Mission
About Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization
Healthy ecosystems are necessary for sustainability of natural resources and communities. As ecosystem health decreases from a variety of factors and as communities expand into fire-prone areas, wildfires are an increasing threat to resources and people. Proactive planning and management is necessary to mitigate wildfire impacts. HWMO facilitates pro-active planning, disseminates critical information, and implements fuels management activities and research that protects irreplaceable natural resources and communities.

1.  Develop a range of roadside fuels management measures to effectively reduce roadside-ignited wildfires.

2.  Develop long-term fuels management strategies that can be applied around the Island  and State.

3.  In cooperation with other organizations, develop and test forest restoration strategies  that take advantage of post-fire conditions.

4.  Increase community awareness and action regarding knowledge of wildfire hazards and effective mitigation.
Goals
HWMO ihas forged partnerships with organizations and individuals concerned with mitigating wildfire hazards, including:

- Hawaii Fire Department
- State Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife
- University of Hawaii Cooperative Extension
- U.S. Army, Pohakuloa Training Center
- Parker Ranch
- National Park Service
- Community members
- B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden
- Firewise Communities USA
- Hawaii Forest Institute
- Kaupulehu Dryland Forest
- Seed Conservation Laboratory of the University of Hawaii's Center for Conservation Research and Training
- University of Hawaii, College of Tropical Agriculture
- U.S. Department of Agriculture
- U.S. Forest Service
HWMO Partners
HWMO
Board of Directors & Advisors


Miles Nakahara
Wildfire & Natural Resource Management Consultant Retired DLNR- DOFAW
President

Mark Thorne, Ph.D.
Range and Grazing Specialist
UH Cooperative Extension
Vice President

Mike Tomich
Hawaii Fire Dept
Secretary

Carolyn Stewart
MCS International
Treasurer

Dave Faucette
Natural Resource Management

Miki Kato
Rancher

Eric Moller
US Army
USAG-HI, Deputy Fire Chief

Joe Molhoek
Fire Management Officer
National Park Service

Elizabeth Pickett Fee
Executive Director

Help HWMO Help Hawaii!
WHWMO is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit and relies on grants and donations for funding. Your generous contribution helps HWMO continue to reduce the threat of wildfires in the state of Hawaii.
If you are interested in learning more about HWMO or how we can assist your community or organization with wildfire management, please email us.
HWMO staff updates agencies and area landowners on the Joint Fire Science Project in Pu'uanahulu.
What We Do
- Collaborative wildfire preparedness planning
- Fuels management projects
- Educational activities related to wildfire
- Projects to re-establish native plants that are more fire tolerant
- Research and technical support, including GIS analysis and mapping

Hawaii's ecosystems are not adapted to fire so damage from wildfire can be especially devistating in many ways, such as:

  • Threaten homes and lives
  • Destroy native Hawaiian plants and forests
  • Deprive native animals of their habitat
  • Cause soil erosion that impacts air quality, human health, and pollutes run off that affects the ocean and reefs
  • Increase the spread of invasive plants that are highly flammable
The Challenge
1) Alien grasses are fire adapted and are why fire starts develop into devastating wildfires.
2) The dry, dense biomass of grass is an easily combustible fuel that carries fire quickly over large area, particularly during windy conditions.
3) As wildfires wipe out more native habitat, grasses invade these areas and the wildfire cycle continues.
4) Hawaii Island's dryland forests are the most endangered in the world.
Wildfire and Fuel Loading Cycle
Post fire dust storm caused by burned vegitation and subsequent errosion
Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization
65-1279 Kawaihae Road, Suite 211
Kamuela, HI 96743  
Tel: (808) 885-0900  Fax: (808) 885-0922
Contact Us:
Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization
Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization, Kamuela, HI
Email:  admin@hawaiiwildfire.org