(Wailuku, Maui) - The demand for playing time for local softball and baseball teams just got a little easier with the opening of the first phase of the Central Maui Regional Sports Complex. Lt. Governor Shan Tsutsui, Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa, and DLNR Deputy Director of Water Commission Jeffrey Pearson were among community leaders who threw the ceremonial “first pitches”during an opening and blessing at the complex today. The first teams to take to the new softball fields are players competing in the 2016 MGSA-Maui Girls Softball Association season opener. All games are scheduled to be played at the complex.

HONOLULU -- The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) will have applications for the 2016 Lana‘i Mouflon sheep hunting season, together with instruction sheets, available at all its forestry and wildlife offices statewide beginning Monday, March 21, 2016.

HONOLULU -- The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW), and the United States Department of Agriculture, United States Forest Service (USFS) are seeking public comments on a Draft Environmental Assessment (DEA) in connection with a proposed management plan for Laupāhoehoe forest on the island of Hawaiʻi.

HONOLULU -- The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) has closed those portions of land within Kipuka ‘Ainahou and Mauna Kea Forest Reserve and public hunting areas, situated at Humu‘ula, Hawai‘i and belonging to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL).

LIHU‘E, KAUA‘I -- The Department of Land and Natural Resources is pleased to announce the opening of archery, muzzleloader, and regular rifle hunting seasons for feral goats on the island of Kaua‘i. Pursuant to Title 13, Chapter 123 “Rules Regulating Game Mammal Hunting,” the following rules and conditions will be in effect for the hunt:

(Honolulu) – Seventeen Hawaii hunter education instructors were honored today by DLNR Chair Suzanne Case and First Deputy Director Kekoa Kaluhiwa during a service award presentation kicking off Hawaii’s annual instructor meeting. The volunteer instructors, responsible for training youth and adult hunters at 75 classes annually, were recognized with awards for from 50 hours of service to 4500 hours of service. In total, the awards presented today represent more than 20,000 hours of combined, total service.

HONOLULU -- The Department of Land and Natural Resources announced the opening of the 2016 Spring Bearded Turkey hunting season this week. The spring season will run for 46 consecutive days through Friday, April 15, 2016.