KAILUA-KONA – The Department of Land and Natural Resources is reminding the public that West Hawaii state parks will close early at 5 p.m. Dec. 31, 2014, New Year’s Eve. Parks closing early include Hapuna, Kiholo and Kekaha Kai (Mahaiula and Kua Bay sections).

HONOLULU -- The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) announces the closing of the Waikiki-Diamond Head Shoreline Fisheries Management Area, O‘ahu, to fishing for one year beginning Jan. 1, 2015, and ending Dec.31, 2015.

HONOLULU – An access gate at Ka’ena Point State Park Reserve, Mokule’ia section was locked at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014. Only people who applied for permits under the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) new vehicle access system can now drive on designated roads within the park. Pedestrians and bicyclists do not need a permit.

WAILUKU –Division of Conservation and Resources (DOCARE) Enforcement Officers and Makai Watch volunteers with the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), Community Fisheries Enforcement Unit (CFEU) will be at the Maui Mall this Saturday, December 20, 2014 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to help educate fishers about the new Maui Island fishing rules that became law on November 1.

HONOLULU -- Fans of the annual State Historic Preservation Division (SHPD) photographic calendar will find an unique historic journey in the 2015 edition, which highlights the evolution of Hawaii’s financial institutions. Built in an era of expanding prosperity, these institutions represent the optimism and confidence of the new and exciting world dramatically emerging in Hawai‘i, as well as an abiding faith in the future.

LIHUE -- Starting Monday, December 15, 2014 through Tuesday December 30, 2014, the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of State Parks will install a new water tank that will serve the comfort stations at the Waimea Canyon lookout.

HANAPEPE, KAUA‘I – The Kaua‘i Forest Bird Recovery Project (KFBRP), a collaborative project of the Department of Land and Natural Resources’, Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW), the University of Hawaii Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit, and Garden Island Research and Development, Inc. (GIRCD), has announced the launch of a crowdfunding and outreach campaign to generate support for protecting the native birds of Kaua‘i by controlling rats with humane, self-resetting rat traps.

HONOLULU -- Four Molokai men will face arraignment and hearings in Maui Circuit Court later this month after being arrested and charged for their roles in a confrontation between two groups of fishermen in Molokai waters. The investigation was conducted by Maui Police Department with the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE).

HILO -- The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) will reopen portions of Lava Tree State Monument on a limited basis beginning Monday December 8, 2014. The public will be able to visit most of the viewable lava tree molds, the main pavilion and the informational kiosk. The parking lot, comfort station and front portion of the loop trail will also be available for public use.

HONOLULU -- The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of State Parks will reopen the Castle Beach area of the Malaekahana State Recreation Area tomorrow morning.