DLNR Recognizes Volunteer Hunting Instructors

The Department of Land and Natural Resources recognized 17 hunter education instructors over the weekend.

DLNR Chair Suzanne Case and First Deputy Director Kekoa Kaluhiwa presented the honorees during an award presentation at the annual instructor meeting.

All 17 instructors volunteer their time training youth and adult hunters at 75 classes every year.

The awards represented volunteer time ranging from 50 hours of service to 4,500 hours of service, with a combined representation of over 20,000 hours.

“These volunteers are really at the intersection of the ability of people to really enjoy the outdoors in a safe and ethical way,” said Case. “Based on what I saw when I took hunter education last August, I know that these men and women give a tremendous amount of their personal time to hunter education courses, because they love it and they’re passionate about it. It’s an incredible commitment and contribution to Hawai’i.”

DLNR’s Division of Conservation Resources Enforcement oversees the Hawai’i Hunter Education Program.

“I want to thank you for your participation, bringing years of experience and your willingness to share.  Without you, this program wouldn’t go anywhere,” said DOCARE Enforcement Chief Thomas Friel to volunteer instructors, “I look at outreach and education in all forms, including hunter education, as the key to compliance with Hawai’i’s conservation and natural resource laws. We’d rather have compliance through education and outreach than to have to arrest somebody and haul them to court.”

The two-day long annual instructor meeting includes a recap of the past year and reports on current projects, including the development of a hybrid online course and database upgrades.

Anyone born after December 31, 1971 or before January 1,1972 who has never possessed a State of Hawai’i hunting license (issued prior to July 1, 1990) or who cannot show proof of having possessed a license is required to take a Hunter Education Course in order to purchase a hunting license.

The Hunter education classes fill fast, according to DLNR. Nine classes scheduled statewide over the next two months are already full.  To check class times, locations, and to sign up, visit the DLNR website or call 1-800-353-4868.