʻi Maui College. Restoration efforts target invasive plants such as species introduced during Colonialism in Hawaii and pests tracked by the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and Hawaii Invasive Species Council.

Law Enforcement and Public Safety

The division’s law enforcement component staffs conservation officers who work with state and federal agencies including the Hawaii Department of Public Safety, Federal Bureau of Investigation, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and local prosecuting offices such as the Hawaii County Prosecuting Attorney to enforce statutes and protect natural resources. Public safety roles encompass wildfire management in coordination with the National Interagency Fire Center, emergency response linked to Hawaiian Volcano Observatory advisories, search and rescue support with Civil Air Patrol, and collaboration with Hawaii Emergency Management Agency during natural disasters such as hurricanes and volcanic events. Officers also liaise with tribal, community, and educational partners including Papakolea Community Association and Kuaʻāina Ulu ʻAuamo on outreach and compliance.

Partnerships and Funding

Funding streams combine state appropriations from the Hawaii State Legislature, federal grants from programs such as the Land and Water Conservation Fund and US Fish and Wildlife Service grants, mitigation funds tied to agencies like the Federal Highway Administration, and philanthropic support from organizations including The Nature Conservancy in Hawaiʻi, Island Conservation, Sierra Club Foundation, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and private donors like Kamehameha Schools. Partnerships extend to conservation NGOs such as Conservation International, academic partners at Hawaiʻi Pacific University, and corporate stakeholders including Hawaiian Electric Industries when projects affect watershed infrastructure or biodiversity offsets.

Challenges and Controversies

The division faces controversies over land use, Hawaiian cultural rights and traditional practices advocated by Native Hawaiian organizations and litigated in forums such as Hawaii Supreme Court, conflicts over invasive species responses involving the Hawaii Invasive Species Council, budget constraints debated in the Hawaii State Legislature, and enforcement disputes escalated to federal courts influenced by cases like Palila v. Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources-era precedents. Environmental conflicts intersect with energy and development projects involving Hawaiian Electric Company, water allocations contested with entities such as Alexander & Baldwin, and public debates over access affecting sites like Mauna Kea and community stewardship initiatives led by groups including Kūpuna Council and Hoʻokuaʻāina. Additional pressures include climate change impacts discussed at forums such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, increasing wildfire risk addressed with the National Fire Protection Association, and the introduction of novel pathogens tracked by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and USDA.

Category:State agencies of Hawaii