Kahua and Ponoholo Ranches are privately owned, and periodically made available for public hunting under circumstances negotiated with the landowners. When available for hunting, the Department regulates public access under provisions germane to special hunts. Both ranches are accessed from Kohala Mountain Road, Highway 250.
Attention all game bird hunters! The opening of the 2020-2021 Game Bird Hunting Season at the Kahua/Ponoholo Ranch Cooperative Game Management Area will begin on Saturday, December 19, 2020. This game bird hunting season will run through Sunday, January 17, 2021, with legal hunting days on Saturdays and Sundays, only. The hunting area will be open from 6:30 am to 5:00 pm. All hunters must be checked out of the area by 5:00 pm as the gates will be locked at that time. During this season, the areas that are open for hunting may change on a weekly basis as cattle operations are actively taking place.
Maps of available hunting areas will be handed out at the Von Holt Memorial Hunter Check Station each day of the hunt. Inclement weather may also prevent access to the hunting area. Please call the DOFAW office in Kamuela (808-887-6063) if there are concerns that hunting may be cancelled because of weather. A valid hunting license and a game bird stamp is required for all game bird hunting on public and private lands. All game bird hunting is regulated by Hawaii Administrative Rules Title 13, Chapter 122 (see http://hawaii.gov/dlnr/dofaw, “Administrative Rules”). Game mammal and Game bird hunting opportunities are offered on the six major islands in the State of Hawai‘i: (Kaua‘i, O‘ahu, Maui, Moloka‘i, Lana‘i and the big island of Hawai‘i). Each of these islands has one or more State-designated public hunting areas (called Hunting Units), which are open for hunting at certain times during each year. Game mammal and game bird hunting opportunities are also available on private lands as well. Occasionally, the Division of Forestry & Wildlife (DOFAW) may modify or cancel a hunting season in a particular area to adjust for changes in weather conditions or animal populations.
Division of Forestry and Wildlife Hunting Website
https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/recreation/hunting/
Game Mammal Hunting Rules and Exhibits
https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dofaw/files/2013/09/HAR-123-Game-Mammals.pdf
Game Bird Hunting Rules and Exhibits
https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dofaw/files/2013/09/HAR-122-Game-Birds.pdf
