Department of Land and Natural Resources

HONOLULU – The Hawaii State Legislature identified climate change as one of the most urgent and long-term threats to the State’s economy, sustainability, security and way of life over the next century. In 2014 it passed Act 83 in order to address the effects of climate change. Act 83 also established the Interagency Climate Adaptation Committee (ICAC), with representatives from more than a dozen state and county agencies. The ICAC is tasked with developing a statewide Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Report (SLR Report) to the legislature by the end of 2017. The committee held its first meeting this week on June 3.

HONOLULU – A new type of microscopic lesion, termed colony-wide protein losing cytopathology (CPLC), was associated with of an unusual die-off of corals (Montipora capitata) in central Kaneohe Bay in early February. The cause of CPLC is not known.

LIHU 'E – Annual seabird radar monitoring work has now begun in conjunction with the start of the breeding season for both both ‘A‘o (Newell’s Shearwaters) and Ua’u (Hawaiian Petrels) on Kaua’i. This is a project of the Kauai Endangered Seabird Recovery Project (KESRP).

HONOLULU -- The Board of Land and Natural Resources has approved a boating administrative rule amendment that makes permanent bans on alcohol and drug use, and disorderly behavior, at the Kaneohe Sandbar, also known as Ahu O Laka.

HONOLULU – With the school year ending and the start of the busy summer tourist season, the Department of Land and Natural Resources and City and County of Honolulu Ocean Safety & Lifeguard Services Division have combined forces to educate and inform local residents and visitors about resource protection rules and safety considerations related to visits to Oahu Offshore Islets; particularly Mokulua North or Mokunui Islet, the highly visited islet off Kailua and Lanikai beaches. All of the offshore islets are state wildlife sanctuaries. On Mokunui Islet, the state and city & county are working to balance resource protection with visitation.

HONOLULU – Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park on Hawaii Island is one of the state’s quintessential and most popular state parks. It attracts thousands of kayakers, snorkelers, hikers, and people interested in learning about Hawaiian cultural resources.

Honolulu – When the 55-foot sailing vessel Doubloon broke apart off Mission Beach in Laie, it left a 1/2 mile long path of debris. Today staff from the DLNR Land Division and Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR) used trash cans, rakes, an ATV and sheer manpower to remove several truckloads of wood, plastic and other materials left after the boat became disabled and sank early Tuesday morning. The debris was so extensive and its path was so long that crews plan to return tomorrow to finish up their work.

Honolulu – The translocation of endangered Laysan ducks (Anas laysanensis) to the remote Kure Atoll State Wildlife Sanctuary in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument appears to be a success. Staff from the State of Hawaii, DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) report that 19 new downy ducklings emerged over the past week.

HONOLULU, May 7, 2015 — Are you on non-industrial private forest land and want to restore on it native forest habitat for threatened and endangered species? The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has federal funds to help you do this and you are encouraged to apply.

LIHU‘E, KAUA‘I -- The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) is seeking public input and comments on a draft forest reserve management plan for Nounou and Kâlepa Forest Reserves on the island of Kaua‘i.