Road Updates - Damage from March 2026 Storm
Update March 28, 2026
-All Public Access Roads are open but in rough shape in some places. Travel at your own risk.
-'Āinapō road is especially damaged. ATV or UTV recommended. Trucks and high clearance, true 4x4 have been making it. No AWD vehicles. High clearance vehicles and familiarity with operating a 4x4 vehicle are needed.
Public Hunting
Please refer to the State of Hawaiʻi Hunting website for your answers.
In a nutshell:
-MAMMAL hunting in the Forest Reserve (not the Ranch) year-round.
-BIRD hunting season is generally Nov-Jan in the Game Management Area of the Ranch.
-There is NO Turkey hunting at Kapāpala Ranch
Kapāpala Koa Canoe Project
-The Kapāpala Koa Canoe Forest is NOT currently part of the Kapāpala Ranch but rather a part of the forest reserve immediately above the Ranch and accessed through the Ranch. It is managed by the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife.
-Effective now through May 30, 2026 applications are being accepted to harvest logs for koa canoe building. Please see their website for information and an application.
-Fun Historical Fact: This area used to be part of the Kapāpala Ranch lease until the late 1980 when Ranch Owner Gordon Cran and Head Forester Libert Landgraf agreed that this area was better suited to the Stateʻs then-mission of commercially harvesting koa with a regenerative planting program for future years. The area was withdrawn from the Ranch. After no commerical harvest and a need for logs for koa canoes, this area was rebranded in 2004 as the Kapāpala Koa Canoe Forest. This will be the first harvest from this area offered in 37 years.