(HONOLULU) - On March 19, U.S. Magistrate Judge Kenneth J. Mansfield issued a judgment in favor of DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) former Chief Robert Farrell and Lieutenant Carlton Helm, and against Plaintiff Wyatt Kam. The Court concluded that DOCARE’s response during the 2017 Independence Day “Floatilla” event in boarding the vessel Wind Warrior to address safety concerns including high seas, reports of an affray aboard, and the extensive use of alcohol by adults and underage participants was reasonable.
(HILO) – The species recovery effort, known as The ʻAlalā Project, is announcing the next steps in the recovery efforts of ʻalalā (Hawaiian crow). Last October, in response to mortalities of released ʻalalā, including predation by ‘io (Hawaiian hawk), conservationists brought the remaining birds from the Pu‘u Maka‘ala Natural Area Reserve, on Hawaiʻi Island, back in from the wild - returning them to the conservation breeding program at the Keauhou Bird Conservation Center.
(Honolulu) – Recent heavy rain events have caused major flooding to many parts of the state and with that, debris is churned up and scattered. Staff from the DLNR Division of Aquatics Resources (DAR) are currently cleaning up Lake Wilson which has had tons of rubbish in its waters due to these rain events. If Lake Wilson is not cleaned up, it could impact fishing opportunities in the Lake, and the rubbish could end up in Kaiaka Bay and eventually the ocean.
(Lāhainā) – Construction is set to begin April 5th on a new concrete ferry pier at the DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation’s (DOBOR) Lāhainā Small Boat Harbor. The new concrete ferry pier (20’ wide x 115’ long) will be located 70’ out from the north face of the existing harbor pier. Other improvements include a new aluminum framed gangway (15’ wide x 70’ long) connecting the ferry pier to the existing pier; demolition of the existing harbor office and construction of a new harbor administration office. New concrete pavement on the pier deck and along Wharf Street; as well as new bollards and striping will also be part of the project.
(Honolulu) – The DLNR Division of State Parks, in partnership with PBR HAWAII, invites the community to participate in updating Hawaiʻi’s Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP).
(HILO) – An evaluation committee, reviewing proposals for the renovation of two Banyan Drive properties, is wrapping up its work. An announcement is expected in April, on the Selection for Proposals for Banyan Drive Properties, which involves the renovations of the former Uncle Billy’s Hilo Bay Hotel and Country Club Condominium Hotel. The committee is evaluating proposals that were submitted in response to a Request for Proposals (RFP), published in August 2020.
(LĪHUʻE) –Keahua Bridge and parking lot will be closed beginning today through early next week due to repairs of the bridge surface and pedestrian railings. In addition to the bridge repairs, contractors will be felling seven large albizia trees in the immediate vicinity of Keahua Bridge and parking lot areas.
(HONOLULU) – Ensuring continual mauka to makai streamflows in Lāwa‘i Stream on Kaua‘i was made possible by the establishment of an interim instream flow standard (IIFS) by the Commission on Water Resource Management on Tuesday. The IIFS permits the protection of valuable instream uses.
(Honolulu) – The Poamoho Trail has been closed due to a large landslide event. The trail will remain closed and access permits will remain suspended until a hazard mitigation team has assessed the damage and potential hazards on-trail.
(HONOLULU) – An extension of the Ka‘ena Point Natural Area Reserve and the addition of Pia Valley in east O‘ahu, to the state’s Natural Area Reserves (NAR) System are on the table for input from people in March. The NAR System, a program of the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW), seeks to keep native ecosystems as intact as possible to preserve Hawaii’s natural heritage.