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 operations targeting feral goats, feral sheep, and mouflon/feral sheep hybrids on the island of Hawai’i. This will involve ground-based and aerial control methods within critical palila habitat areas, including:

Mauna Kea Forest Reserve (Unit A)
Mauna Kea Ice Age Natural Area Reserve (Unit K)
Palila Mitigation Lands
Ka’ohe Game Management Area (Unit G)

Aerial shooting is required to comply with the federal court order mandating the removal of sheep and goats from critical habitat for the Palila, a bird endemic to Hawaii with a dwindling wild population. 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 July 1-2, 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:

06:00 a.m. July 1, 2025
07:00 a.m. July 2, 2025

Public Access & Salvage Permits

These actions are pursuant to HAR§ 13-130-19 and § 13-104-23(a) (3). The Mauna Kea Observatory Road will remain open. The 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 8:00 p.m. June 30, 2025, and reopened 7:00 p.m. July 2, 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. June 24, 2025, to 10:00 a.m. June 30, 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. Permittees must arrive at the designated meeting spot promptly. No late entries will be allowed. Permittees must be prepared to remain at the salvage site for up to 8 hours with appropriate gear/supplies (e.g., water, coolers with ice, etc.). There will be no exit from the salvage site until the operation for the day is completed or for an emergency. Each permittee must also participate in digging the hole where entrails are to be discarded. Failure to adhere to the above conditions may preclude the permittee’s participation in future salvage operations.

Carcasses taken during the shoot will be available to the permitted public for salvage at the following locations (a 4-wheel drive vehicle is 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 July 1, 2025, at Pu’u Mali. Permittees must meet across from the Waimea Veterinary office on Mana Road at 6 a.m. sharp.

On July 2, 2025, at Pu’u Ahumoa. Permittees must meet at Kilohana check-in station at 7 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 29th day of May, 2025.

(WHT1495196 5/30/25)