Department of Land and Natural Resources

 (Pohoiki, Hawai‘i Island) – An enormous and ever-growing black sand beach is not the only new feature at Pohoiki, the site of a former boat ramp, rendered obsolete after being surrounded by lava.  Biologists from the DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) have noted at least seven anchialine pools dotting the Pohoiki landscape.

(Honolulu) – In light of continuing or planned removal of unexploded ordnance (UXO) from the offshore waters of Mālaekahana Bay to La‘ie on O‘ahu and the Molokini Marine Life Conservation District (MLCD), off Maui’s south shore, state and federal authorities are advising people to follow the 3 Rs of UXO safety: Recognize, Retreat, Report.

(Honolulu) – Prompted by this year’s coral bleaching event, staff with the DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR), are introducing The Coral Pledge. It is a common sense, six-step reminder, of how everyone can help, by not adding stress to coral reefs during this time of bleaching.  While everyone is encouraged to take the pledge, it is targeted to the visitor and tourism industry.

(Honolulu) – The widespread coral bleaching event predicted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) did impact reefs across Hawai‘i, beginning with warm ocean temperatures in the summer, extending into the fall.

(Wailuku) – Yesterday, a video documenting a substantial fish kill of native ‘o‘opu (gobies) at the mouth of the Wailuku River was brought to the attention of the Commission on Water Resource Management (CWRM).  On Monday, CWRM began the installation of a fiberglass fish ladder on the face of the 22-foot vertical concrete wall located within the river’s flood control project just below the Market Street bridge.

(Hilo) – With the naked eye you can see large schools of Nile tilapia in Hawai‘i Island’s Wailoa River system including its tributary Waiākea Stream and Waiākea Pond which sits in the middle of Wailoa River State Park in Hilo. 

 (Honolulu) – Today, following-up on a citizen complaint, officers from the DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) recovered an estimated 1,000 feet of unattended lay net within Kaneohe Bay.

(Honolulu)-In 1988 National Estuaries Day began to help promote the importance of estuaries and the need to protect them. It was decided in 2013 to expand the day of celebration of estuaries into a week-long event.

(Honolulu) – The severe and widespread coral bleaching event predicted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is already occurring along reefs across the state. Last week, a team from the DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) conducted a rapid assessment of coral health at Molokini and along Maui’s south shore from Makena to Maalaea.

(Gilbert Kahele Recreation Area) - 45 women, mostly from Hawai‘i, spent the last few days being schooled in outdoor skills during the first-ever “Becoming an Outdoors Woman (BOW)” retreat in Hawai’i. This is the Aloha State’s initial foray into a 20-year-old international program that sponsors skill-development weekends in 41 states, seven Canadian provinces and seven other countries.