HONOLULU — The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) invites the public to participate in the 37th annual Hawai'i Hunting and Fishing Day, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., on Saturday and Sunday, September 20 and 21, at the Koko Head public shooting range in East O'ahu. The two-day event will benefit the Hawai'i Food Bank.

"Hawai'i's sportsmen and women care about our families and our natural resources. This annual event provides opportunities for people to help their neighbors and experience hands-on activities that highlight safe hunting and fishing," said Laura H. Thielen, DLNR chairperson.

Participants are encouraged to bring a canned good or make a donation to support the Hawai'i Food Bank. For every can of food or $1 donated, an activity coupon is provided that is good for the various firearms, archery or flycasting activities.

Children (and adults) can participate in archery with bows provided by the National Archery in the Schools program; and flycasting, courtesy of the Kaka'ako Kasting Club.

A new activity this year will be the LaserShot, with free safety training provided by the Hawai'i Hunter Education Program.

Participants who complete every "hands-on" activity will receive a certificate of recognition.

Representatives of the Safari Club International – Hawai'i Chapter, the Hawai'i Historic Arms Association, and the DLNR Divisions of Aquatic Resources, Forestry and Wildlife will be on hand with educational displays.

"Hunters and anglers were among the first to recognize, nearly a century ago, that the privileges of hunting and fishing carry the additional responsibility of conserving our state's natural and wildlife resources," said Thielen.

Since 1995, the Department of Land and Natural Resource's Hunter Education Program and hunting and fishing clubs have donated many tons of food and thousands of dollars in contributions to the Hawai'i Food Bank. Last year the Hunting and Fishing Day raised more than 1,400 pounds of food contributions and $1,600 in monetary donations for the Hawai'i Food Bank.

Sportsmen and women help support the conservation of our wildlife and aquatic resources, and in part through license fees and special taxes.

"Hawai'i Hunting and Fishing Day recognizes the conservation efforts of local sportsmen and women that have helped to protect wildlife species such as nene, 'alala and palila," Thielen said.

"Hunters are our first line of defense in perpetuating Hawai'i's native species and in controlling non-native introductions," she said.

In addition, hunting and fishing activities have a significant economic impact. According to the latest information from the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, one out of 10 Hawaii residents hunts or fishes, and together they support total annual spending of $154 million annually in revenue, taxes and jobs.

Koko Head shooting range is located off Kalaniana'ole Highway, from Hawai'i Kai going towards Waimanalo, take the first left driveway past Hanauma Bay.

For more information about Hunting and Fishing Day, call the DLNR Hunter Education Program at 587-0200.

DLNR's Hawai'i Hunter Education Program offers free classes year-round to educate outdoorsmen and women about firearms and archery safety, survival and first aid, wildlife identification and conservation, hunting rules and regulations, game care and outdoor responsibility. Completion of the hunter education class is a prerequisite to obtain a Hawai'i hunting license. For more information about free hunter education classes go to http://www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/dcre/home.htm <http://www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/dcre/home.htm> .