STATE OF HAWAI’I
DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES
NOTICE OF ANIMAL CONTROL ACTIVITIES AND TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF
MAUNA KEA FOREST RESERVE, MAUNA KEA ICE AGE NATURAL AREA RESERVE,
PALILA MITIGATION LANDS AND KA?OHE GAME MANAGEMENT AREA
Legal Notice DOFAW
HILO — The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) will conduct animal control activities specifically for mouflon/feral sheep hybrids; staff hunting, and/or aerial shooting from helicopters for feral goats, feral sheep, mouflon and mouflon/feral sheep hybrids within palila critical habitat in the Mauna Kea Forest Reserve (Unit A), Mauna Kea Ice Age Natural Area Reserve (Unit K), Palila Mitigation Lands, and the Ka’ohe Game Management Area (Unit G) on the island of Hawaii. Aerial shooting is required for compliance with the federal court order mandating the removal of sheep and goats from critical habitat for palila, a bird endemic to Hawaii. The portion of Mauna Kea Unit A south of the Gilbert Kahele Recreation Area (bordering Pohakuloa Training Area) will remain open for mammal hunting.
Control is scheduled for April 23-24, 2025. Public access to Mauna Kea Forest Reserve, Mauna Kea Ice Age Natural Area Reserve, Palila Mitigation Lands, the Ka’ohe Game Management Area and Mauna Kea Hunter Access Road will be restricted and allowed BY PERMIT ONLY for animal salvage purposes on the following dates:
7 a.m. April 23, 2025
6 a.m. April 24, 2025
These actions are pursuant to HAR§ 13-130-19 and § 13-104-23(a) (3). The Mauna Kea Observatory Road will remain open. A temporary closure is needed to minimize the dangers of incompatible uses in the forest area and safely conduct animal control activities. To implement the closure, the Hale Pohaku, Kilohana, and Pu’u Ko’ohi gated entrances to Unit A and G and the gate behind Gilbert Kahele State Recreation Area will be locked/reopened as follows:
Locked 8 p.m. April 22, 2025, and reopened 7 p.m. April 24, 2025.
Copies of the map illustrating the area subject to aerial shooting on these dates are available for inspection at the Division of Forestry and Wildlife Office.
Due to high public participation, telephone call-ins to the DOFAW Hilo Office at (808) 974-4221 for receiving salvage permits will be conducted from 9:00 a.m. April 15, 2025, to 10:00 a.m. on April 22, 2025. One permit will be issued per call per vehicle for one day only. Applicants can have their names added to a stand-by list for additional days should other applicants not fill all slots. No standbys waiting at the gates will be allowed access. The driver, occupants, vehicle license plate, and make/model of vehicle are needed when calling in. A maximum of 15 permitted vehicles will be allowed at the Pu’u Ahumoa location and 15 permitted vehicles at the Pu’u Mali location.
Carcasses taken during the shoot will be available to permitted individuals for salvage at the locations below. Four-wheel-drive vehicles are required, and access permits will be issued. However, there is no guarantee that animals will be able to be salvaged.
Salvage locations are subject to change:
On April 23, 2025, at Pu’u Ahumoa. Permittees must meet at Kilohana check-in station at 7 a.m. sharp.
On April 24, 2025, at Pu’u Mali. Permittees must meet across from the Waimea Veterinary office on Mana Road at 6 a.m. sharp.
Contact the Division of Forestry and Wildlife in Hilo at (808) 974-4221 for additional details regarding meat salvage or access permits.
Done at Honolulu this 19th day of March, 2025.
Dawn N. S. Chang, Chairperson
Department of Land and Natural Resources
(WHT1488051 3/26/25)
