REPORT TO THE TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE
REGULAR SESSION OF 2002
ON
THE STATUS OF THE WILDLIFE REVOLVING FUND

2000-2001

Prepared by

THE STATE OF HAWAII
DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES
DIVISION OF FORESTRY AND WILDLIFE

In response to §183-10.5(B),
Hawaii Revised Statutes
Honolulu, Hawaii

November 2001

PURPOSE

Act 290, Session Laws of Hawaii 1991, amended Section 183D-10.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS), by adding a requirement for an annual report to be prepared by the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) on the status of the Wildlife Revolving Fund (WRF) and transmitted to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to each regular session.  The report is to include:

1. The source and application of monies deposited into the fund, including a description of the criteria and process used to determine funding priorities;

2. Adescription of programs and activities supported by the Fund;

3. A summary of program highlights and accomplishments; and

4. A description of future program plans, including specific goals and objectives.

SOURCE OF FUNDS

Section 183-10.5 (b), HRS, provides that proceeds from fees for hunting licenses, game bird farmer and Commercial Hunting Preserve licenses and fees, hunting guide licenses, hunter education training programs and use of public target ranges; fines collected for hunting or wildlife law violations; bail forfeitures; sale of articles required before hunting; and works of art may be deposited into the WRF.  For Fiscal Year (FY)  2000-2001, the major source of revenue was hunting license and wildlife stamp sales.  Sources of funds are detailed in the table below:

Revenue for FY 2001 totaled $154,292, which was a $32,429 (17%) decrease over the previous year.  Lower hunting license and wildlife stamp sales accounted for the majority of the decrease in revenue. Expenditures for the year totaled $167,932, including liquidations of prior years unpaid encumbrances.  Revenue did not meet the Department’s authorized budget ceiling for the WRF of $500,000.  However, the Department managed its expenditures so as not to exceed the amount of cash available in the fund.  Cash balance at the end of the FY amounted to $29,386 with unpaid encumbrances of $32,952.

FUNDING PRIORITIES

As the major source of revenue in the WRF is hunter license sales or stamps used to validate hunting licenses, priority was given to expenditures, which benefited this user group.  In budgeting for the WRF, a policy of allotting approximately 85% of budget for the hunting program has been in place and followed.  Approximately 15% of the budget is allocated for nongame and wildlife sanctuary management.  As Section 183D-10.5(e), HRS, requires that the State should first use the WRF monies to "maximize the State's participation to secure federal funds under the Pittman Robertson Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act"; a priority was given to those expenditures, which were needed to provide the State match for Pittman-Robertson projects.

Because of the continued limited budget for the Forest Recreation Program (LNR 804), of which the game program and the WRF are a part, the WRF has become a more critical portion of the overall budget to meet obligations of state match and operating and salary expenses for critical wildlife projects.  The allocation of operating funds to the Branch Offices of the Department’s Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) was done on a lump sum basis to be used on eligible projects in the most efficient manner as possible.  Salary funds were allocated among the branches.  The proportional allotment to the Branches was based on the respective branch wildlife program size and complexity.  This allotment process put the decision on where and how to use WRF monies at the branch-operational level where they could be used on the most pressing local needs.

PROCESS USED

1. The Fiscal Office of DLNR and DOFAW coordinated to determine the amount of the fund available for allocation to Branch Offices.

2. At the beginning of the FY, a portion of the WRF budget was allocated to each Branch Office of DOFAW, Honolulu Staff Office for Statewide projects and the Hunter Education Branch of the Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement of DLNR. Allocation proportions are based on the size and complexity of the Wildlife Program and ensuring that each branch or office received a portion of the budget.  A portion of the funds was allocated for temporary personnel to maintain critical wildlife program functions that had been cut in earlier budget reductions (i.e. hunting license sales data base management, wildlife technicians).

3. Each branch office was instructed to use their WRF budget for the benefit to the resources and resource users within the criteria of compliance with the purpose of the WRF Act, to provide State-match requirements if needed, and to fall within the percentage distribution for the game and non-game programs.

4. An emphasis was placed on using the WRF for expenditures that provided improvements to public hunting areas, maintained or provided new public hunting opportunities, or addressed high priority conservation initiatives.

5. Purchase orders were identified and coded as "WILDLIFE REVOLVING FUND” to facilitate tracking and accountability.

6. Expenditures complied with approved categories of expenditures for the WRF as established by The Board of Land and Natural Resources on August 13, 1993.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS, ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND FUTURE PLANS

Details of program highlights and accomplishments for FY 2001 and future plans for FY 2002 are provided below for each branch or office. 

KAUAI SEGMENT

Emergency Hire-General Laborer I

The Kauai Wildlife Section employed one half-time emergency hire general laborer with WRF monies to assist on construction and maintenance projects during the year.  A 20,000 gallon game water tank in Kekaha Game Management Area (GMA), with appurtenant fencing and rain catchment and a mile and a half of buried pipeline was completed.  This system will supply water to game in particularly dry portions of the public hunting area.  Other projects accomplished with the aid of this hire were the installation and completion of two composting toilets in Waimea Canyon used by hunters at established campsites at Lower Waialae and Waiahulu.  The emergency hire assisted with hunter checking station operation, maintenance of game water units buildings and fences.  He also assisted on both game and non-game population surveys and the annual seabird salvage project.    Expenditures:  $ 5,982

Pheasant Release Project

WRF monies were used to purchase 1,500 day-old, ring-necked pheasant chicks which were brooded at the Lihue DOFAW Baseyard, reared to four weeks of age, and then transported to a release pen located at Puu O Hanalei, in Kekaha GMA, where they were held for three additional weeks to acclimatize them to the wild.  The project was accomplished with the help of hunter volunteers who assisted with the cleaning of brooders, feeding, and transporting the birds to the release pen.  Additional brooders were constructed, and supplies, including   feed, feeders and miscellaneous materials for the project were purchased using WRF monies.  The pheasant release was extremely successful.  It provided a large number of additional game birds for hunters in a year when severe drought severely limited natural bird production.    Expenditures:  $5,983  

Operations and Maintenance

WRF monies were used for essential non-Federal Aid wildlife operational needs, that were not reimbursable by Federal Aid Funds, including major repairs to motor vehicles used for game management programs, fuel, and materials and supplies used on non-federal aid projects, such as the pheasant release project.  The Kauai Wildlife Section’s aging fleet of vehicles has required costly mechanical repairs to keep the vehicles operational.  Additionally, WRF monies were used to pay for game tag printing and publication of legal notices announcing hunting seasons for feral pigs, feral goats and black-tailed deer on Kauai.  Volunteer incentive awards were purchased using WRF monies to provide T-shirts and/or logo coffee cups as a token of thanks to 137 hunter volunteers, who contributed 789 hours of volunteer support to the wildlife program on Kauai.   Expenditures: $ 8,803

Commissions on Hunting License Sales

WRF monies were used to pay vendors their commission on the sale of the 2000-2001 Hawaii Hunting License.  Expenditures: $1,913

Total WRF Expenditures for Kauai:   $22,681

Future Program Plans

2. Continued support of essential wildlife operations that cannot be reimbursed with PR Federal Aid Funds, such as game tag printing, legal notices announcing hunting season changes, and emergency motor vehicle repairs.

3. WRF monies will be used for the State portion of cost-share matching funds to Federal Aid dollars needed to replace a motor vehicle that is essential for wildlife program operations on Kauai.

4. If weather conditions require it, up to 1,500 ring-necked pheasant chicks will be purchased, reared and released, to supplement poor productivity by wild birds resulting from continued drought conditions in game management areas.  Hunter volunteers will again be enlisted to assist with the project.

OAHU SEGMENT

The Objectives for the WRF program segment on Oahu were to:

1. Maintain and enhance habitat and facilities on Oahu Public Hunting Areas, GMAs, and Wildlife Sanctuaries.

2. Improve game bird and game mammal habitat and hunting opportunities on the Island of Oahu.

General Laborer Positions

Personnel were hired on a temporary basis to fulfill wildlife management needs and objectives in Honolulu County (Oahu and Kure Atoll).

Temporary personnel performed a wide range of both game and non-game management tasks. Work included facilities construction, game survey, and habitat enhancement in the Kuaokala GMA.  Personnel also assisted with vegetation and predator control work in the Hamakua Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary. From May 19 through the end of June 2001, one person was stationed at Kure Atoll Wildlife Sanctuary to perform work associated with operations and maintenance of facilities on the atoll, and to control introduced vegetation and monitor for the presence of rats.  Expenditures: $9,162

Game Bird Enhancement on Oahu.

1. WRF monies were used to pay for the capture and transport of gray and black francolins on Molokai by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wildlife Services Branch and shipped via airfreight to Oahu for release in suitable habitat. The intent of the project is to increase the distribution and abundance of game birds on Oahu for the benefit of the bird-hunting public.  Expenditures: $2,852

2. WRF monies were also used to purchase 200 ring-necked and blue pheasants for release in the Kuaokala GMA during and after the bird-hunting season in order to increase the hunter success in the area.  Expenditures:  $5,583

Anti Poaching Law Enforcement Training

WRF monies were used to provide out-of-state law enforcement training for two DOCARE Officers.   Two officers traveled to Arizona and spent five days training with Arizona State Fish and Game Wardens. Specific training included use of decoys to attract poachers who would shoot at the decoys from road sides.

Expenditures:   $4,595

Anti Poaching - Decoys

WRF monies paid for the taxidermy of a full mount feral pig for use in the Conservation and Resource Enforcement decoy program, and for use as a public education tool. 

Expenditures:   $850

Wildlife Society Meeting

DOFAW’s  Oahu Branch Biologist participated in The Western Section of the Wildlife Society Annual Conference.  Sessions during the Conference included a diverse array of topics and workshops dealing with wildlife management and public/media relations. WRF paid the registration costs.  Expenditures:   $150

Commissions on Hunting License Sales

WRF monies was used to pay the commission to vendors for sales of the 2000-2001 Hawaii hunting license.  Expenditures:   $3,110

Total WRF Expenditures for Oahu:   $26,302

Future Program Plans

1. Hire temporary personnel to perform a wide range of both game and non-game management tasks. Work to include facilities construction, game survey, and habitat enhancement in the Kuaokala GMA, and operations and management work throughout the Oahu District. From May through June, one person will be stationed at Kure Atoll Wildlife Sanctuary to perform work associated with operations and maintenance of facilities on the atoll, and to control introduced vegetation and monitor for the presence of rats.

2. Contract the USDA Wildlife Services Branch to hold and transport Gray and Black francolins from Molokai to Oahu for release in public hunting areas.

3. Purchase 100 Ring-Necked and Blue pheasants for release in the Kuaokala GMA during and after the bird hunting season in order to increase the hunter success in the area.

4. Purchase equipment and supplies needed for ongoing operations and maintenance of Oahu wildlife management areas.

MAUI SEGMENT

Lease of Cooperative GMA-Lanai

Objective: To provide 30,000 acres of Land on the Island of Lanai for sport hunting and wildlife management.

Accomplishment: The entire annual lease rental for the Lanai Cooperative GMA was paid with WRF monies.  Expenditures: $30,000.

Lease of lands for Hunting Unit AC@-Maui

Objective: To maintain a lease of 1,000 acres on ranch lands lying between portions of the Kula Forest Reserve Hunting Unit AC@ for sport hunting and wildlife management.

Accomplishment:  The lease rental for the Kaonoulu Ranch Cooperative GMA was paid with WRF monies,  providing for an additional 1,000 acres sport hunting and wildlife management on  Maui.  Expenditures:  $600.

Game Mammal Water Development and Maintenance-Lanai

Objective: To replace a 50 plus year old, broken waterline system through Hunting Units A1" and A2" in the Lanai Cooperative Game Management Area.

Accomplishment:  An additional two miles of pipeline were purchased to replace another segment of the old waterline system, along with fittings and repair parts to upkeep the existing 23-mile long system.  Expenditures: $9,863.

Contract Services-Data Input/Lanai Hunts

Objective: With the shortage of clerical staff, coupled with high interest and participation in the Lanai Axis deer and Mouflon sheep hunts on Lanai, it became necessary to contract outside support to assure all lottery and non-lottery hunt applications were processed in a timely manner.

Accomplishment: A total of 5,842 hunter applications were received for the two Lanai hunts, all applicant data was entered and duplicate applications identified and deleted.  Lottery drawings were conducted for muzzleloading and general rifle hunts for both the axis deer and mouflon sheep hunts, with results compiled and disseminated in a timely manner.  Expenditures: $1,081.

Part time / Temporary General Laborer-Lanai

Objective: To assist the sole Lanai Wildlife Technician in the weekly conduct of the nationally recognized Axis deer and Mouflon sheep hunts on Lanai.  This position, utilized only on days of hunter check-in and hunting check-out, assures that the checking in process is smooth and timely, that correct stand-by hunters are accommodated, and that harvest data is collected.

Accomplishment: A combined total of 2,865 hunters were processed in a timely manner through the 5-step check in process, avoiding anger and anxiety, stand-by hunters were accommodated, and harvest data collected as hunters checked out during the axis deer and mouflon sheep hunts on Lanai. Expenditures: $5,683.

Emergency hire/Temporary-Part Time/General Laborer-Maui

Objective: To keep up with established projects and to move ahead on new programs while dealing with permanent personnel shortages.

Accomplishment:  This position was utilized in wildlife operations and maintenance projects in the Maui District; hauling water to game bird water units, maintenance of non-game sanctuary fences, maintenance of the Lanai pipeline system, road and access maintenance, water catchments system upkeep, management of hunts, collection of harvest data and predator control in both game and non-game environs.  Expenditures: $1,563.

Temporary - Full Time Wildlife Assistant-Maui (RCUH)

Objective:  To continue to maintain a temporary, full-time position originally funded via Natural Area Partnership Program monies, as part of the management scheme for the East Maui Watershed Partnership. 

Accomplishment: This position was utilized primarily in the East Maui Watershed Partnership area to assist in the hunter access program, maintenance of the access road system, signage replacement, transect monitoring, gathering and collating of hunter harvest data.  Half of this position was funded via the WRF.  Expenditures:  $8,633.

Game Bird Releases-Kula Forest Reserve-Maui

Objective: Due to the continuing dry weather during the game bird breeding season, pheasants and chukar were purchased and released to augment the natural supply for the public hunter.

Accomplishment:  A total of 125 ring-necked pheasants and 100 chukar were purchased and released at intervals over the duration of the game bird hunting season in the Kula Forest Reserve hunting unit AC@; notice of the hunting season and expectations were made via published legal notice.  Expenditures: $4,438.

Game Operations and Maintenance

Objective:  To fund unanticipated costs within the district to maintain equipment necessary for the continued operation of game facilities.  Expenditures:  $1,228.

Aerial Survey Molokai

Objective: To determine the distribution of game mammals within the Molokai Forest Reserve and also to monitor the extent of range of feral cattle and their impacts to the forest.        

Expenditures: $620.

District Administration-Lanai

Objective:  In keeping with the terms and conditions of the Cooperative Lease Agreement with land owner Lanai Co. an annual meeting is held to discuss each year=s accomplishments and proposals for the coming year.  Travel to attend this meeting was paid via theWRF.  Expenditures:  $240.

Commissions on Hunting License Sales

WRF monies were used to pay the commission to vendors for the sales of the 2000-2001 Hawaii Hunting Licenses.  Expenditures:  $2,698

Total WRF expenditures for Maui County:  $65,419.

Future Program Plans

1.   Fund land rental on Lanai - $30,000 (100% WRF).

2.   Fund land rental on Kaonoulu tract, Maui - $2,600 (25% WRF).

3.   Fund Lanai Check Station overtime for WMA V position - $2,500 (100% WRF).

4.   Maintain General Laborer I for Lanai check station work - $3,500 (100% WRF).

5.   Fund game mammal facilities operations and maintenance on Lanai (100% WRF).

6.   Fund game mammal surveys on Lanai (100% WRF).

EAST HAWAII SEGMENT

General Laborer Positions:

The services of a full time and one part-time General Laborer I’s were used on wildlife management projects.  These persons carried out assignments in predator control, feral pig trapping and relocation, fencing and posting hunting areas, building and repairing traps, clearing ponds of emergent vegetation that chokes waterfowl habitat, miconia and gorse control in hunting areas and selling hunting licenses and issuing permits.  Expenditures: $26,026. 

Wildlife Habitat Management:

Nene habitat was cleared of dense stands of non-native vegetation. Twenty acres of wetlands were recovered in time for nesting season. Hand tools and safety equipment purchases were made for staff and volunteers. Herbicides were used in the removal of grasses and Christmas berry thickets in hunting areas. A chainsaw was purchased for this purpose.  Expenditures: $7,320 

Wildlife Operations And Maintenance

Seven thousand acres of State lease lands were made available to bird hunting through a cooperative agreement.  Five miles of pipeline were laid to support game birds at newly built guzzlers. Fertilizers and insecticides were used to treat food crop plantings.  Eleven fenced areas were planted with akia, cherry tomato, mulberry, ulei, and wild bird mix. Turkeys that were trapped in an adjacent urban area were tested for pathogens by a veterinarian and given clearance for release into the new hunting area.  Expenditures:  $5,625

Commissions on Hunting License Sales

WRF monies were used to pay the commission to vendors for sales of the 2000-2001 Hawaii Hunting License.  Expenditures:  $2,340.

Total WRF expenditures charged to East Hawaii were:  $41,311

Future Program Plans.

1. Continue the current level of services such as predator control, pig relocations, weed control, wildlife salvage and rehabilitation, hunter access enhancement, identification of old and new hunting areas and other public services with the same personnel.

2. Maintain existing cooperative hunting areas so that other landowners and managers may see advantage to allowing public hunting in their areas.

3. Manage habitat in timber management areas for game birds and mammals to expand hunting opportunities.

4. Develop the Kapapala revocable permit area cooperatively with Kapapala Ranch Inc. and DLNR’s Land Division into a 7,000-acre game bird hunting area.

5. Purchase a new, one/ton capacity pick-up truck, to replace a 12-year old vehicle that has logged 140,000 miles.  Repair costs for the vehicle have become prohibitive. This purchase will be funded 75% with PR Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Program funds and 25% with WRF monies. 

West Hawaii

Game Operations & Maintenance.

A trailer was a shared purchase with East Hawaii Wildlife Section ($6,302 each). The trailer will be used to transport large/bulky materials (i.e. tractor, water tanks, fence material) to and from public hunting areas for development/maintenance of public hunting areas. Expenditures: $6,302

A digital card reader and spare digital camera battery were purchased to view captured digital images of wildlife projects. Expenditures:  $104

Game Habitat Management

A notebook computer was purchased to assist in the tracking of volunteer in-kind services donated toward habitat improvement projects. The computer will also be used to manage correspondence with volunteers. Expenditures:  $1,752

Emergency Hire General Laborer I, Student Helper II

Three part-time positions (General Laborer I, Student Helper II & Student Helper I) were filled in the West Hawaii Wildlife Section using WRF monies.  These positions were used to renovate or construct new guzzlers in the public hunting areas, operate hunter checking stations, enter game harvest data, conduct wildlife habitat improvement projects, post hunting boundaries, assist in monitoring and capture of wildlife, predator control, and other duties as assigned. The General Laborer I spent approximately one month on Kure Atoll assisting the Oahu District Wildlife Manager (see Oahu District report for details)  Expenditures:  $11,721.

Administrative Activities: Emergency Hire of Clerk Typist II

DOFAW is responsible for maintaining the statewide database of hunting licenses which requires someone to manually enter all licenses sold to the public and retrieve data as requested.  A Clerk Typist II was hired part-time at the Kamuela Office to assist with management of the hunting license data system including data entry, data retrieval, storage and reporting; and to service the public for hunting license sales.  Expenditures:  $9,292

Total WRF expenditures for West Hawaii: $29,171

Future Program Plans

1. Install additional high-density polyethylene waterlines and troughs in Pohakuloa Training Area.

2. Continue experimental plantings within burned areas of Puuanahulu GMA.

3. Monitor feral sheep movements with radio telemetry equipment in Puuanahulu/Puu Waawaa GMAs.

4. Monitor hen turkeys to determine nesting success, preferred brood-rearing habitat and annual recruitment using radio telemetry equipment in Mauna Kea/Kaohe GMAs.

5. Install guzzlers in Puuanahulu GMA.

HONOLULU STAFF

Production of Hawaii Wildlife Stamp.

The production costs for the FY01 Hawaii Wildlife Stamp – green pheasant were paid from the WRF.   These included artist fees, printing costs and postage to ship original materials to the printer.  Expenditures:  $5,877.

Publication of Hunting Season Notices. 

Two statewide legal notices were published in the Hawaii State and County public notices publication to notify hunters of changes in hunting seasons.  Expenditures:  $564.

Computer Equipment Upgrades.

New computer equipment and software were purchased for wildlife administrative staff with a portion paid with WRF monies.  Expenditures:   $899

The WRF expenditures for Honolulu Staff Office amounted to $7,340.

Future Program Plans

1. Publish notification of hunting season openings and changes.  Estimated cost:  $1,000.

2. Produce the Wildlife Conservation Stamp.  Estimated Cost:  $5,000

3. Purchase contract services to hold two hunter forums.  Estimated Cost:  $10,000

4. Publish copies of revised regulations and hunter information. $5,000

HUNTER EDUCATION PROGRAM

Hunter Education Program - Kamuela Office

Objective:  To support DLNR’s Hunter Education Program on the Big Island. 

Accomplishment:  WRF monies provided the State match for the federally-funded salary of the Hunter Education Program Specialists at Kamuela. The Hunter Education Program Specialists provide program coordination and direction of volunteer instructors for the hunter education program on Hawaii.  The position was partially funded by the WRF.

Expenditures:   $11,660.

Future Program Plans

1. Provide funding support for the Hunter Education Program on the Big Island.  Estimated Cost: $11,660.