(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.
BLNR
(Honolulu) – The Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) and its divisions are closing various properties in advance of Hurricane Lane. The regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR), set for Friday, August 24th has been postponed.
(HONOLULU) - The Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) has given the greenlight to Champlin/GEI Wind Holdings LLC’s Na Pua Makani Power Partners LLC’s plans to build a 25-megawatt wind farm near Kahuku on the north shore of Oahu.
BLNR Chair Suzanne Case issued the following statement today about protesters at Friday’s Land Board meeting calling for Board Member Sam Gon’s resignation.
Circuit Court Judge Jeffrey Crabtree ruled today that, based upon a Hawaiʻi Supreme Court opinion issued on September 6, 2017, existing permits for use of fine mesh nets to catch aquatic life for aquarium purposes are illegal and invalid. Judge Crabtree also ordered the DLNR not to issue any new permits pending environmental review.
The mediated settlement, approved by the Hawai‘i State Water Commission in April, to immediately restore continuous flows in West Kaua‘i’s Waimea River, is the subject of a video mini-documentary produced by the DLNR.
10/13/17 – Land Board Dismisses Fine for Unpermitted Marine Event On Commitment to Apply for Permits
The Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) at its regularly scheduled meeting today reviewed a proposed administrative enforcement action against Kona resident Sean Pagett for organizing unpermitted fitness swimming events in Kailua Bay. The Board voted to dismiss the fine upon receiving assurances from Pagett’s counsel, former Hawaii mayor William Kenoi that Pagett will apply for a DOBOR permit, including obtaining required insurance coverage, for all future marine events he plans. The Board also voted to confirm that DOBOR rules do authorize the boating division, acting in cooperation with the U.S. Coast Guard, to require and issue permits for marine events, including swim races.
The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) has long issued annual commercial and recreational aquarium fish permits, pursuant to HRS §188-31 and administrative rules, authorizing the use of fine meshed traps or nets to take aquatic life for aquarium purposes. On Wednesday, the Hawai‘i Supreme Court ruled that aquarium collection using fine meshed traps or nets is subject to the environmental review procedures provided in the Hawai‘i Environmental Policy Act (HEPA). The issue has been remanded to the circuit court for further proceedings.
In an order (Minute Order No. 43) issued today, contested case hearing officer Judge Riki May Amano (ret.) notified the parties of upcoming filing deadlines in the Contested Case Hearing for the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) Conservation District Use Application (CDUA) at the Mauna Kea Science Reserve. During the evidentiary portion of the Contested Case Hearing, spread over five months in late 2016 and early 2017, twenty-five parties to the case presented testimony and evidence.
The regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) set for Friday, August 8, 2014 has been cancelled due to Hurricane Iselle. All items on the agenda will be heard at the next regularly scheduled BLNR meeting on Friday, August 22, 2104