Haw. Rev. Stat. § 171-3

(a) The department of land and natural resources shall be headed by an executive board to be known as the board of land and natural resources. The department shall manage, administer, and exercise control over public lands, the water resources, ocean waters, navigable streams, coastal areas (excluding commercial harbor areas), and minerals and all other interests therein and exercise such powers of disposition thereof as may be authorized by law. The department shall also manage and administer the state parks, historical sites, forests, forest reserves, aquatic life, aquatic life sanctuaries, public fishing areas, boating, ocean recreation, coastal programs, wildlife, wildlife sanctuaries, game management areas, public hunting areas, natural area reserves, and other functions assigned by law.

(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), beginning January 1, 2010, the authority to manage, administer, and exercise control over any public lands that are designated important agricultural lands pursuant to section 205-44.5, shall be transferred to the department of agriculture and biosecurity. [L 1962, c 32, pt of §2; am L 1963, c 135, §4; Supp, §103A-3; HRS §171-3; am L 1981, c 116, §2; am L 1983, c 15, §2; am L 1991, c 272, §4; am L 1999, c 6, §2; am L 2008, c 233, §16 ; am L 2025, c 236, §17]