Hawaii Partnership Funds Pacific Forest Resilience Agents

The University of Hawaii at Manoa and the U.S. Forest Service are funding five junior extension agents to support Pacific Island forest protection.

Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Safety

Dense Hawaiian forest on a volcanic slope with ohia trees, tree ferns, and a winding dirt footpath under soft overcast light. — The University of Hawaii at Manoa and the U.S. Forest Service committed $2.8 million to fund five junior extension agents supporting Pacific Island forest protection. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The University of Hawaii at Manoa and the U.S. Forest Service have established a $2.8 million partnership through the Pacific Forest Resilience Program. Applications for five junior extension agent positions open November 9, 2026.

Why it matters

The program aims to help Pacific Island communities protect forests and prepare for wildfires, drought and severe storms. It is administered through the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience and brings together forestry agencies, extension personnel and communities.

The partnership is valued at $2.8 million and funds five Forest Service-affiliated junior extension agents, as documented in the program announcement. Details on how many applicants are expected or how the agents will be selected have not been released.

The players

University of Hawaii at Manoa

The flagship campus of the University of Hawaii system, which administers the partnership through its College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience.

U.S. Forest Service

The federal agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture that manages national forests and grasslands and funds the program.

The details

The Pacific Forest Resilience Program, funded by the U.S. Forest Service, will support implementation of Forest Action Plans in five participating jurisdictions. Its workshops, educational resources and knowledge-sharing opportunities will focus on land stewardship practices across the region.

November 9, 2026: Applications open for the five junior extension agent positions.
November 18, 2026: An informational webinar about the program is held at 2 p.m.
May 2027: Selected agents are expected to begin working in their respective locations.

Seasonal Patterns

The partnership supports implementation of Forest Action Plans, the U.S. Forest Service's framework for forest management, in five Pacific jurisdictions. The effort targets wildfire, drought and severe storm preparedness across islands that face these risks through the year.

Interested candidates can apply for the five junior extension agent positions beginning November 9, 2026. Residents of participating Pacific jurisdictions can attend the November 18 webinar to learn more about the program's wildfire, drought and storm preparedness work.

The takeaway

Pacific Island communities facing wildfire, drought and severe storms can benefit from locally based extension support. Those interested in forest stewardship roles should watch for the November 9 application window.

What happens next

Applications for the five junior extension agent positions open November 9, 2026, and an informational webinar takes place November 18, 2026 at 2 p.m.