This state's classification carries no date range for the species.
Legal game bird under HAR §13-122-6 (Francolinus erckelii), own bag limit (not aggregated with other francolins). Present at least on Oahu (Kuaokala GMA, Makua Kea'au PHA). 2026-27 dates not yet published as of 2026-08-29; 2025-26 reference: Nov 1, 2025 - Jan 25, 2026. DOFAW's last 5 years of announcements all came out in October, so this isn't overdue yet.
Erckel's Francolin, per the Bishop Museum's Pyle & Pyle "Birds of the Hawaiian Islands" reference monograph, was one of the more successful of the xeric-habitat game birds DOFAW's predecessor agency introduced in 1957-1966 (releases of >200 on Kaua'i, >100 on O'ahu, >140 on Moloka'i, >210 on Lana'i, >175 on Maui, and >470 on Hawai'i Island), though its establishment was slow and protracted -- early observers in the 1960s did not consider it established at all, unlike the other two francolin species released the same period. It is now established in dry open habitats of Kaua'i, O'ahu, Lana'i, and Hawai'i Island, with small, possibly-established populations on Moloka'i and Maui. Unlike the other francolins and Chukar, it also uses forested areas, not just dry open habitat. Hawai'i Island's dispersal from three release sites has been tracked in unusual detail and remains the species' largest range and most popular hunting destination.
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