Department of Land and Natural Resources

(Honolulu) – The presence of a sperm whale carcass on a remote West O‘ahu beach is giving a variety of science and cultural researchers the chance not only to try and determine what killed it, but to also expand on our understanding of this species’ behavior, what they eat, how marine debris may or may not be impacting them, and how carcasses degrade in place as part of a natural ecosystem.

(Honolulu) – While attempting to either launch or retrieve a jet ski at the Haleiwa Small Boat Harbor ramp last Saturday (Jan. 12, 2019) the driver of a truck, towing a ski trailer, jumped out to get help when his vehicle began slipping down the ramp. By the time he got to the parking lot, both truck and trailer were completely submerged.

(Honolulu) – Video of a man standing on top of the carcass of a sperm whale off the south shore of O‘ahu is being investigated by both federal and state law enforcement authorities. NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) and the DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) are looking into this incident and any others where people have touched the whale or as some reports have suggested, tried to remove some of its teeth.

(Honolulu) – The decomposing carcass of a sperm whale, at last report, has moved to a location about eight miles south of Pearl Harbor. This despite it being towed 15-miles off shore after it landed last week on the reef adjacent to the Sand Island Recreation Area.

(Honolulu) – A cooperative operation between city & county, state, and federal government agencies resulted in the successful removal of a decomposing whale carcass from shallow waters fronting Sand Island State Recreation Area.

(Honolulu) – More than 500 Aholehole confiscated from a pair of fishermen eight days ago did not go to waste. Many people inquired on social media about the fate of the fish. The DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) photographed them for evidence and then turned them over to the Division of Aquatic Resources’ (DAR) Anuenue Fisheries Research Center at Sand Island.

(Honolulu) - Jason Redulla, a 15-year veteran of the DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) and 27-year law enforcement professional, has been chosen as the agency’s new enforcement chief. Redulla currently serves as DOCARE’s Deputy Enforcement Chief and Assistant Division Administrator.

(Honolulu) – On Thursday, officers from the DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) were on routine patrol in windward O‘ahu when they observed a lay net violation in progress. This was on Kawa Stream, just makai of the Kahana Bridge.

(Honolulu) – Hawaii-based marine and animal protection organizations have joined forces with the Hawai‘i Dept. of Land and Natural Resources to make it easier for people to report illegal aquarium collecting activity across the state.

(Honolulu) – On Friday, four officers with the DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) were recognized for their efforts to revive an unconscious, lifeless man at Keehi Small Boat Harbor on O‘ahu in July.