(BIVN) – A new website, Explore Outdoor Hawaiʻi, has been launched in order to help residents and visitors find recreational services available across the state.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources promoted the launch of the website through a Wednesday news release.

photo of the Explore Outdoor Hawaiʻi website courtesy the Hawaiʻi DLNR

From the Hawaiʻi DLNR:

DLNR’s jurisdiction encompasses nearly 1.3 million acres of state lands, beaches and coastal waters as well as 750 miles of coastline (the fourth longest in the country). It includes state parks, historical sites, natural area reserves and forest reserves, aquatic life, bird and wildlife sanctuaries, public fishing areas, boating, ocean recreation, and coastal programs, game management areas and public hunting areas.

“Explore Outdoor Hawai‘i is a one-stop user-friendly website designed to help residents, visitors, and commercial operators find and apply for permits, licenses and reservations,” said DLNR Chair Dawn Chang. “The site is a great way to virtually explore the unique and varied cultural and natural resources of Hawai‘i, including relevant information about respecting our cultural sites, pono fishing practices, and permits that are required for commercial operations,” Chang added.

“Activity-focused navigation and imagery will work in concert with existing DLNR systems and features direct pathways to the many DLNR managed resources,” explained Lila Loos, DLNR’s information technology chief. “This first step of our ambitious multiyear effort provides the foundation for consolidating and modernizing disparate and aging DLNR digital assets.” The consolidated website development was required by the passage of Act 182 by the Hawai‘i State Legislature on July 3, 2023.

Today’s launch completes Phase I of the project. “With our planned Year 2 and Year 3 efforts, additional improvements and services will be made available online to improve the application and permitting experience,” said Loos.