Input on Proposed Molokai Addition to Forest Reserve System

DLNR News Release

Five proposed changes, including four additions totaling roughly 8,100 acres and one withdrawal of about 2.7 acres, are being considered for the State Forest Reserve System (FRS), which is managed by the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW). One of the proposed additions is on Molokai.

The FRS represents the state’s largest public forest lands that provide a variety of benefits including aesthetic benefits; watershed restoration; native, threatened, and endangered species habitat protection and management; cultural resources; and recreational and hunting opportunities, among others. DOFAW will hold a virtual hearing at 6 p.m. on April 28 to receive testimony on the proposed changes affecting the FRS.

One of the proposed additions is in southeast Molokai and is comprised of approximately 733 acres in the ahupuaʻa of Puaʻahala. It was acquired in 2020 for addition to Molokai Forest Reserve and contains some of the most pristine forests remaining in the area. This acquisition was important for completing the Pāku’i watershed protection project, part of a larger effort with community support to fence and protect vital watersheds on Molokai. The area will also be valuable for creating fuel breaks and mitigating the risks of wildfires in the surrounding area.

Other proposed additions are on Oahu, Maui, Hawaii Island, with a small parcel proposed for withdrawal on Kauai.

To provide oral testimony: Please contact Andy Cullison at james.a.cullison@hawaii.gov least 24 hours before the hearing to receive a Zoom link. Anyone may testify or present information at the open hearing. If you require auxiliary aids (taped materials or sign language interpreter), please request assistance 10 working days prior to the date of the hearing by calling (808) 436-8122.

To provide written testimony: People unable to attend or who want to present additional comments may mail written testimony received no later than May 6, 2021 to the Division of Forestry and Wildlife, Attn: Forestry Program Manager, 1151 Punchbowl St., Rm. 325, Honolulu HI, 96813, or via the email listed above.

For maps of impacted areas, visit dlnr.hawaii.gov/forestry/frs/statewide-public-hearing-2021

To watch the meeting, visit the following link at 6 p.m. on April 28: youtube.com/channel/UCCmbChq0SDC4zjjU0bUcKDQ.