The mission of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife, is to provide planning and financial assistance to private forest landowners. This support aims to promote active long-term stewardship, enhancement, conservation, and restoration of Hawaii's forests, thereby connecting landowners with the necessary information and tools for effective forest management.
Hawai‘i’s Forest Stewardship Program offers a structured approach for private landowners to engage in the active management of their forests. The program is designed to support a wide range of management objectives, including the development of forest stewardship management plans, timber production, native species restoration, wildlife habitat improvement, watershed protection, agroforestry initiatives, recreational enhancements, education outreach, fire prevention, and carbon storage. To facilitate these goals, it provides financial incentives such as a 75% cost-share reimbursement for developing a ten-year forest management plan and up to 50% cost-share for implementing management plan practices. This comprehensive support framework seeks to ensure the sustainable management and conservation of Hawaii's forest resources over the long term.