News Releases

A wildland fire burning adjacent to Ha‘ena State Park on Kaua‘i’s north shore has closed the park and the popular Kalalau Trail in the Na Pali Coast State Wilderness Park.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) will close the Kula Forest Reserve, Waipoli Access Road, Kahikinui Forest Reserve – Papa‘anui Tract, and Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area for two weeks from Monday, October 2, 2017, through Friday, October 13, 2017, to allow for scheduled road repairs, trails repairs, road safety improvements, and fuel reduction work.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) is pleased to announce that application forms for the 2018 Lana‘i Axis deer hunting season, together with instruction sheets, will be available at all DOFAW offices statewide beginning Monday October 2, 2017. Applicants may apply online.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) has scheduled statewide public hearings on proposed administrative rule amendments that would increase the annual commercial marine license fees from the current $50/year to $100/year initially, then to $150/year on January 1, 2018. This date may be delayed until later in the year, depending on when the rules are approved. The proposed rules also would establish a reporting deadline for dealers who buy marine life directly from commercial fishers.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources will hold a public information meeting to explain to Maui boaters and community the project scope and planned fall schedule for maintenance dredging at Lahaina Harbor and Mala Boat Ramp. DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation staff will accept input/comments on current shoaling conditions, and answer questions. The meeting is scheduled for Monday, September 25, 2017 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the West Maui Senior Center, 788 Pauoa St. in Lahaina.

The popular Makapu‘u Lighthouse road/trail and parking lot in the Kaiwi State Scenic Shoreline, will be closed for one day, Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017, while the DLNR Division of State Parks’ contractor stripes the parking stalls. This step will complete the maintenance work in the parking lot. The trail will reopen the next day.

The final stage of work to remove rockfall hazards along the exterior and interior slopes of the iconic Diamond Head State Monument will begin September 18, 2017. This phase will focus on the summit hiking trail, and is expected to be completed by early December 2017

The Hawai‘i State Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) will hear oral arguments in the Contested Case Hearing for the Conservation District Use Application (CDUA) for the Thirty Meter Telescope at the Mauna Kea Science Reserve, on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017 beginning at 9:00 a.m. in the Crown Room of the Grand Naniloa Hotel in Hilo. This is not a public hearing and members of the public will not be allowed to testify, argue, or otherwise present to the BLNR.

The popular Makapu‘u Lighthouse trail and parking lot will be closed from Wednesday September 13 through Friday September 15. The closure is necessary while a weather-resistant protective slurry seal coat is applied on the asphalt pavement of the park entry road and parking lot. The sealant requires time to cure and vehicles must stay off the pavement during this time.

The Board of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), today approved amendments to a wide range of state boating rules intended to improve management of State small boat harbors and ocean recreation-related activities in State waters.