Wildfire Resilient Landscapes

Over the past decade, an average of >1,000 wildfires burned >17,000 acres each year in Hawaiʻi with the percentage of total land area burned comparable to and often exceeding figures for the fire-prone Western US.

Wildfire in Hawaiʻi and Pacific Islands Areas vs. US mainland states. Hawaiʻi is well above the US average percentage of land area burned, some years exceeding Western US states; the Pacific Islands have the highest percentage of burned area (especially Guam).

Preparedness - especially increasing accessibility for firefighters - is as important as fuels reduction in minimizing wildfire impacts. Create your plan: maps, checklists, and narrative.

The introduction of non-native grasses for ornamental plants and cattle forage has transformed many of Hawaiʻi’s landscapes over the past century. Many of these grasses - like fountain grass and Guinea grass are invasive and adapted to thrive with fire.

Domestic livestock grazing shows potential as a cost-effective method for reducing fine fuel loads and wildfires in nonnative grasslands. While controversial and typically considered incompatible with native species conservation, the use of grazing to reduce fuel loads and wildfire risk has been successful throughout the world.

The latest research, past and present, for land managers and owners wanting to understand more about how our four-legged friends (goats, sheep, cows, etc.) if managed properly can help reduce blazing and wildland fires.

A continuation of Part I of Grazing to Reduce Blazing. Provides how-tos on hiring island professional grazers, and lessons learned for contract grazing.

A condensed reference guide to help spot invasive grasses in Hawaiʻi. Included grasses: Buffel, Cane, Guinea, Fountain, Kikuyu, and Molasses

Grass-kickin tips based on over a decade of observations and experiments on tropical grasses for proper grass management. Includes different grass species and herbicide timing, application method, and ingredients.

Explores how certain invasive plants promote wildfire in Hawaiʻi and how the new Weed Fire Risk Database analyzes 360+ weed species for their fire-promoting traits.

In-depth look at the tips and tools you need to prepare for a wildland fire threat (Ready), have situational awareness when a fire starts (Set), and evacuate early (Go!).

A condensed version of the Ready, Set, GO! Guide with best practices to reduce wildfire risks to homes, families, and assets.

Firewise landscaping is a way of designing and maintaining a home’s yard that gives a building the best chance of survival during a wildfire. As an arborist or landscaper, you play an important role in creating safety in the community. Incorporating these core wildfire risk reduction concepts highlighted here will add fire protection value to your vegetation management services.

Planning ahead and integrating mitigation measures into development practices is a key function of creating a more resilient community — one that can withstand even the worst wildfires. Planners play a vital role in thinking about how space and place intersect and have tools at your disposal to influence more comprehensive, strategic, and holistic development decisions that can create safer communities from the start.

Steps to help identify the Right Tree, Right Place, and Right Care for home landscaping.

Bookmark with suggested native vegetation to plant for firewise landscaping.

A campaign comprised of over three dozen government agencies and supporting organizations to raise awareness and preparedness ahead of wildfire season. It informs people across the state about current fire and drought conditions, offers tips for safeguarding life and property from wildfires, and delivers education on managing prolonged drought.

The Firewise USA® site program helps communities adapt to living with wildfire and encourages neighbors to work together and take action now to prevent losses.

Are Hawai'i forests adapted to fire, like the Western mainland? What part of the United States has the highest percentage of land burnt in wildfires? Are fires only in the drier leeward sides of the islands, or also on the wetter, windward sides?

Corresponding slides to Webinar: Debunking Wildfire Myths in Hawaiʻi