Oʻahu Branch, Division of Forestry and Wildlife

Oʻahu Branch, Division of Forestry and Wildlife Aloha mai kākou! E mālama i ka ‘āina kākou!

We are the Oʻahu Branch of the Division of Forestry and Wildlife, one of the divisions under the State of Hawaiʻi's Department of Land and Natural Resources. Our mission is to responsibly manage and protect watersheds, native ecosystems, and cultural resources and provide outdoor recreation and sustainable forest products opportunities, while facilitating partnerships, community involvement and education.

05/09/2026

From backyard birding to global surveys, data collection helps protect migratory birds. So go collect some data today!

Mahalo to all those who contributed photos of our migratory birds so that we could use them for outreach and education. Photographers for photos used here include: Alex Wang, Bret Mossman, Jacob Ducker, Lisa Roerk, Margaret Jensen, Meredith Miller, and Myrna N. Girald-Perez.

Happy Earth Day! Want to celebrate with a fun, FREE activity?The Pacific Islands Ocean Exploration Center is located at ...
05/04/2026

Happy Earth Day! Want to celebrate with a fun, FREE activity?

The Pacific Islands Ocean Exploration Center is located at the Aloha Tower Marketplace center courtyard in downtown Honolulu, Hawaiʻi and is a FREE admission visitor center. The center highlights the unique natural and cultural resources of the three national marine sanctuaries in the Pacific Islands Region:

- Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary
- Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary
- National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa

Bring your friends, bring your ‘ohana, and jump into the Pacific Islands Region National Marine Sanctuaries through immersive exhibits, storytelling, and educational programs. We hope to see you soon!

Location:
Aloha Tower Marketplace (located in the center courtyard)
1 Aloha Tower Dr Suite #1101
Honolulu, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi 96813
Admission: Free
Hours: Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Contact information:
Phone: (808) 600-5552

To schedule group visits or inquire on public or private events: Email [email protected] for the center’s reservation form.

To learn more about upcoming events, you can visit https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/about/pacific/visitor-center.html, which includes the public events calendar for the center.

→ OR Use the link or search “NOAA ONMS visitor centers” and scroll down to the Pacific Islands Region visitor centers.

Photos: Claire Generous/NOAA, Kate Thompson/NOAA and Robert Bourgeault

Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting #24 Wednesday, March 25, 20265:00 PM – 7:00 PM Kalanimoku Building, BLNR ...
03/18/2026

Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting #24

Wednesday, March 25, 2026
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Kalanimoku Building, BLNR Board Room 132
1151 Punchbowl Street, Honolulu, HI 96813
OR
(Remote via Zoom & phone)
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84318509849?pwd=acV8MrFtycQ7LXuj7fFBTOynoMg0kP.1
Meeting ID: 843 1850 9849
Passcode: 6JvDW1

The Hawaii GMAC meets to advise on game management policies, public hunting access, and wildlife conservation—covering bag limits, hunting seasons, habitat restoration, population capacities, and expanding hunter opportunities while protecting ecosystems.

PUBLIC TESTIMONY: Meeting materials are available for public review before the meeting; contact staff. If you require special assistance or auxiliary aids or services to participate in the public hearing process (i.e., sign language interpreter, wheelchair accessibility, or parking designated for people with disabilities), please get in touch with Nicholas Vargas at least 72 hours before the meeting so arrangements can be made: 808-226-7757 or [email protected].

For agenda details:https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/recreation/files/2026/03/GMAC-Meeting-24_Agenda.pdf

Rally for our native wildlife — help them reach the top!The Indianapolis Zoo just launched the Uproar Conservation Chall...
03/17/2026

Rally for our native wildlife — help them reach the top!

The Indianapolis Zoo just launched the Uproar Conservation Challenge — and it’s your chance to take action for the planet’s most vulnerable wildlife.

64 at-risk species.
Head-to-head matchups.
You decide who moves forward.

For the next three weeks, every vote for ʻŌhiʻa Lehua and Kanaloa kahoolawensis counts as species compete to become the Uproar Champion — and bring attention to critical conservation efforts worldwide.

Tap the link and cast your vote now! Your vote can make a real difference: https://www.indianapoliszoo.com/uproar-conservation-challenge/

03/11/2026

Time to ooh and aah for our ʻUaʻu Kani (Wedge-tailed shearwaters)! These native seabirds return annually to raise chicks and are starting to fill up burrows around O’ahu. So when the weather is safe to be out and about, please be extra careful if you are near an area they typically inhabit.

Photos and videos of wildlife are taken under permit and from a respectful distance.

Applications for koa logs from the Kapāpala Koa Canoe Management Area are now available through May 30, 2026. Parties in...
03/06/2026

Applications for koa logs from the Kapāpala Koa Canoe Management Area are now available through May 30, 2026. Parties interested in applying for a koa log from can find detailed information, an application form, instructions, and associated materials on the Forestry Program webpage under the Division of Forestry and Wildlife.

Kapāpala Koa Canoe Management Area (KKCMA) lies within the ahupuaʻa of Kapāpala in the moku of Kaʻū, Hawai‘i island. The 1,257 acre forest area is currently the only state land designated for the sole purpose of cultivating and providing koa for use in kālaiwaʻa, or traditional Hawaiian canoe construction.

The Division of Forestry and Wildlife and a volunteer working group have collaborated for many years to develop a management plan and a protocol for allocating logs from KKCMA. The process was developed around traditional practices and cultural values. KKCMA will be managed to provide a sustainable supply of suitable koa logs for wa’a, while supporting other forest resources and traditional practices into the future.

Additional information, an application, and background materials can be found at dlnr,hawaii.gov/forestry

Unfolded by the water are the faces of the flowers.Flowers thrive where there is water, as thriving people are found whe...
03/06/2026

Unfolded by the water are the faces of the flowers.
Flowers thrive where there is water, as thriving people are found where living conditions are good.
ʻŌlelo Noʻeau 2178

We were happy to host our friends from Nā Pono No Nā ʻOhana- Partners in Development Foundation at Hāmākua Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary recently. The kamali’i learned about manu, made pūnana, sang mele, and…got a little tired from walking. 🙂 At the same time, there were so many flowers blossoming around the marsh.

It just goes to show that all kinds of pua- from our native blooms to our young children- can thrive when we have safe, beautiful spaces in which to live and learn.

Last week, we hosted a group of high school students for a hands-on day focused on wild pig management in Hawaiʻi. Stud...
03/02/2026

Last week, we hosted a group of high school students for a hands-on day focused on wild pig management in Hawaiʻi. Students learned about hunting and trapping methods, how pig activity impacts native forests and watersheds, and the important role responsible harvest plays in conservation. They also participated in a guided processing demonstration and talked about food security.

We’re grateful to the students who showed up curious, respectful, and ready to learn. We’re also appreciative of our partners at who helped support their learning. Staff provided food from previous harvests that allowed us to truly complete the ʻāina-to-table experience.

Responsible harvest requires intention, respect, and care. As with all our work, it carries with it a certain level of responsibility that we take seriously. So we are also thankful for the animals that made this learning possible. All told, it was a beautiful day of learning and fellowship.

In addition to some of our regular workdays, and in honor of the Year of Our Coastal Kuleana, we are adding in some trip...
02/28/2026

In addition to some of our regular workdays, and in honor of the Year of Our Coastal Kuleana, we are adding in some trips to our offshore islets. From mauka to makai and back, there are so many ways to help! Please take some time to find something that you can do to make Hawai’i even better. We think you’ll find that you will be the better for it, too.

We’re growing our team! If you have a passion for native plants and want to help restore Hawaiʻi’s ecosystems, this migh...
02/24/2026

We’re growing our team! If you have a passion for native plants and want to help restore Hawaiʻi’s ecosystems, this might be the opportunity for you.

As part of our nursery crew, you’ll work hands-on to propagate, care for, and outplant native Hawaiian species—protecting these plants from pests, supporting healthy forest recovery, and sustaining our island’s natural heritage. From seed collection in forest reserves to maintaining irrigation systems and nurturing seedlings in the nursery, every task helps keep Hawaiʻi’s ecosystems thriving.

If you love working outdoors, getting your hands in the soil, and being part of real conservation impact, we’d love to hear from you.

Learn more and apply: https://www.rcuh.com/opportunities/job-openings/

Address

1151 Punchbowl Street
Honolulu, HI
96813

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4pm
Tuesday 8am - 4pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 4pm
Friday 9am - 4pm

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