(HONOLULU) – Today the State Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) issued an order directing Alexander & Baldwin, Inc., and East Maui Irrigation Company, Ltd. (collectively A&B) to commence the environmental review process in support of A&B’s application for a lease of water from the license areas of Honomanu, Keana, Huelo and Nahiku.

Following a number of comments raised during our scoping period, the Fish and Wildlife Service and Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources has put together a resource for frequently asked questions regarding the Rodent and Mongoose Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement.

HONOLULU -- The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) will hold a public meeting to provide information and receive public comments relating to the proposed Hāʻena Community-Based Subsistence Fishing Area (CBSFA) Management Plan. The public meeting will be held at Kilauea School Cafeteria, 2440 Kolo Rd, Kilauea, Kaua‘i on Tuesday, April 12, 2016, from 6 to 9 p.m.

KAILUA-KONA, HAWAII -- The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR) will hold a public informational meeting on Friday April 15 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Kealakehe High School cafeteria, to discuss the Draft Environmental Assessment for the proposed Keauhou Bay Offshore Moorings project.

The State Historic Preservation Division will conduct a one day Conference with SHPD staff on Friday April 8, 2016.

LIHU‘E – The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) announces an open fishing season for rainbow trout in the Koke‘e Public Fishing Area (PFA) on Kaua‘i, beginning Saturday, June 18, 2016.

HONOLULU – The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) announced today that retired Hawaii island circuit court judge Riki May Amano (Ret.) has been selected as the hearings officer to conduct the Mauna Kea contested case hearing relating to the application for the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope. DLNR Chairperson Suzanne Case issued a minute order to the contested case parties today announcing Judge Amano’s selection.

(LIHUE, KAUAI) - Captive-reared puaiohi flew into the forests of Kaua‘i today, marking the end of a successful breeding program for the species and beginning the next step in its recovery. Conservation biologists from the Kaua‘i Forest Bird Recovery Project (KFBRP), State of Hawai’i's Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DLNR-DOFAW), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office (USFWS-PIFWO) and San Diego Zoo Global’s Hawaiian Endangered Bird Conservation Program (HEBCP) worked together to bring the group of birds to the forest for release.

HONOLULU --- Enforcement officers of the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) today towed a piece of sperm whale remnant several miles out to sea before releasing it for currents to take it away from the islands. Earlier this morning, the remnant weighing several tons was found about 200 yards offshore from Kalanianaole Beach Park (formerly Nanakuli Beach Park). At least one shark was seen feeding on the remains throughout the morning.

HONOLULU – The Department of Land and Natural Resources has posted shark warning signs this afternoon on the west Maui coastline from Lone Pine (milepost 13 on Honoapi‘ilani Highway) to the Olowalu Recycling Center, following a report received just before 2 p.m. today that 46-year old female visitor was bitten on the fin by a shark. The woman was snorkeling in the late morning with a tour group a half-mile off Olowalu. She was in 18 feet of murky water when she felt a tug on her fin, and looked back to see a gray-colored shark swimming away. She was treated on the boat for a minor injury to her foot.