REPORT TO THE TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATUREREGULAR SESSION OF 2009
RELATING TO THE WILDLIFE REVOLVING FUNDFISCAL YEAR 2007-2008

Prepared by
THE STATE OF HAWAI‘IDEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES
In response to Section 183D-10.5, Hawai‘i Revised Statutes
Honolulu, Hawai‘i
November 2008

RELATING TO THE WILDLIFE REVOLVING FUNDFISCAL YEAR 2007-2008
PURPOSEThe purpose of the Wildlife Revolving Fund (WRF) is to provide funds tomanage and enhance public hunting opportunities in Hawai‘i. Act 290, Session Laws of
Hawai‘i 1991, amended Section 183D-10.5, Hawai‘i Revised Statutes (HRS) by adding arequirement for an annual report to be prepared by the Department of Land and Natural
Resources (Department) on the status of WRF and transmitted to the Legislature no later
than twenty days prior to each regular session. The report is to include:
1.
2.
3.
4.

The source and application of monies deposited into WRF, including a descriptionof the criteria and process used to determine funding priorities;
A description of programs and activities supported by WRF;
A summary of program highlights and accomplishments; andA description of future program plans, including specific goals and objectives.

SOURCE OF FUNDS
Section 183D-10.5 (b), HRS, provides that proceeds from the following mAy be
deposited in WRF: 1) Fees for hunting licenses, 2) Game bird farmer and commercial
hunting preserve licenses, 3) Fees for hunting guide licenses, hunter education training
programs and use of public target ranges, 4) Fines collected for hunting or wildlife law
violations, 5) Bail forfeitures, and 6) Sale of articles required before hunting, and related
works of art. For Fiscal Year (FY) 2008, the major sources of revenue were hunting
license sales, wildlife stamp sales, and game tags and application fees. Sources ofrevenues are detailed below:
FY08 REVENUE
Hunting License Sales
Wildlife Conservation Stamps and Artwork
Game Tags and Application Fees
Game Bird Stamp
Commercial Shooting Preserve Shooting Permits
Game Bird Farmer and Commercial Hunting Preserve License and Fees
Hunter Education Activities
Hunting Guide License Fees
Court Fines
Interest
Miscellaneous
TOTAL

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$171,543
25,42839,43025,540
440
550
0
675
900
4,257
1,316
$270,079

Revenue for FY08 represented an approximately $120,845 decrease (-31%) fromcomparable revenue from the previous year. Major changes from last year in revenues
and available fees resulted from an appellate court ruling on December 31, 2007 which
had the effect of suspending sales of the Wildlife Conservation Stamp, the Game Bird
Stamp, and all tags and application fees for the remainder of the FY. More than half ofthe loss in revenue from the previous year was from loss in tag and application fees ($63,305). Revenue did not meet the Department’s authorized budget ceiling for WRF of$605,639. New expenditures totaled $296,789. The cash balance at the end of FY08
amounted to $8,757, with outstanding encumbrances of $4,513. Unencumbered cash
available for carryover totaled $4,244.
Status of WRF During FY08 (S-06-343-C & S-06-344-C)
Beginning Cash Balance of Fund on July 1, 2007:
Less: Liquidation of outstanding encumbrances from prior years:
Add: Revenues during FY08:
Less: Expenditures during FY08:
Cash Balance as of June 30, 2008:$115,910$ 80,443$270,079$296,789$8,757

Less: Unpaid encumbrances for FY07 as of June 30, 2008:$ 4,513
Less: Unpaid encumbered contracts for FY07 as of June 30, 2008: $0
Unencumbered Cash for carryover as of June 30, 2008:$ 4,244FUNDING PRIORITIESThe WRF has been an important portion of the overall budget to meet obligationsof state match and operating and salary expenses for game and wildlife projects. Because
the major source of revenue for WRF comes from the sale of hunting licenses, wildlife
stamps used to validate hunting licenses, and game tags and application fees, priority isgiven to expenditures which benefit this user group. As referred to above, an appellate
court ruling has halted the sale of stamps, game tags, and application fees until a formal
hunting rules change can reestablish these direct assessments to hunters as a beneficiarygroup.
In budgeting for WRF, a policy of allotting at least 85% of the budget for thehunting program has been in place and followed. Up to 15% of the budget may be used
for nongame and wildlife sanctuary management, for projects that may have dual benefits
to game species and nongame species. Typical examples are the predator and weed
control efforts to benefit game birds in the Kapapala Cooperative Game Management
Area (GMA) and the Kīpuka ‘Āinahou Nēnē Sanctuary on the Big Island, which also
benefit nēnē. Predator control activities in Kuaokalā GMA on O´ahu were carried out
with WRF monies to benefit game birds, and these activities also benefited pueo andmōlī.
Section 183D-10.5(e), HRS, also requires that the State first use WRF monies to"maximize the State's participation to secure federal funds under the Pittman-Robertson2

Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act.” Consequently, a priority was given to those
expenditures that provided the state match for Pittman-Robertson (PR) projects.
Revenues are managed and allocated so as to ensure that fees support operationsin the same locations where the fees were assessed. The allocation of operating funds to
the Department's Division of Forestry and Wildlife'S (DOFAW) Branch Offices wasdone on a lump sum basis to be used on eligible projects. Salary funds were divided
among the Branches to provide each Branch a full time or part time general laborer (GL)position and to provide a clerk typist to manage the hunting license database.
With the decline in license fee revenue, the funding available for salaries was also
reduced and all recruitment for WRF positions has been frozen. There were 3 GL and a
0.5 FTE clerk typist positions frozen as of the end of FY08. The operating funds wereallotted to the Branches based on the respective Branch wildlife program size andcomplexity, and amount of revenue generated from license, stamp, tag, and application
fees. Discussions among wildlife staff had continued on the possible conversion of
WRF-supported GL’s to forestry and wildlife technicians, but became a moot point with
substantial loss of funds.
PROCESS USED1.

The Department’s Fiscal Office and DOFAW coordinated to determine theamount of WRF available for allocation to DOFAW’s Branch Offices.

2.

At the beginning of each fiscal year, a portion of the WRF budget is allocated toeach DOFAW Branch Office, to Honolulu Administrative Staff for statewide
projects and to the Hunter Education Program of the Department’s Division ofConservation and Resources Enforcement. A portion of the funds are allocatedfor temporary personnel to maintain wildlife program functions, and to pay
budgeted add-on salary costs to assist with wildlife projects.

3.

Each Branch Office collaborates in the development of the overall annual WRF
budget, to benefit the resources and resource users, all within the criteria ofcompliance with the purpose of WRF and the necessity to provide state-match
requirements for PR projects.

4.

An emphasis was placed on using WRF for expenditures that provided needed
infrastructure and improvements to public hunting areas, maintained existing orprovided new public hunting opportunities, or addressed other high priority
initiatives.

5.

All expenditures are identified and coded as "WILDLIFE REVOLVING FUND:
S-08-343” to facilitate tracking and accountability.

36. Expenditures complied with approved categories of expenditures for WRF as
established by the Board of Land and Natural Resources (Board) on August 13,
1993 (see Attachment 1, appended).
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS, ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND FUTURE PLANS

KAUA‘I BRANCH
Hunting Season Management
Objectives: Provide hunting information to the public and other districts through legal
notices as required by administrative rules. Manage public hunting seasons incompliance with Chapter 13-122 Hawai‘i Administrative Rules (HAR), regulating gamebird hunting and Chapter 13-123 HAR regulating game mammal hunting.
Accomplishments: WRF monies were used to purchase bulk postage mailing, game tagmaterials, game tags, permits, instruction sheets, and publishing game hunting legal
notices for the Island of Kaua‘i. The Waimea Heights and Pu‘u ‘ōpae areas were opened
for game birds and game mammals this year.
Game Operations and Maintenance (O & M)
Objectives: Maintain and expand the capacity to manage water units, fences, hunterchecking stations, and other infrastructure necessary for hunting. Improve game
operations and maintenance through additional field staffing, adequate equipment andsupplies.
Accomplishments: Funds were used to continue the full-time, temporary employment of
a GL I position to assist in all game management operation on Kaua‘i through April
2008, at which time the position was vacated due to lack of revenues. Spending of WRF
in the 3rd and 4th quarters of FY08 was curtailed due to the budget shortfall.
Motor Vehicle Repairs and Purchase
Objectives: To maintain the District’s Wildlife Management Section motor vehicle fleet
in good running condition and expand transportation backup and capacity.
Accomplishments: The motor vehicle fleet was maintained through the use of WRF. No
vehicles purchases were made during the project period. Spending of WRF monies in thethird and fourth quarters of FY08 was curtailed due to budget shortfall.
Commission on Hunting License Sales
Objective: To pay the Kaua‘i hunting license vendors for their commission on the sale ofthe 2007-08 Hawai‘i Hunting Licenses.

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Accomplishments: Hunting licenses were available and sold by five vendors.
Total WRF expenditures incurred for Kaua‘i:
Encumbered Balance Outstanding:$49,299$
0

Future Program Plans
1. Restore revenue from the sale of hunting tags, stamps, and fees and fill vacant WRF
GL position on Kau‘ai Branch.
2. Provide for the administrative costs, such as legal notices, printing and publishing ofgame tags, permits, announcements of hunting seasons and additions of new hunting
areas. - $10,000 (100% WRF)
3. Incremental development of the proposed Hanahanapuni Public Shooting/Archery
Range $15,000 (50% WRF)
4. Continue the artificial game bird release project in the Kekaha and Wailua GMAs.
Plan, design, and purchase building materials, equipment and supplies for thecomplete construction of a game bird rearing facility - $20,000 (100% WRF)
5. Purchase a four-wheeled drive vehicle to be added to the game program to support all
aspects of operations, management, and surveys. $15,000 (50% WRF)
6. Continue to maintain all wildlife vehicles and equipment used under the Kaua‘i gameprogram. $15,000 (100% WRF)
7. Purchase of construction materials and supplies to maintain existing gamemanagement facilities, including fences, gates, water units, feeding sites, restrooms,
storage buildings, and hunter checking stations. $15,000 (50% WRF)
8. Provide air logistical support to conducts surveys, operations and maintenance of theKaua‘i game management program. $15,000 (50% WRF)O‘AHU BRANCH
Game Management on O‘ahu.
Objectives: To maintain and enhance wildlife habitat and facilities on O‘ahu public
hunting areas (PHAs), GMAs, and wildlife sanctuaries; and to improve game bird andgame mammal hunting opportunities on O‘ahu.
Accomplishments: A GL was hired to perform operations and maintenance work on
O‘ahu public hunting areas and wildlife sanctuaries. This was done by Assisting other biologists and technicians in raising of 325 Chukar Partridges in
the Kuaokalā GMA
 Spreading 6,000 lbs. of wild bird feed on in the Kuaoakalā GMA during the
gamebird hunting season to attract birds into the hunting area and provide
supplemental feed for released gamebirds.
 Assisting in Ring-necked Pheasant propagation activities, and banding for releasein GMAs.

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



Increasing game habitat and maintaining access roads and trails in the PHAs and
GMAs, by removing invasive weeds and trees using power tools, machinery, andherbicides.
Maintaining and logging information from hunter check stations located in the
PHAs.
Assisting in the maintenance of wildlife sanctuaries using power tools, machineryand herbicides.

Total WRF expenditures incurred for O‘ahu: $32,885
Encumbered Balance Outstanding:$ 250
Future Program Plans
1. Restore revenue from the sale of hunting tags, stamps, and fees and fill vacant WRF
GL position on O‘ahu Branch.
2. Continue funding the WRF GL position to perform tasks targeted towards ongoing
management of O‘ahu District wildlife management areas - $40,000 (100% WRF).
3. Purchase game birds from farmers and day-old chicks from mainland hatcheries torelease into the GMAs - $6,000 (100% WRF).
4. Purchase equipment and supplies needed for ongoing O & M in O‘ahu Wildlife
Management Areas - $15,000 (100% WRF).

MAUI BRANCH
Lease of Cooperative GMA-Lāna‘i
Objective: Provide 30,000 acres of land on Lāna‘i for sport hunting and wildlife
management.
Accomplishment: The entire annual lease rental for the Lāna‘i Cooperative GMA waspaid via WRF monies. This area provided hunters the opportunity to pursue Axis Deer,
Mouflon Sheep, and game birds.
Lease of Lands for Hunting Unit “C”-Maui
Objective: To maintain a lease of 1,000 acres of ranch lands lying between portions of
the Kula Forest Reserve Hunting Unit “C” for sport hunting and wildlife management.
Accomplishment: The lease rental for the Ka‘ono‘ulu Ranch Cooperative GMA waspaid, in part, with WRF monies, providing for an additional 1,000 acres for sport hunting
and wildlife management on Maui.
Game Mammal Aerial Survey:
Objective: Annual game mammal survey of the Lāna‘i Cooperative GMA and private
portions of Lāna‘i Island.

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Accomplishments: An aerial survey of the Lāna‘i Cooperative GMA was conductedduring the month of September. As part of the lease agreement, private portions of
Lāna‘i were also surveyed. Aerial surveys of the game management area provide
information on the dynamics of Axis deer and Mouflon Sheep herds within the hunting
area. This information is used to establish hunting seasons and bag limits.
Contract Services-Data/Lāna‘i Hunts
Objective: With the shortage of clerical staff, coupled with high interest and participationin the Axis Deer and Mouflon Sheep hunts on Lāna‘i, it became necessary to contract
outside support to ensure all lottery and non-lottery hunt applications were processed in atimely manner.
Accomplishment: A total of 5,000 hunter applications were received for the two Lāna‘ihunts, all applicant data was entered and duplicate applications identified and deleted.
Due to the assistance of contract services, all applications for the Axis Deer and Mouflon
Sheep hunts were properly processed, lotteries conducted and results compiled anddisseminated in a timely manner.
Forestry and Wildlife Technician -Lāna‘i
Objective: To assist the Lāna‘i Forestry and Wildlife Technician with the upkeep andmaintenance of 30 miles of water unit pipeline and 54 miles of access roads in the
Cooperative GMA.
Accomplishment: Access roads and pipeline water units were maintained and kept
functional during the entire time period.
Management of the Lottery Hunts-Lāna‘i
Objective: The processing and printing of documents for the Axis Deer and Mouflon
Sheep hunts. Publication of legal notices advertising the two Lāna‘i hunts and shipmentof instruction sheets and applications for the two hunts to the outer districts. Meetingwith the Lāna‘i Company to go over current and future plans within the hunting area.
Accomplishment: Application cards, instruction sheets, and addendums were printed anddistributed to all districts and lotteries conducted. Legal notices of both hunts were
published in two newspapers advertising the hunts. A meeting with the Lāna‘i Company
was conducted at the end of September. Current and future management plans werediscussed.
Game Mammal Facilities O & M-Lāna‘i
Objective: Rental of dumpster(s) during the Axis Deer and Mouflon Sheep seasons forhunters to dispose of carcasses.

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Accomplishment: The State provided dumpsters for hunters to dispose of animal
carcasses during both hunting seasons.
Overtime costs for manning Lāna‘i hunter check station:
Objective: Hunting activities and hunter check in on Lāna‘i occurs after normal operating
hours. Overtime is paid to the Lāna‘i technician to accommodate hunters.
Accomplishments: Due to loss of revenue into WRF, the Wildlife Technician on Lāna‘i
agreed to take compensatory time in lieu of pay.
Commissions on Hunting License Sales
Objective: WRF monies were used to pay commissions to vendors for the sales of the
2007-2008 Hawai‘i hunting licenses.
Total WRF expenditures for Maui District were: $98,246
Encumbered Balance:$ 3,376
Future Program Plans
1. Restore revenue from the sale of hunting tags, stamps, and fees for the Lānaʻi hunting
program.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Continue land rental on Lānaʻi-$35,000 (100% WRF)
Continue land rental on Maui-$2600 (25% WRF)
Support Lāna‘i Check Station overtime for FWT V position-$6,000 (100% WRF)
Continue GL I position for Lāna‘i for facility upkeep and maintenance-$42,000(100% WRF)
6. Continue game mammal facilities development and O & M on Lāna‘i-$5000 (100%WRF)
7. Conduct game mammal surveys on Lāna‘i -$10,000 (100% WRF)
8. Purchase vehicle for Lāna‘i-$35,000 (100% WRF)
9. Manage lottery hunts on Lāna‘i; including document printing, data input anddrawings-$10,000 (100% WRF)
10. Deploy additional signage for areas closed to hunt $500 (100% WRF)
11. Fund GL I position for Lāna‘i Check Station work-$10,000 (100% WRF)

EAST HAWAI‘I DISTRICT
General Laborer Position:
Objectives: To continue to fill the half-time GL II position. Employ a former volunteer
and University of Hawaii (UH) student pursuing a degree in Ecological Management.
Duties were assigned relating to the Hilo watershed cattle removal, checking stations,
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nēnē habitat renewal, and endangered species recovery activities at the Pana‘ewa
Rainforest Zoo.
Accomplishments: Employment was maintained of a former volunteer and UH student
pursuing a degree in Ecological Management. Duties were assigned relating to the Hilowatershed cattle removal, checking stations, nēnē habitat renewal, and endangered
species recovery activities at the zoo. Last year’s wildlife work, game and non-game,
was accomplished with the continued employment of the GL.
Wildlife Habitat Management:
Objectives: To manage nēnē occupied coastal areas.
Accomplishments: Habitat was maintained to accommodate a successful nēnē nestingseason which contributed to an increase in nēnē residing in coastal wetlands. Thirty traps
and seven feed stations were maintained. In-kind matching contributions using volunteer
and prison labor qualified for PR cost sharing. The GL II led volunteers on various
projects. Seven goslings hatched.
Wildlife O & M:
Objectives: To continue the feral cattle hunt, and to maintain the Kīpuka ‘Āinahou lease.
Accomplishments: Seven miles of roadway and five miles of trails serving the Hilo
Forest Reserve and Watershed were kept clear to accommodate the cattle hunters in the
Hilo Forest Reserve and Watershed. The cattle hunt was continued for another year on
all 64,514 acres of wetland forest. Nineteen feral cattle were taken by hunters this year.
Select portions of Kapapala and Kīpuka ‘Āinahou game bird hunting areas were
improved by fertilizing and renewal of bulldozed strips in the pastures. Little brown fireants were controlled at Pana‘ewa Rainforest Zoo and in game bird nesting areas.
The 11,234 Kīpuka ‘Āinahou lease (lease agreement #312 Department of Hawaiian
Home Lands-Department of Land and Natural Resources) annual rent was paid for
entirely by WRF monies. Kīpuka ‘Āinahou serves as a hunting area for birds andmammals and is also a nēnē sanctuary. The area was inspected for gorse infestations asprescribed by the lease. Gorse was removed before it seeded.
Commissions on Hunting License Sales:
Objective: To pay commissions to vendors on the Island of Hawai‘i for sales of the
2007-2008 Hawai‘i hunting licenses.
Accomplishment: Hunting licenses were available at vendors and commissions were
paid.

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Motor Vehicle Repairs, Maintenance, and Equipment
Objective: To maintain trucks in service for WRF purposes.
Accomplishment: Vehicles remained functional.
Total WRF expenditures incurred for East Hawai‘i-$43,727
Outstanding Encumbered Balances:$
221$40,935
Future Program Plans
1. Restore revenue from the sale of hunting tags, stamps, and fees.
2. Continue to employ a part-time general laborer to help expand hunter checking
station coverage, remove gorse from the Kīpuka ‘Āinahou lease, assist with the Hilo
Watershed feral cattle hunt access maintenance $18,170
3. Contribute to the costs of an eleven mile corridor fence line in the “land surrender” at
Pi‘ihonua pasture lease. $33,000

WEST HAWAI‘I DISTRICT
Equipment Purchase
No expenditures
Vehicle Purchase
No expenditures
Facilities Construction
No expenditures
Game Operations and MaintenanceObjective: Maintain predator control, the maintenance of game related facilities such as
guzzlers, and increase road maintenance and habitat management capacity for the West
Hawai‘i District.
Accomplishment: Game supplement feed blocks were purchased for maintenance ofgame animals in GMAs. A tool chest was purchased to support equipment maintenanceprojects. The GL worked in Mauna Kea, Ka‘ohe, and Pu‘uanahulu, assisting withpredator trapping and control, water unit maintenance, and road maintenance.
Game Program Coordination
Objective: The district staff assisted K-Mart and Walmart stores in Kona with hunting
license sales and training (these being the only outlets for the public to purchase hunting
licenses in Kona other then the DOFAW office 40 miles away in Kamuela).

10Accomplishment: The District’s secretary assisted with training of K-Mart and Walmart
store staff in hunting license sales. During anticipated increase in hunting license sales
traffic at these establishments, the Secretary assisted with license sales and disseminationof information pertinent with upcoming seasons. Consequently, overtime hours werecharged to this account.
Temporary Hire of Full-Time and ½-Time General Laborer
Objective: To assist the District's wildlife staff in the operations and maintenance of
projects. To provide predator control at various locations.
Accomplishment: A part-time GL I position was paid for out of WRF, and assisted in
predator control, trapping of mongooses, feral cats, and feral dogs, maintained water units
and water supply facilities, assisted with invasive plant control. The GL also assistedwith predator control at the Big Island Country Club and Puu Waawaa Ranch for nēnē
enhancement.
Total WRF Expenditures for West Hawai‘i District: $74,857
Future Program Plans
1. Restore revenue from the sale of hunting tags, stamps, and fees and fill WRF General
Laborer position.
2. Continue part-time General Laborer I position -$32,000

STATEWIDE ADMINISTRATIVE SEGMENT
Hunting License, Wildlife Conservation Stamp, and Game Bird Stamp Production,
Program Sales, and Management:
Objective: To produce and distribute required hunting licenses, duplicate licenses,
stamps, and vendor booklets. A portion of the production costs were paid with WRF
monies to continue the transition to electronic hunting license purchase and record
keeping.
Accomplishment: Produced and distributed vendor booklets, hunting licenses, andduplicate hunting licenses. Produced stamps in the event that stamp sales could beresumed.
Notification of Hunting Season Openings and Changes:
Objective: Communicate any changes in repetitive hunting seasons and announce new or
special hunts as required by rules.
Accomplishment: The game bird season announcement was published as a legal notice.

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WRF total expenditures incurred for statewide administration: $566
Outstanding Encumbered Balances:$ 0$566
Future Program Plans
1. Restore revenue from the sale of hunting tags, stamps, and fees to support thestatewide game program.
2. Publish notification of game bird hunting season announcement - $700 (100% WRF)
3. Revise rules to establish fees approved by the Board and revise and update changes toconditions that have been presented to constituents at public meetings and approvedby the Board
4. Enact legislative changes to Chapter 183D, HRS, that will allow for public
participation and Department action to change conditions without a formal rulechange.
5. Establish consistent guidelines to provide public input to proposed changes in hunting
conditions.

SUMMARY OF EXPENDITURESWRF EXPENDITURES BY CATEGORY AND
LOCATION
Location
Personnel
Operations
Total
Expenditures

Admin Oahu
Maui County Hawaii
Kauai
Total
$0 $29,982$45,378 $97,502 $43,531 $216,393$566$2,903$52,868 $18,290 $5,769 $80,396$566$32,885$98,246 $115,792 $49,300 $296,789

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