(Honolulu) – The deep, beautiful orange and black hue of Hawai’i’s official state insect is well known by visitors to native forests, and cultural practitioners. It is considered a critical pollinator for numerous native plants. The Kamehameha butterfly, like so many insects, plants, and animals in Hawai’i, is being crowded out of its traditional habitat by ever-encroaching human presence, the introduction of invasive predator species, and global climate change. Although the butterfly is historically known from all the main Hawaiian Islands (Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Lanaʻi, Maui, and Hawai’i), it is no longer found in some areas where it used to be common and it appears to be declining. The Pulelehua Project includes an effort to map current populations of the Kamehameha butterfly using observations submitted by the public, combined with surveys of remote areas by scientists. Pulelehua is the Hawaiian word for butterfly.
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(Honolulu) - The Hawaii Dept. of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) has established a special website for information on the upcoming International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress Hawaii 2016, being held in Honolulu, Sept. 1-10, 2016.
KAHULUI - The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) will close the Kula Forest Reserve, Walpoli Access Road, Kahananui Forest Reserve – Papa‘anui Tract, and Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area from Monday, September 12, 2016, through Friday, September 23, 2016, to allow scheduled road repairs, road safety improvements, and fuel mitigation work (such as removing underbrush) and to be completed for both the unpaved and paved sections of the road.
HONOLULU -- The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Forestry and Wildlife is notifying the public that vehicle access to Kuaokala and Peacock Flats has been restored. The closure was due to heightened security levels at military access points (i.e. Ka‘ena Point Satellite Tracking Station).
(HONOLULU) – On a warm July evening, visitors Lonnie Watson and Mark Louviere from the Ft. Worth, Texas metro area did what they normally do during their frequent visits to Hawaii. They wandered out to the coastline to watch the setting sun. On this particular day they spotted something that they say has humbled and blessed them. Watson explained, “For some reason there was a beam of light…just a beam…it landed right on one of them and for some reason I just turned my head. I said, look, it was just a stroke of luck.”
KAILUA-KONA, HAWAI‘I -- The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR) is seeking public input regarding the installation of commercial signs at the Keauhou Bay small boat harbor.
HONOLULU -- Hawai‘i Environmental Court Judge Randal Shintani has imposed a fine of $600 upon Ming Ren Yan, captain and owner of the shrimp fishing vessel Da Opailolo II. The case stems from fall 2015, when Da Opailolo II was illegally mooring in Wai‘anae Small Boat Harbor.
WAILUKU, MAUI – The Commission on Water Resource Management will be performing work on the waterfall at the Waihe‘e Ditch siphon where it crosses Wailuku River*. The Commission has asked Wailuku Water Company, LLC (WWC) to reduce the amount of water to Wailuku River, in order to perform the work and provide a safe work environment.
LIHU‘E, KAUA‘I -- The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) announces the opening of the Kekaha Game Management Area (KGMA) of Hunting Unit A to black-tailed deer hunting season on the island of Kaua‘i. The Department of Hawaiian Homelands (DHHL) has granted a one year license agreement extension to DLNR, extending to to August 31, 2017.