The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) will conduct animal control activities specifically for trapping 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 Kaohe 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 habitats for palila, a bird endemic to Hawaii.
Control is scheduled for June 21 and 22, 2022. Public access to Mauna Kea Forest Reserve, Mauna Kea Ice Age Natural Area Reserve, Palila Mitigation Lands, the Kaohe 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:
7:00 a.m. June 21, 2022
6:00 a.m. June 22, 2022
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, both the Hale Pohaku and Kilohana gated entrances to Unit A and G and the gate behind Gil Kahele State Recreation Area will be locked/reopened as follows:
Locked 8:00 p.m. June 20, 2022, and reopened 7:00 p.m. June 22, 2022
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 Kamuela Office at (808) 887-6063 for receiving salvage permits will be conducted from 9 a.m. June 14, 2022, to 10 a.m. June 20, 2022. 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 all slots not be filled by other applicants. 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 Puu Ahumoa location and 15 permitted vehicles at the Puu Mali location.
Carcasses taken during the shoot will be available to the permitted public for salvage at the following locations (4-wheel drive vehicles are required, and access permits will be issued). There is no guarantee that animals will be able to be salvaged.
Salvage locations are subject to change:
On June 21, 2022, at Puu Ahumoa. Permittees must meet at the Kilohana check-in station at 7 a.m. sharp.
On June 22, 2022, at Puu 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 Kamuela at (808) 887-6063 for additional details regarding meat salvage or access permits.
