News Releases

HILO -- The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) will reopen portions of Lava Tree State Monument on a limited basis beginning Monday December 8, 2014. The public will be able to visit most of the viewable lava tree molds, the main pavilion and the informational kiosk. The parking lot, comfort station and front portion of the loop trail will also be available for public use.

HONOLULU -- The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of State Parks will reopen the Castle Beach area of the Malaekahana State Recreation Area tomorrow morning.

Waikoloa – The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) commissioned additional sound testing at the proposed Pu’u Anahulu Shooting Range on Hawaii Island yesterday. Organized by the consulting firm DLNR retained to assist in the preparation of environmental documents for the long-planned range, these live-fire shooting tests will lead to a computerized visual characterization of sound levels at various sites across the one-square mile range and surrounding areas.

Honolulu - The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), along with the Conservation Council for Hawaii, the Center for Biological Diversity and the Monk Seal Foundation are now rewarding $10,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the illegal killing of a baby monk seal in Anahola, Kauai on November 30, 2014. That’s double the initial reward offered by HSUS after the killing was announced yesterday.

LIHU‘E – The Department of Land and Natural Resources will making improvements at Koke‘e and Waimea Canyon State Parks, starting December 4, 2014. Work includes replacement of water tanks servicing the comfort stations at the Pu‘u Hinahina and Waimea Canyon lookouts in the Waimea Canyon State Park> There will also be roadway repairs and drainage improvements on Koke‘e Road and repaving of the camping parking area in Koke‘e State Park. The project is expected to be completed by the end of February 2015.

PUNA DISTRICT, HAWAII COUNTY -- Two guides who were involved in leading tours into the state Wao Kele O Puna Forest Reserve and Kahaualea Natural Area Reserve were arrested by Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) officers on Monday.. The charges were for prohibited entry into closed areas and for engaging in illegal commercial activities on DLNR-managed lands.

LIHU‘E, KAUA‘I – The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), in cooperation with the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), is investigating the suspicious death of a Hawaiian monk seal on the Northeast coast of Kauai. Anyone with information about this incident should call the toll-free, confidential reward tip line, 1-855-DLNR-TIP

HONOLULU -- The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of State Parks will begin work on improvements at the Kahuku section of the Malaekahana State Recreation Area on December 1, 2014, that will include demolition of existing cabins and structures.

HONOLULU -- The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council, State Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) and Federal NOAA Fisheries Service (NMFS) will hold public meetings on potential Main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) Deep-7 bottomfish fishery rules and regulations and changes to minimum size limits for the sale of Ahi.

HONOLULU - Hawaii’s Makai Watch Program is a collaborative program where communities, non-government organizations (NGOs), and the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) work together to improve stewardship of marine and coastal resources. This innovative program is modeled after the successful Neighborhood Watch programs.