Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement

Hunter education is a program administered by Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE).

The DOCARE effectively upholds the laws that serve to protect; conserve; and manage Hawaii’s unique and limited natural, cultural, and historic resources held in public trust for current and future generations of visitors and the people of Hawaii. The division is the law enforcement arm for the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR).

There are about a dozen divisions within the DLNR. Below are some of the divisions.

• Division of Forestry & Wildlife: The division is responsible for hunting and hiking activities along the Na Ala Hele Trail Access System, forestry protection (illegal and permitted gathering activities like Maile and Ti leaves), and management of natural area reserves and closed watersheds.
• Division of Aquatic Resources: The division is responsible for all recreational and commercial saltwater fishing as well as freshwater game fishing.
• Division of State Parks & Historic Site Preservation: The division is responsible for managing all state parks and historic sites, including Iolani Palace, Royal Mausoleum, etc. The division also responds to discovered burial sites.
• Division of Boating & Ocean Recreation: The division is responsible for the management of all recreational boating activities (for example, water-skiing), recreational small boat harbors, and ocean recreation management areas.
• Land Division: The division is responsible for all unencumbered state lands, that is, lands that no other state agency have jurisdiction over, such as beach shorelines, wilderness areas, etc.