National Wildlife Refuge · Hawaii · FWS Region 1

Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge is located in Hawaii County, Hawaii, with about 48,742 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season, all 1 mapped hunt unit are listed as closed to hunting.

1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official website ↗
1hunt units
0huntable acres
48.7KFWS-owned acres
0game categories

Hakalau Forest NWR hunt unit map

Hunt units are colored by 2026–2027 status. Toggle layers for FWS-owned land, the approved refuge boundary and private easements. Use satellite imagery to scout marshes, timber edges and access points.

Loading interactive map…
OpenSpecial regulationsClosedFWS-owned landWPA (public)Refuge boundaryEasement (private) Tip: switch to Satellite or USGS Topo in the layer menu · click the map for GPS coordinates
Take it into the field: KML (Google Earth / onX) GPX waypoints GeoJSON

Hunting at Hakalau Forest NWR

  • Big Game
  • Waterfowl
  • Wild Turkey
  • Upland Birds
  • Migratory Birds
  • Small Game
  • Feral & Exotic
  • Fishing

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service does not list any hunting opportunities for this station.

Hunt units (1)

Acreage by status
Closed: 48,741 (100%)0huntable acres
  • Closed48,741 ac 100%
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Station Closed 48,741 —

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Not listed

USFWS does not list a separate refuge permit for this station. Specific units or hunts (e.g. quota deer hunts) may still require one — check the hunt brochure.

You'll also need

  • A valid Hawaii hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at Hakalau Forest NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Hakalau Forest NWR.

How to get to Hakalau Forest NWR

Navigate

Destination: Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

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Decimal
19.81566, -155.28059
DMS
19°48′56.4″N 155°16′50.1″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Hilo, HI14 mi NW of town
  • Kailua-Kona, HI48 mi E of town
  • Kahului, HI107 mi SE of town
  • Honolulu, HI196 mi SE of town

Closest airports

  • ITO Hilo Intl16 mi
  • KOA Kona Intl50 mi

Straight-line distances. Driving routes are longer; many refuge roads are gravel and may close seasonally.

The navigation point is the station reference location published by USFWS — often the headquarters or main entrance. For a specific hunt unit, open its page or click it on the map for coordinates and parking planning.

Sunrise, sunset & shooting hours

Today at Hakalau Forest NWR

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

*½ hour before sunrise — the standard federal shooting-hour start for migratory game birds. Times in Honolulu local time.

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20265:35 AM6:05 AM6:37 PM12h 32m
Tue, Sep 15, 20265:38 AM6:08 AM6:24 PM12h 17m
Thu, Oct 1, 20265:41 AM6:11 AM6:10 PM11h 59m
Thu, Oct 15, 20265:45 AM6:15 AM5:58 PM11h 43m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:51 AM6:21 AM5:47 PM11h 26m
Sun, Nov 15, 20265:59 AM6:29 AM5:42 PM11h 13m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:09 AM6:39 AM5:41 PM11h 02m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:17 AM6:47 AM5:44 PM10h 57m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:25 AM6:55 AM5:52 PM10h 57m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:28 AM6:58 AM6:01 PM11h 03m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:26 AM6:56 AM6:12 PM11h 16m

Computed for 19.816, -155.281 (HST / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.

7-day hunting weather

Loading National Weather Service forecast…

Forecast from the National Weather Service. Wind direction matters — plan your approach downwind of where game beds.

Hakalau Forest NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Hakalau Forest NWR?

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service does not currently list hunting opportunities at Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge. All mapped units are closed to hunting.

Do I need a permit to hunt Hakalau Forest NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Hakalau Forest NWR. You still need a valid state license, any required state tags or stamps, and (for waterfowl hunters 16+) a Federal Duck Stamp.

Where is Hakalau Forest NWR located?

Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge is in Hawaii County, Hawaii, about 14 miles NW of Hilo, HI (straight-line). GPS: 19.81566, -155.28059.

What are legal shooting hours at Hakalau Forest NWR?

Migratory game bird shooting hours are generally one-half hour before sunrise to sunset; big game and other seasons follow state rules. See the sunrise/sunset table on this page and confirm in the refuge hunt brochure.

Nearby refuges & public land

Kealia Pond NWR

Maui County, HI · 103 mi NW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Kakahaia NWR

Maui County, HI · 138 mi NW

1 closed
🎣

Oahu Forest NWR

Honolulu County, HI · 206 mi NW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Pearl Harbor NWR

Honolulu County, HI · 208 mi NW

1 closed
No hunting listed

James Campbell NWR

Honolulu County, HI · 216 mi NW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Huleia NWR

Kauai County, HI · 303 mi NW

1 closed
No hunting listed

All refuges in Hawaii →

Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated September 29, 2026.