NOTICE OF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO HAWAII ADMINISTRATIVE RULES
CHAPTER 13-124, RULES FOR INDIGENOUS WILDLIFE,
ENDANGERED AND THREATENED WILDLIFE, INJURIOUS WILDLIFE,
INTRODUCED WILD BIRDS, AND INTRODUCED WILDLIFE
PURSUANT TO HAWAII REVISED STATUTES CHAPTER 91
June 29, 2026
DATE: August 13, 2026
TIME: 11 A.M. to 1 P.M.
PLACE: In person at 1151 Punchbowl St., Room 132 (Kalanimoku Building),
online via ZOOM or live stream via YouTube
(see https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dofaw/comment/)
The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife, will hold a public hearing on proposed amendments to Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR) Chapter 13-124, “Rules for Indigenous Wildlife, Endangered and Threatened Wildlife, Injurious Wildlife, Introduced Wild Birds, and Introduced Wildlife.” The proposed amendments would:
1. Increase protections for indigenous wildlife by prohibiting “take” of indigenous wildlife, where “take” includes “harm” or “harass”;
2. Increase protections for indigenous, threatened, and endangered wildlife where such wildlife live naturally by prohibiting significant habitat modification that harms or kills such wildlife;
3. Protect the health and safety of indigenous, threatened, and endangered wildlife by prohibiting the feeding of such wildlife throughout the state and by prohibiting the feeding or abandonment of wildlife and domestic animals on Department lands; and
4. Protect indigenous, threatened, and endangered wildlife and their habitats by restricting the movement of injurious wildlife through prohibiting the distribution or sale of plants, equipment, or other goods that contain injurious wildlife.
Interested persons are urged to attend the public hearing to present relevant information and individual opinions for the Department’s consideration. If you do not wish to testify but want to watch the public hearing online, you can view a live stream on the YouTube channel at https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dofaw/comment/. If you wish to provide testimony, there are three ways to participate: 1) testify in person at the location above; 2) testify at the virtual public hearing via the internet, video conference, or telephone; or 3) submit oral testimony.
A frequently asked questions information sheet on the proposed amendments can be found here: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dofaw/comment/
Testimony Instructions
1) Online Testimony
A survey regarding the proposed amendments is available at https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dofaw/comment/. Written testimony may be submitted at the end of this form.
To provide online testimony at the virtual public hearing on August 13, 2026, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm, you will need either a computer with internet access, a video camera, and a microphone, or a telephone. If you wish to testify online, you must register using the registration link at
https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dofaw/comment/.
Please note that all fields are required to register to testify. After you submit the online registration form, a confirmation email will be sent to you with instructions, the meeting link, and the call-in number. If you do not receive an email with a Zoom link, please email dlnr.fw.admin@hawaii.gov. We request that you register to testify at least one hour before the hearing to ensure you receive the Zoom link on time. If you are unable to access the Zoom hearing, you may still provide written testimony as described below.
2) In-person Testimony
Persons wishing to testify in person may present live testimony at the location above.
3) Written Testimony
The deadline to submit written testimony is Wednesday, August 26, 2026. Written testimony may be submitted via https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dofaw/comment/ or mailed to the address listed at the bottom of this notice.
The proposed rule(s) may be reviewed at https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dofaw/rules/ after this public notice. Upon prior arrangement, they will be available during business hours (generally 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) at any state DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife Office.
A copy of the proposed rule(s) to be adopted, amended, or repealed will be mailed to any interested person who requests it from the Division within thirty (30) days of the notice posting and pays the required fees for the copy and postage. Submit written requests to dlnr.fw.admin@hawaii.gov or send postal mail to the address at the bottom of this notice.
Department of Land and Natural Resources
Division of Forestry & Wildlife, Wildlife Program
1151 Punchbowl St. Room 325
Honolulu, HI 96813.
Done at Honolulu this 29 day of June 2026
Ryan K.P Kanaka’ole, Acting Chairperson
Department of Land and Natural Resources.
(SA/TGI1532656 7/13/26)
