HONOLULU -- The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) will be holding two public information meetings on Hawaii island this month on sea level rise vulnerability and adaptation. The first meeting will take place in Hilo this week on Thursday, August 17, 2017, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Aupuni Center Conference Room, located at 101 Pauahi Street.
News Releases
(Honolulu) – The now famous Hawaiian monk seal pup who spent the past 44 days on busy Kaimana Beach in Waikiki was successfully relocated by a team of expert handlers and veterinarians this morning. Named ‘Kaimana’, the young seal weaned from her mother ‘Rocky’ midday Friday.
(Honolulu) - For several hours this afternoon, ‘Rocky’ the mother of the Hawaiian monk seal pup ‘Kaimana’ has not been spotted at Kaimana Beach. This may indicate that Rocky has weaned her pup, but it’s too soon to know for sure.
Grants from the State of Hawai‘i Land Conservation Fund support efforts by state agencies, counties, and nonprofit land conservation organizations to acquire land and protect resources for public benefit. The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), through its Legacy Land Conservation Program, seeks applications from these partners for grants to preserve – forever -- land that has natural, environmental, recreational, scenic, cultural, agricultural production, or historic value, including park and trail systems that provide access to such land.
The Hawaiian monk seal pup, PO3, born on O‘ahu’s Kaimana Beach in late June will be relocated to a remote, undisclosed shoreline area where she can continue her natural growth as a wild seal with less human interaction and other hazards. The decision to move the seal was made following extensive discussion and analysis by experts, managers and scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries); the DLNR Chair’s Office and its Divisions of Aquatic Resources (DAR) and Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE). Other agencies involved in managing public and seal safety during its time at Kaimana include the City and County (C&C) of Honolulu Emergency Services Department, Division of Ocean Safety and Life Guard Services, C&C Dept. of Parks and Recreation, the Honolulu Mayor’s Office; and Hawai‘i Marine Animal Response (HMAR).
A first-of-its-kind initiative in Hawai‘i to use carbon offset credits for reforestation and recovery of Hawai‘i Island pasture land is moving forward with the release of a Request for Proposals (RFP). The program involves planting of native tree species such as koa and mamane, restoration of the watershed on the north slopes of Mauna Kea, and habitat restoration for the endangered native bird, the palila. The initiative will generate revenues for all the activities through the sale of carbon offset credits
‘Iao Valley State Monument will reopen on Saturday, August 5, 2017, at 7:00 a.m., The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) is in the process of completing repairs to the areas in the park that were damaged by a massive flood event in September 2016. Due to pending permit approvals to complete the project, the DLNR Division of State Parks, decided to re-open the park for residents and visitors during the hiatus of construction activity. It’s anticipated construction will resume sometime this fall after permits are approved.
Gov. David Y. Ige has appointed Robert K. Masuda as First Deputy Director of the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) effective August 4, 2017. In his new role, Masuda will help manage, develop, oversee and implement initiatives, programs, and policies for DLNR’s eleven divisions, including DLNR’s implementation of Gov. Ige’s Sustainable Hawaiʻi Initiative.
The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) is seeking community input on a proposed light industrial and commercial business park at Pulehunui in central Maui. A public meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 16 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Kihei Community Center at 303 E. Lipoa St. in Kihei to provide more information on the proposed project and invite feedback from the community.
Two women and four men were arrested early this morning by Maui Police as they attempted to block the passage of a large vehicle convoy hauling equipment up Haleakala for a new solar telescope. The protesters were among more than 100 who gathered at the intersection of Kula Highway and Old Haleakala Highway beginning at 6 p.m. on Tuesday. By midnight an estimated 60 people were still involved in a peaceful protest. The convoy led by a half dozen police vehicles included four semi-trucks pulling wide-load trailers. It reached the entrance to Haleakala National Park at 6 a.m. and Science City near the summit between 7:30 and 7:45 a.m.