NOTICE OF RULEMAKING USING HRS § 183D-3(b),
ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY

DATE: May 08, 2026
TIME: 9 A.M.
PLACE: In person at 1151 Punchbowl St., Room 132 (Kalanimoku Building), online via ZOOM (see https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/meetings/), or live stream via YouTube at
https://youtube.com/c/boardoflandandnaturalresourcesdlnr. Meeting agendas are posted at least six days before the meeting date.

The Proposed Hawai’i Administrative Rules (HAR) to be Amended under Hawai’i Revised Statutes Section 183D-3(b) will increase bag limits for mammals, update special conditions and restrictions, expand available game bird hunting opportunities, provide additional mammal hunting days within the open hunting season, and are specifically intended to address the impact of invasive ungulate species that currently affect forest and forest reserve resources on the indicated islands.

1. HAR Chapter 13-123 (“RULES REGULATING GAME MAMMAL HUNTING”), by amending EXHIBIT 11, “Game mammals to be taken, means of take, daily bag limits, hunting periods, hunting days, and special conditions for hunting on the island of Hawai’i,” to change bag limits, open hunting days, means of take, and/or special conditions and restrictions in Unit A Mauna Kea Game Management Area and Forest Reserve, Hilo, and a portion of Kohala Restricted Watershed, Unit E Pohakuloa Cooperative Game Management and Training Area, and Pu’u Anahulu Game Management Area, East Section, as well as Unit F Pu’u Wa’awa’a Forest Reserve and Pu’u Anahulu Game Management Area, West Section, Unit G Ka’ohe Game Management Area, Unit I Kalopa Forest Reserve in the North Hilo and Hamakua districts on Hawaii island, and Unit K Mauna Kea Ice Age Natural Area Reserve. For the complete list of the area rule changes, please review the Proposed Adaptive Management Rule Notices at the following link: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dofaw/rules/.

2. HAR Chapter 13-122 (“RULES REGULATING GAME BIRD HUNTING, FIELD TRIALS, AND COMMERCIAL SHOOTING PRESERVES”) is amended by updating EXHIBIT 1, “Game birds to be taken, daily bag limits, hunting periods, hunting days, and special conditions for hunting on the island of Hawaii,” to modify open game bird hunting days. This is done through amendments to the Administrative Rules, specifically the SPECIAL BIRD SEASON, which regulates wild turkey hunting (Spring Turkey Only), to include Unit C, Hilo Forest Reserves, Laupahoehoe, and Piha.

Rules established under HRS section 183D-3(b) require the Board of Land and Natural Resources (Board) to determine the need for timely adoption to enable effective and adaptive management measures in response to rapidly changing resource conditions. The adopted rules shall be effective for up to two years, with a one-year extension available subject to legislative approval and renewal by the Board.

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 who pays the required fees for the copy and postage. Submit written requests to dlnr.fw.outreach@hawaii.gov or send postal mail to Hunting Program, Division of Forestry & Wildlife, 1151 Punchbowl St. #325, Honolulu, HI 96813.

The proposed rule(s) may be reviewed at https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dofaw/rules/ after this public notice, and, upon prior arrangement, will be available during business hours (generally 7:45 a.m. to closing at 4:30 p.m.) at any state DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife Office. This notice will be mailed to all individuals who have submitted a timely written request to the Board for prior notice of its rule-making processes via mail at P.O. Box 621, Honolulu, HI 96809, or through a timely request to the Land Board Secretary at blnr.testimony@hawaii.gov or 808-587-0404.

Comments on the proposed rule(s) can be submitted to DOFAW before the meeting at https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dofaw/comment/ or dlnr.fw.outreach@hawaii.gov. Comments may also be provided during the Board and Land and Natural Resources (“Board”) meeting at the specified time and place, or submitted in advance to give video testimony via blnr.testimony@hawaii.gov.

Adoption, amendment, or repeal of any rule under HRS §183D-3(b) shall be effective for no longer than two years, subject to legislative approval and renewal by the Board. The Board’s renewal may extend the rule for up to one year at a time. Each rule adopted, amended, or repealed under this authority shall become effective ten (10) days after formal action by the Board, unless a later effective date is specified in the rule, in which case that later date shall serve as the effective date. Final rules are posted at https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dofaw/rules and will remain posted during the period they are in effect.

Done at Honolulu this 27th day of March 2026

Ryan K.P. Kanaka’ole, Acting Chairperson
Department of Land and Natural Resources

(SA/TGI/HTH/WHT1524522 4/03/26)