Wildfires are a serious threat in Hawaiʻi for a variety of reasons. Wildfires can harm our native ecosystems, which aren’t equipped to deal with regular fires. 

When forests in Hawaiʻi are burnt by wildfires, they may not come back in quite the same way: instead of native trees, invasive plants and fire-prone grasses can take over the landscape. The results can be far reaching, as reductions in native forests can lead to decreased water quality, increased erosion, and damage to coral reefs from sedimentation and nutrient loading. 

Hawaiʻi is also home to an amazing array of native plants and animals, some of which are found nowhere else in the world. Protecting Hawaiʻi’s forests from wildfires means protecting habitat for Hawaiʻi’s native species.

In Hawaiʻi, roughly 90% of wildfires are caused by humans. The most effective fire prevention tool is you! Check out our Smokey Bear public service announcements on how adult campers and Hawaiʻi’s keiki can help prevent wildfires. https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/forestry/fire/

You can also learn more about wildfire prevention from the Smokey Bear website.