What Hawaii's Soil and Water Conservation Districts Are
Hawaii has 16 soil and water conservation districts (SWCDs), and together they make up the Hawaii Association of Conservation Districts (HACD). Per the state's SWCD program page, they are legally constituted, self-governing sub-units of state government, organized under the 1947 Hawaii Soil and Water Conservation District Law, Chapter 180 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes. The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) has provided funding and administrative support since 1967.
For a landowner, rancher or farmer, a district is the local, volunteer-run door to conservation planning: erosion control, water quality, watershed work and the paperwork that goes with leasing public land.
The 16 Districts
The program page lists these districts:
- Hawaii Island: Hamakua, Kona, Kau, Mauna Kea, Puna, Waiakea
- Maui County: Central Maui, Hana, Molokai-Lanai, Olinda-Kula, West Maui
- Oahu: South Oahu, West Oahu, Windward Oahu
- Kauai: East Kauai, West Kauai
The program's Contacts page, at dlnr.hawaii.gov/swcd/contacts/, is the place to find the board and staff for your district.
How Boards Are Set Up
Each district is governed by a volunteer board of five voting directors, three elected and two appointed. Boards can also include non-voting associate directors. Under Chapter 180, HRS (the 2017 version):
- Directors serve three-year terms, and a majority of directors is a quorum.
- Directors must live or work in the district they represent.
- Directors serve without pay but may be reimbursed for necessary expenses.
- Land occupiers representing farms, ranches or plantations get one vote per 100 acres or less, each parcel counts once, and voters must register their name, address and acreage.
- Nominating petitions must be filed at least ten days before the election and be signed by occupiers representing at least 25 votes.
The statute says the two appointed seats are filled by the department, while the program page describes them as appointed by the other directors. The statute also reads two ways on who runs elections. Ask your district or DLNR how the process works today before you plan to run.
What Districts Do for Landowners
A HACD summary lists these services:
- Conservation planning using a nine-step process, from identifying problems through ongoing evaluation.
- Developing and reviewing conservation plans. DLNR requires a conservation plan on all new state land leases.
- Reviewing and commenting on county grading and grubbing plans.
- Watershed protection and restoration projects.
- Conservation education and community outreach, including watershed education for students and community groups.
- Community Wildfire Protection Plans.
The statute gives districts broad powers, including soil and water research and surveys, erosion control with the occupier's consent, agreements and aid to agencies and occupiers, and the ability to accept contributions.
Technical Help and Partners
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is the main technical assistance provider for the districts. District planners work from NRCS field offices, and plans follow NRCS standards. HACD also works with the EPA, the University of Hawaii, the UH Cooperative Extension Service, the Department of Health Clean Water Branch and the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation. HACD has an agreement with the Department of Health that funds four Conservation Specialists, one per county. It holds an annual conference and quarterly meetings, and runs a poster contest.
Mission and Partners
The districts' stated mission is to provide a healthy natural resources environment for the people by coordinating technical, financial and educational resources. In practice that means a district board rarely works alone. The HACD summary lists federal partners including the USDA Farm Service Agency, Forest Service and Rural Development, the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation and the Fish and Wildlife Service. State partners include DLNR, the Department of Health Clean Water Branch, the UH Cooperative Extension Service and the Coastal Zone Management Program. Counties of Kauai, Honolulu, Maui and Hawaii are partners, as are four Resource Conservation and Development groups: Garden Isle, Oahu, Tri-Isle and Big Island.
If your project touches more than one agency, say a stream bank on leased land that drains to the coast, your district is a sensible first call because it already knows who to loop in.
Getting a Conservation Plan
The published materials do not lay out an application form or a fee schedule, so start by contacting your district. Before you call:
- Know your tax map key and the acreage you manage.
- Write down the problem: gully, runoff, stream bank, invasive plants, fire risk or a lease requirement.
- If you lease state land, ask whether DLNR will require a plan.
- Ask whether the NRCS field office serving your area can visit.
Serving or Voting
Because directors are volunteers who live or work in the district, boards depend on farmers, ranchers and neighbors stepping up. If you farm in a district, ask when the next election is, whether your acreage is registered and whether an associate director seat is open. The statute allows boards to appoint non-voting associate directors.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many conservation districts does Hawaii have?
16, per the state SWCD program page.
Who sits on a district board?
Five voting volunteer directors, three elected and two appointed, plus any non-voting associate directors.
Do I need a conservation plan to lease state land?
DLNR requires conservation plans on all new state land leases, per the HACD summary.
Who provides technical help?
NRCS is the main technical assistance provider for the 16 districts.
Hawaii Listings Covered by This Guide
- Central Maui Soil and Water Conservation District
Central Maui district organized in 1957 serving the valley isle's farmers.
HI - East Kauai Soil and Water Conservation District
One of two soil and water conservation districts on Kauai and one of sixteen in Hawaii. A five-member unpaid board governs it, with three directors elected by agricultural landowners, and two conservation specialists assist local farmers.
4334 Rice Street, Room 104, Lihue, HI 96766 | (808) 245-9014 - Hamakua Soil and Water Conservation District
Hamakua coast district organized in 1990, the youngest of the 16 state districts.
HI - Hana Soil and Water Conservation District
East Maui district organized in 1953 assisting Hana landowners and farmers.
HI - Hawaii Association of Conservation Districts
Association of the state's 16 soil and water conservation districts, which work with landowners and farmers on erosion control and resource management statewide.
HI Website - Kau-Puna Soil and Water Conservation District
Southeast Hawaii Island district whose Kau and Puna units were organized in 1950.
HI - Kona Soil and Water Conservation District
West Hawaii district organized in 1953 serving Kona coffee and ranch landowners.
HI - Maui County Soil and Water Conservation District
District that runs conservation education and co-sponsors the Land Judging Contest with USDA NRCS and CTAHR Extension, where high school teams evaluate soil, land use and classification at three sites.
77 Hookele Street, Suite 202, Kahului, HI | (808) 871-5500 Website - Mauna Kea Soil and Water Conservation District
Mauna Kea slope district organized in 1955 covering Waimea and the Hamakua-Kohala ranch lands.
HI - Molokai-Lanai Soil and Water Conservation District
Conservation district for Molokai and Lanai organized in 1948, serving both island farming communities.
HI - Olinda-Kula Soil and Water Conservation District
Upcountry Maui conservation district organized in 1948 working with Kula and Olinda landowners.
HI - South Oahu Soil and Water Conservation District
South shore Oahu district organized in 1952 providing conservation assistance.
HI - Waiakea Soil and Water Conservation District
Hilo-area conservation district organized in 1949 assisting east Hawaii landowners.
HI - West Kauai Soil and Water Conservation District
West Kauai district organized in 1953 serving farmers and ranchers on the west side.
HI - West Maui Soil and Water Conservation District
West Maui district organized in 1954 working with growers on conservation practices.
HI - West Oahu Soil and Water Conservation District
Leeward and central Oahu district organized in 1950 working on farm conservation planning.
HI - Windward Oahu Soil and Water Conservation District
Windward Oahu district organized in 1962 supporting taro and small farm conservation.
HI
Guide checked Nov. 11, 2026. Rules and dates change; confirm with the organizer.