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Kauaʻi Branch, Division of Forestry and Wildlife

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Kauaʻi Branch, Division of Forestry and Wildlife

Aloha mai kākou! We are the Kauaʻi Branch of the Division of Forestry and Wildlife

10/16/2025

We invite you to share your voice on a proposed Habitat Conservation Plan related to seabirds and the Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC), which operates the powerlines here on Kauaʻi.

The plan sets limits on the impacts KIUC can have on endangered seabirds, nēnē, other endangered waterbirds, and honu. All impacts must be offset by mitigation actions like seabird colony maintenance, funding Save our Shearwaters to rehabilitate downed seabirds and waterbirds, and minimization actions like bird diverters on powerlines, removal of static lines, and reconfiguration of lines, and shielding lighting.

Folks have until Wednesday, October 22, 2025 to comment. Visit dlnr.hawaii.gov/dofaw/comment to read the plan and submit comments.

LINK IN BIO!

07/09/2025

Are you a college student on the island of Kauai looking for part time employment? Send your contact info and resume to [email protected] to inquire.

05/20/2025

Happy Monday!

Spring has sprung which means outplanting! The NEPM crew has been busy planting natives back in the forest🌳 Spring is great time to outplant because of all the rain that showers the forest. Some of the plants shown are ‘uki, mamaki, and koa.

04/14/2025

Happy Monday!

So excited to announce Kaua‘i Divison of Forestry and Wildlife will be having an Earth Day plant sale Tuesday April 22nd from 8:00am to 12:00pm at the DOFAW baseyard. Come by and celebrate Earth Day by planting native plants in your yard!❤️🌱🌏🌍🌎

03/11/2025

Happy Monday!

When you think of a lush native forest does the color red come to mind? Red can be seen throughout Hawai’i’s native forest.

Shown are some plants that can have a pop of red!❤️

Can you identify these plants? Put your answers in the comments below!

03/04/2025

The Kaua’i Native Ecosystem Protection and Management (NEPM) program is hiring for two RCUH Watershed Field Associates!

Are you interested in working to protect native ecosystems on Kaua’i? 🌿 Our work focuses on the protection of native ecosystems within the Natural Area Reserves (NARs). Kaua’i has 2 NARs, Kuia (mesic forest, shrubland) and Hono O Nā Pali (wet forest, cliff ecosystems, riparian zones, bogs). The RCUH field associate position is primarily field- based, partaking in a variety of restoration activities such as invasive species removal, fence maintenance, plant monitoring, trail maintenance, and more. This involves reaching remote areas via helicopter, camping overnight, and lots of hiking 🚁 See the job description for a complete list of job duties and qualifications.

To apply or learn more, visit https://www.rcuh.com/work/careers/, click “Apply Now”, and search for HCRI Kaua’i Watershed Field Associate (job #225132). Applications will be accepted until March 13, 2025.

To learn more about our program and work areas, visit https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/ecosystems/nars/kauai-2/ .

01/28/2025

Aloha Monday! Last week we talked about how to help ʻōhiʻa by stopping the spread of ROD, but what exactly is ROD?
 Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death (ROD) is a fungal disease, which can kill ʻōhiʻa trees. There are two species of the disease, ROD canker disease and ROD wilt disease. The difference between the two different fungi is how they move through the tree and how quickly the fungus kills the tree. The ROD wilt disease is a more aggressive fungus, killing the whole tree within weeks versus the canker which localizes on a part of the tree and slowly killing the tree within months.

What is the fungus doing to the tree?

The fungus is blocking the system which transports water and minerals throughout to the tree. With this system blocked, the tree can’t survive.

01/13/2025

Aloha Monday! As we discussed last week, ‘ōhia lehua plays a vital role in both ecologically and in Hawaiian culture. But did you know that it’s threatened by a fungal disease called Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death (ROD)? Next week will dive deeper into what ROD is and the effects it has on ʻōhiʻa. Mahalo to for providing all the important information above and check out their page and website to learn more about ROD, ʻōhiʻa, and to see a storymap about the disease.

12/31/2024

Last week we talked about the flowering stages of ‘ōhi‘a lehua. Why is ‘ōhi‘a so important?

‘Ōhi‘a lehua is endemic to Hawai‘i and became Hawai‘i state endemic tree in 2022. This tree is the most common native Hawaiian tree and the dominant tree above 1,300 ft.

‘Ōhi‘a lehua is important in Hawaiian culture. A few examples include:
⁃ Many mo’olelo feature this tree! One many may recognize is the mo’olelo of the young lovers ‘Ōhi‘a and Lehua, a story symbolizing the connection between the ‘ōhi‘a tree and its flower.
⁃ ‘Ōhi‘a lehua and its forest can be referred as sacred to Pele, goddess of the volcano, and to Laka, goddess of hula.
⁃ Hōpoe (full blossom of ‘ōhi‘a lehua) can traditionally be used for lei as well.

Just as important as ‘ōhi‘a lehua is to the Hawaiian culture, it plays a vital role ecologically!

⁃ After lava flows, ‘ōhi‘a is one the first plants to grow, contributing to soil development, paving the path for other plants to grow.
⁃ Up in the forest, ‘ōhi‘a provides food and shelter to a huge variety of life such as native plants, ferns, mosses, snails, insects, and birds
- ‘Ōhi‘a lehua, with the help of moss, catches fog and rainfall, slowly transferring it to the ground. This replenishes the aquifers (aka our drinking water!) as well as reducing erosion.
- Fallen trees often become “nursery logs”, providing nutrients to native plant seedlings.

‘Ōhi‘a lehua tree grows and lives its long life benefiting not just itself but the whole community around it. Next week we will talk about what you, the community, can do to protect the ‘ōhi‘a lehua tree!

12/17/2024

Aloha Monday! Today we wanted to share the beautiful flower stages of the ʻōhiʻa lehua. Check out the link in our bio for the cut-out flower stages wheel activity shown on the last page! Great for keiki or anyone who wants to learn 🍃

The stages are as follows:

- ‘Ōpu‘u Lehua - lehua flower bud
- Mohala - unfolding & blossoming
- Hōpoe - in full/peak bloom!
- Kukuna - only pistol (female part of flower) remains
- Hua ‘Ōpio - Young fruit, maturing
- Hua - fruit
- ‘Ano‘Ano - ripe seed
- Hua Hakahaka - empty seeds pods

Have you seen any of these stages in the forest recently?

08/20/2024

This is the lovely ‘olopū (known botanically as Viola chamissoniana subspecies tracheliifolia). This plant is endemic to Hawai’i and can be found on Kaua’i, O’ahu, Moloka’i, and Maui.

Seeds were collected from the Kuia Natural Area Reserve about this time last summer - swipe to see these keiki grow! Huge mahalo to our nursery staff who does an amazing job caring for these little ones. We are looking forward to eventually returning these ‘olopū to the wild near their parent plants once they get big enough 🌱

Check out our December 11 post for more information about the process of seed collection and restoration of native plants.

07/09/2024

Aloha Monday! This is ‘ōpelu, known botanically as Lobelia hypoleuca. These bright silvery periwinkle flowers are just starting to bloom ✨ The name refers to the long and sword-like shape of the leaf which is said to resemble ‘ōpelu, the mackerel scad. This beautiful plant is found in wet forests, here pictured in the Alaka’i💧

Address

3060 Eiwa Street, Rm. 306
Lihue, HI
96766

Opening Hours

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

Telephone

+18082743433

Website

http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dofaw, https://linktr.ee/kauaidofaw

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