Division of Aquatic Resources

Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) Education Specialist John Kahiapo’s table of visual aids for a class on fishing regulation at Wailoa Station in Hilo, Hawai‘i Island, on Monday, November 11, 2025.

A Unique Fishing Class

DAR Education Specialist John Kahiapo regularly teaches a fishing class at Wailoa Station in Hilo, Hawai‘i Island. The class targets those who have violated fishing regulations if the prosecutor, public defender, and judge deem it appropriate. Fishers who attend the class learn the rules to avoid violating fishing regulations in the future. Then, they can take that knowledge back to their communities to help increase compliance with fishing regulations on Hawai‘i Island.

The class covers regulated species, marine protected areas, protected marine animals, and fishing gear. He also teaches people how to use materials he provides, such as regulations booklets and the popular measurement guides that give the minimum size, season, and bag limit for each regulated species. The class takes two hours and goes over everything a fisher needs to know to stay on the right side of the law.

“Fishing is a privilege that we get to enjoy in Hawai‘i,” Kahiapo said. “It’s every fisher’s kuleana to familiarize themselves with the rules.”

Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) Education Specialist John Kahiapo’s teaches about turtles during a class on fishing regulation at Wailoa Station in Hilo, Hawai‘i Island, on Monday, November 11, 2025.

Education for All Ages

Kahiapo teaches other introductory fishing education classes to children as well as adults. He also travels to schools to give talks on various aquatic resource topics. Part of his job as an education specialist for DAR is to help people understand what the rules are and why they exist. For example, size restrictions ensure that fish get old enough to spawn before they are taken from the ocean. Regulations are part of the way the State government hopes to make sure that there will still be fish for future generations.

“The rules all exist for a reason,” Kahiapo explained. “With the ‘ama’ama, also known as striped mullet, some are actually capable of spawning when they are seven inches long. However, we want to make sure they produce a few generations before they can be taken. That’s why the regulations require them to be 11 inches or more before they are taken.”

“In-person courses like this are helpful,” Kahiapo said. “People can touch the gear and understand how it is used, ask questions, and have discussions about things they don’t understand.”

Managing our Aquatic Resources

Education is a crucial aspect of DAR’s mission, and it’s not just for fishers. Tour operators, conservationists, people who enjoy ocean sports, and many other stakeholders benefit from understanding responsible resource management. It is only with community support that the government can succeed in being a good steward of land and ocean resources, and education is a meaningful way to get them involved.

“This course is also given at different public events,” Kahiapo said. “I set up a fishing education table for groups who request it, and in this way we can help communities know everything they need to know about marine life management.”

DAR provides a variety of helpful information to the public. For example, fishers who take Kahiapo’s class go home with a copy of the most recent fishing regulations, a guide to regulated species and how to measure them, and a manual on fishing in Hawai‘i. These materials ensure that what they learned in the course will stick with them and be easy to share.