Honolulu - The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) will hold public hearings this week on the proposed adoption and compilation of Title 13, Hawaii Administrative Rules, in order to update and streamline the rules that pertain to commercial operations occurring in state small boat harbors, facilities, and near shore waters.
Boating & Ocean Recreations
LIHUE -- A salvage removal plan is being prepared for a 55-foot by 20 foot shrimping trimaran, the “Kanoa”, which went aground Sunday afternoon at Shark’s Bay on the west side of Hanapepe.
HONOLULU –A state Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) officer cited a fisherman for using a throw net with mesh of less than two inches in waters off Aina Haina on Feb. 5. The officer spotted the man fishing with a throw net from shore while on routine patrol.
WAILUKU – The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) will close the Mala boat launch ramp to public use for two months, starting Monday, March 17, to demolish and replace two existing concrete loading docks and make repairs to portions of the boat ramp. The project will cost approximately $1.1 million. The ramp is scheduled to be closed for 60 days, until May 16, 2014. Public meetings with boaters have been conducted which set this date for start of the repair project.
HONOLULU -- The Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) today authorized an civil penalty fine of $2,500 and associated administrative costs of $753 to be assessed against Alexander Aquino, of Captain Cook, for violation of State Parks Hawaii Administrative Rule chapter 13-146-68, which prohibits commercial activities in State Parks without a written permit from the board or the Division of State Parks.
KAILUA-KONA -- The Department of Land and Natural Resources will close the Puako boat launch ramp from Tuesday January 7 through Wednesday January 8, for removal of a loading dock which collapsed due to high surf on Dec. 20, 2013.
HONOLULU -- The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) is asking the public to comply with state and federal “no feeding, no approach” rules to protect a Hawaiian monk seal pup that has recently been seen in harbors along Oahu’s south shore. This 8-month-old seal with red flipper tags N36/N37 was born in May 2013 on the reef runway beach outside of Keehi lagoon. Also known as “U`ilani” (which means royal beauty in Hawaiian), it has recently been seen in Keehi, Kewalo, and Ala Wai small boat harbors interacting with boat owners and resting under the docks. She may also have been seen in Honolulu harbor.
HONOLULU -- A Waipahu fisherman was charged and sentenced at Waianae District Court on Nov. 25, 2013, for violating Hawaii Administrative Rule (H.A.R.) 13-95-22(a) that prohibits the take or possession of any ulua less than 10 inches in length. Lionel Tunac, 52, pled guilty to the charge and was fined $250. This violation is a petty misdemeanor, punishable with a fine of up to $1,000 and/or 30 days in jail.
HONOLULU -- A Honolulu fisherman pled guilty on November 8, 2013 to an illegal throw net fishing violation in Honolulu District Court and was sentenced to a $750 fine.
Kevin R. De Canto, age 50, was cited by a Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) officer on Oct. 16, 2013 on the shoreline fronting 2255 Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki, for violating Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR) 13-75-10(a) regarding use of throw nets.
“We plan to keep this heavily used ramp open during the holiday season, to accommodate local fishers, who want to launch into the waters off western Maui when there’s an increase in demand for access and certain fish stocks,” said William J. Aila, DLNR chairperson. “We have assurances from our Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation that it is physically possible for the ramp and existing piers to remain open and usable until the repair project start date.”