Mauna Kea – The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) has announced that ground-based and aerial animal control operations will be conducted on Mauna Kea on August 27 and 28, 2025. The operations, which will target feral goats, feral sheep, and mouflon/feral sheep hybrids, will lead to the temporary closure of several areas.
The animal control is required to comply with a federal court order to remove sheep and goats from the critical habitat of the Palila, a bird endemic to Hawaiʻi with a declining wild population.
The following areas will be closed to the public during the operation:
- Mauna Kea Forest Reserve (Unit A)
- Mauna Kea Ice Age Natural Area Reserve (Unit K)
- Palila Mitigation Lands (Puʻu Mali & Kaʻohe Restoration Areas)
- Kaʻohe Game Management Area (Unit G)
- Mauna Kea Hunter Access Road
The public access gates at Hale Pōhaku, Kilohana, Puʻu Kōhi, and the Gilbert Kahele State Recreation Area will be locked at 8:00 p.m. on August 26 and reopened at 7:00 p.m. on August 28. The Mauna Kea Observatory Road will remain open, as will the portion of Mauna Kea Unit A south of the Gilbert Kahele Recreation Area, for mammal hunting.
Public Access and Salvage Permits
Access to the closed areas during the operation will be by permit only for animal salvage purposes. Permits are issued on a first-come, first-served basis, and are non-transferable.
- Permit Call-in Dates: Permits can be obtained by calling the DOFAW Hilo Office at (808) 974-4221 between 9:00 a.m. on August 20 and 10:00 a.m. on August 26, 2025.
- Salvage Locations:
- August 27, 2025: Puʻu Ahumoa. Permittees must meet at the Kilohana check-in station at 7:00 a.m. sharp.
- August 28, 2025: Puʻu Mali. Permittees must meet across from the Waimea Veterinary office on Mana Road at 6:00 a.m. sharp.
Permittees must be prepared to remain at the salvage site for up to eight hours and be equipped with appropriate gear. A four-wheel drive vehicle is required for all salvage operations. The DLNR notes there is no guarantee that animals will be available for salvage.
For more information, contact the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife in Hilo at (808) 974-4221.