News Releases

(Honolulu) – Today coastal experts from the DLNR Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands (OCCL) walked a short stretch of beach, fronting a dozen homes in the Portlock area of east O‘ahu. Salvatore Saluga and Shellie Habel looked for vegetation that was beyond the high-water mark.

(Honolulu) – Today the Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) approved a request from the DLNR’s Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) to temporarily close the Pua Loke Arboretum in Lihue “to make state and county facilities enhancements.” DOFAW plans to use a portion of the arboretum, just east of the Kukui Grove Shopping Mall, to expand its base of operations. DLNR and Kaua‘i County are in discussion about the county’s potential use of some of the property.

(Makawao) –Nearly 30 trees will be removed along portions of Olinda and Pi'iho'lo Roads near the Waihou Spring Forest Reserve to improve safety in and around the area.

(Līhu‘e) - As part of the on-going response to the detection of Rapid ‘Ōhi‘a Death (ROD) on Kaua‘i, DLNR will soon begin installing two types of signs and numerous boot-brush stations around the island. In areas where ROD has killed ‘ōhi‘a, signs will be installed with a cautionary message, “Stop: ROD (Rapid ‘Ōhi‘a Death) Alert. You are entering an area where ROD has been detected.”

(Honolulu) –Starting on Monday April 8, 2019 and until further notice, the Department of Land and Natural Resources State Historic Preservation Division (SHPD) will institute “I Mua Mondays”. On all Monday’s SHPD offices statewide will be closed to the public and SHPD will not accept meetings, phone calls, emails or “walk-ins”. SHPD’s Library will also be closed on “I Mua Mondays.”

(Honolulu) –Access to the Maunalua Bay Boat Ramp will be closed next week from March 25th to March 29th as contractors will be removing the condemned pier. Weather permitting and if the contractor can finish the work earlier, the boat ramp will re-open at that time.

(Honolulu) –Brian Neilson has been appointed the next administrator of the DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR). Neilson has held a variety of staff and leadership positions with DAR. He has been Acting DAR Administrator since June of last year.

(Wailuku, Maui) – New evidence suggests that some marine predators are being displaced by high human use at the Molokini Marine Life Conservation District (MLCD), which in 2018 attracted more than 360,000 snorkelers and divers. At an information and scoping meeting scheduled for Thursday, March 21, 2019 staff from the DLNR, Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR), will present details of recent scientific studies and learn about management concerns for Molokini Crater.

(Honolulu) - As an island state, Hawai‘i is uniquely impacted by the threat of invasive species. Our endemic species and distinctive ecosystems evolved over millions of years in isolation from the rest of the world’s biota, creating a delicate balance that continues to be at risk from the arrival of non-native plants, animals, and fungi.

(Honolulu) –The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife would like to thank all the wildlife artists who submitted art entries for the 2019-20 Hawai’i Wildlife Conservation and Game Bird Stamp Art Contest. A committee reviewed all submissions and two winners were chosen.