HONOLULU — Artists are welcome to submit entries to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife annual art contest depicting two local wildlife species for the 2022-23 Hawai‘i Wildlife Conservation and Game Bird Stamp.
The wildlife-conservation stamp is a requirement on Hawai‘i state hunting licenses. The game-bird stamp is required for anyone intending to hunt game birds. Both stamps will be available to stamp collectors.
The subjects for this year’s stamps are broken into two categories: game birds and wildlife conservation:
w Game-Bird Stamp: The Chukar partridge ITAL (Alectoris chukar) occurs on all main Hawaiian Islands, and was introduced to Hawai‘i in 1923. It is native to Asia and eastern Europe, from Israel to Nepal. They measure roughly 14 inches long and have a gray-brown back with sides striped in black and white feathers. Their faces are white with a black band across the eyes down to the neck. They are a dominant component of the avifauna in high-elevation shrubland and may have filled a niche held by now-extinct or rare birds. The role of the alien bird in facilitating seed dispersal and germination of native-plant species has been found to be beneficial in restoring degraded ecosystems.
Wildlife-Conservation Stamp: ‘I‘iwi ITAL (Vestiaria coccinea) are federally listed as threatened statewide. Adults have a vibrant red plumage with black wings and tail and a curved, salmon-colored bill. The juvenile is buffy with black spots, a shorter, dusky bill becoming yellow in color, then salmon with age. The bird feeds primarily on ‘ohi‘a nectar, but also visits tublar flowers of understory plants like ‘akala and lobelias, and take insects.
To be eligible, artwork must be in a Hawai‘i habitat setting. The completed oil or acrylic painting must be a maximum of 24 inches by 36 inches and unframed, to be reduced to one inch by 1.5-inch stamp.
Entries must be completed oil or acrylic paintings or an 8.5-by-11-inch photo/print/photocopy of a completed painting.
All entries must be received by Feb. 25, 2022. Notification of the winner will be made in March.
All paintings sent must be accompanied by a $35 fee to cover the cost of returning artwork. Checks should be made payable to the DLNR. Otherwise, a photo, print or photocopy of an original painting may be sent with no fee. See the application form at dlnr.hawaii.gov/recreation/files/2021/11/FY22-23-artist-application2doc3.pdf.
Copies of this announcement and the application form are available upon request from DOFAW, 1151 Punchbowl St., Room 325, Honolulu, HI 96813. For questions regarding the contest or to obtain an application, email Jason.D.Omick@hawaii.gov or call to 808-347-6869.
The winner will receive a maximum award of $1,000.
Funds from Hawai‘i Wildlife Conservation Stamp sales go into the state Wildlife Revolving Fund to support wildlife populations and habitat, and to manage hunting.
Last year, revenues from both stamps were used to cover some of the costs of maintaining hunting units and to add game-bird and game-mammal-hunting opportunities where possible. Proceeds from the sales of wildlife-conservation stamps will also provide funds for the annual lease rental of the Lana‘i Cooperative Game Management Area and several other hunting leases.
