1970
Governor John Burns and the legislature establish the Natural Area Reserves System to preserve in perpetuity specific land and water areas which support communities, as relatively unmodified as possible, of native flora and fauna, as well as geological sites of Hawai`i.  

1971
The NARS Commission adopts criteria for selecting Natural Area Reserves.

1973
The first Natural Area Reserve, `Ahihi-Kina`u on Maui, is established.

1974
Governor George Ariyoshi designates the Waiäkea 1942 Lava Flow on Hawai`i as a Natural Area Reserve.

1974-1981
The NARS consists of only two reserves, one and one-half staff positions, and a small administrative budget.

1981
Six new reserves are established:  Ku`ia on Kaua`i, Ka`ala and Pahole on O`ahu, and Mauna Kea Ice Age, Pu`u Maka`ala, and Wao Kele O Puna on Hawai`i.

1983
Hono O Nä Pali on Kaua`i, Ka`ena Point on O`ahu, and Kipähoehoe, Laupähoehoe, and Manukä on Hawai`i are designated as Natural Area Reserves.

1985
To facilitate geothermal energy development, the Board of Land and Natural Resources approves a land swap between the State and the Estate of James Campbell, trading Wao Kele O Puna Natural Area Reserve on Hawai`i for Campbell land at Kahauale`a.  Two Moloka`i reserves are established:  Pu`u Ali`i and Oloku`i.

1986
The legislature approves the Wao Kele O Puna-Kahauale`a land swap.

1987
Kahauale`a and Pu`u O `Umi on Hawai`i are added to the NARS.

The legislature enacts Act 350, directing the Department of Land and Natural Resources to develop and implement a comprehensive management plan for the reserves, and the NARS Commission to establish criteria for managing, protecting, and using the reserves.

The legislature enacts Act 351, establishing the Natural Area Reserve Fund. The Hawai`i Heritage Program is contracted to develop a comprehensive natural resources inventory database.

Governor John Waihe`e and the legislature provide funding to: 1) inventory existing resources within the NARS; 2) address immediate threats within valuable portions of specific reserves; and 3) develop management plans for each of the reserves.

The legislature adopts House Concurrent Resolution 221, direction the NARS Commission, in cooperation with the Department of Land and Natural Resources and private organizations, to develop a strategic plan for the NARS, including a recommendation for long-term funding.

In response to House Concurrent Resolution 221, the NARS Commission, DLNR, and The Nature Conservancy of Hawai`i submit the Strategic Plan for Hawai`i's Natural Area Reserves System to the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

The Hawai`i Heritage Program submits the Biological Overview of Hawai`i's Natural Area Reserves System to the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

1988
The NARS is placed under the Division of Forestry and Wildlife.

1989
Field surveys and management plans are complete for most of the reserves. The Hawai`i Heritage Program and Department of Land and Natural Resources issue The State of Hawai`i Natural Area Reserves System Biological Resources and Management Priorities Summary Report.

1990
Governor John Waihe`e designates Kanaio on Maui as a Natural Area Reserve. This is the last reserve added to the NARS.

1991
Under Governor John Waihe`e's adminstration, the NARS annual budget peaks in 1991 at $2.5 million.

The legislature enacts Act 326, establishing permanent funding for the Natural Area Partnership Program and Forest Stewardship Program on private land by dedicating a portion of the Conveyance Tax. The NARS is not included in this funding mechanism.

1993
Fence lines to protect the Pu`u O `Umi Natural Area Reserve on Hawai`i from feral pigs are removed by the Division of Forestry and Wildlife in response to hunters' objections to the fence.

The legislature adopts House Concurrent Resolutions 183 and 185, requesting the Department of Land and Natural Resources to hold facilitated public information meetings on the Pu`u O `Umi Natural Area Reserve and other areas, and to accommodate the needs and interests of hunters in managing feral pigs in the Laupähoehoe Natural Area Reserve on Hawai`i.

In response to House Concurrent Resolutions 183 and 185, the Natural Areas Working Group (NAWG) is established to coordinate public information meetings and address issues relating to the NARS and game management on Hawai`i.  Hunters, environmentalists, Native Hawaiians, biologists, and others participate in the NAWG.

1994-2002
Under Governor Ben Cayetano's administration, the NARS annual budget declines from $2.4 million in 1994 to $1.2 million in 2002.

1995
The NAWG submits its report to the legislature, recommending that the Department of Land and Natural Resources manage some areas on Hawai`i for native ecosystems and other areas for game management and hunting.

1996
Upon the NAWG's recommendation, community regional councils are established for the Kohala and Upper Puna-Volcano regions of the Big Island.  The councils are to charged with identifying areas for ecosystem protection and other areas for game management and sustained yield hunting.

The NARS Commission approves management guidelines for public activities in the reserves.

The NARS Commission recommends several areas be added to the NARS and requests the Department of Land and Natural Resources to comment on the recommendation.

1999
NARS staff positions are made permanent.

The Hawai`i District NARS staff recommends that 4,000 acres be removed from the Pu`u Maka`ala Natural Area Reserve because of degradation by feral pigs and weeds.

2000
The legislature adopts Senate Concurrent Resolution 143, requesting the Department of Land and Natural Resources to convene a working group to identify permanent sources of funding for the NARS.

Discussions between hunters, environmentalists, Native Hawaiians, biologists and others fail to resolve the issues relating to native ecosystem protection, hunting, and game management on the Big Island.  The Upper Puna-Volcano Regional Council folds.

The NARS Commission votes against removing 4,000 acres from the Pu`u Maka`ala Natural Area Reserve on Hawai`i.

The NARS Commission adopts a one-year schedule, beginning in September 2000, to finalize four island proposals to add areas to the NARS.

The NARS Funding Working Group submits its report to the legislature, identifying nine potential sources of permanent dedicated funding for the NARS.

2001-2002
State legislation is introduced to establish permanent dedicated funding for the NARS.  None of the bills is heard during the 2001 or 2002 sessions.

No new areas are added to the NARS.

2003
New legislation to fund the NARS introduced in 2003. One bill is heard by four committees before stalling for the session.

Iliau standing tall