(Kahului, Maui) – Shoreline access at ‘Ahihi Kinau Natural Area Reserve on Maui has been closed due to a whale carcass on shore. Carcasses often attract sharks, thus the reason for the placement of beach warning signs by Maui County lifeguards and officers from the DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE).

(Lihue) – In the final weeks of 2016, eight Nene (Hawaiian Goose) have been killed by vehicles along a two mile stretch of the Kaumuali‘i Highway in Kekaha. Nene are only found in Hawai‘i and are listed as endangered due to theirlow number, with an estimated 1,200 remaining on Kaua‘i. In the past two years 50 Nene have been struck and killed by cars across the roadways of Kaua‘i. Typically the majority of vehicle strikes occur in Hanalei and Kilauea, however the most recent strikes are occurring on the west side of the island.

(Hilo, HI) - Two young ‘Alalā were moved back into an aviary at the State of Hawai‘i’s Pu‘u Maka‘ala Natural Area Reserve last week, as conservationists work to overcome challenges faced by the birds during their reintroduction. A group of five birds were released into the protected reserve on December 14. Although the birds had been observed doing well and eating from feeders placed in the area, three birds were found dead over the last week. The confirmed cause of the deaths is currently unknown but conservationists hope to gather information about what happened to the birds through necropsy examinations.

HONOLULU -- The Waikiki-Diamond Head Shoreline Fisheries Management Area (SFMA), O‘ahu, will be closed to fishing for one year, from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2017.

HONOLULU - The State Commission on Water Resource Management (CWRM) will hold public hearings to receive testimony on proposed updates to the State Water Projects Plan (SWPP). The SWPP identifies future water demands and source strategies for State water projects. This update of the SWPP focuses on water projects for the Department of Hawaiian Homelands.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) may require qualified professional to provide legal service as an administrative hearing officer during the second half of Fiscal Year 2017 (January 1, 2017 to June 30, 2017).

WAILUKU -- The popular 2.5 mile Waihe‘e ridge trail that climbs the windward slope of the west Maui mountains will be closed for approximately two months, starting in January, for trail improvements. The trail parcel is owned and operated by the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW), who will close the trail from January 3, 2017 to February 28, 2017.

HONOLULU – As the year comes to a close, American Forests has announced their new line of champion trees for the 2016 Big Tree registry. Five Hawai‘i trees stand among the 64 newly crowned champions across the nation. Participation from local communities has helped the Hawai‘i Big Tree program locate some of the biggest trees of various species. This now increases Hawai‘i’s Big Tree count to 12 champion trees from Hawai‘i, Molokaʻi, and O‘ahu.

HONOLULU -- The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) is seeking entries in an art contest to depict hunters during a hunt for game birds and mammals for its 2017-2018 Hawai‘i Wildlife Conservation and Game Bird Stamp. The conservation stamp is required on the Hawai‘i State hunting license, and the game bird hunting stamp is required for those intending to hunt game birds. Both stamps (differing slightly in text) will be available to wildlife stamp collectors.

HONOLULU -- The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Land Division, O‘ahu District Branch, will be conducting a public auction sale of a 20-year lease for State land at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, February 14, 2017 at the Kalanimoku state office building, 1151 Punchbowl St., in room 220. Pre-qualified bidders or authorized representatives must be present in person at the auction.