Division of Aquatic Resources

The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) will hold a statewide online public hearing and statewide in-person public hearings on the proposed adoption of a new chapter under the Hawai‘i Administrative Rules (HAR) to establish the Mo‘omomi Community-Based Subsistence Fishing Area (CBSFA) to manage and protect fish stocks and to reaffirm traditional and customary native Hawaiian subsistence fishing practices along the northwest coast of Moloka‘i. The proposed CBSFA extends from Ilio Point in the west to Nihoa Flats in the east, from the shoreline out to approximately one mile.  The proposed rules would establish new bag limits, size limits, seasonal closures, and/or gear restrictions for uhu, kumu, kole, moi, spiny lobster, opihi, and limu; prohibit night diving and SCUBA spearfishing; prohibit commercial fishing, with exceptions for bottomfishing for deep 7 bottomfish and trolling for all species; and establish special regulations to minimize disturbance of the marine environment in Kawa‘aloa Bay. 

            All interested persons may view a pre-recorded presentation describing the proposed rules, which will be made available for viewing via a link on the Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) website one week prior to the hearings. 

            Interested persons are also urged to participate in either the online public hearing or one of the in-person public hearings on August 19, 2020to present relevant information and individual opinion for DLNR to consider.  There are 3 ways to participate: online via internet or telephone; in-person; or by written testimony.

            Online: Persons can present live video/oral testimony via internet or telephone at an online public hearing on August 19, 2020 from 5:30 to 9:30 pm. To participate, you will need either a computer with internet access, video camera, and microphone, or a telephone.  To sign up, please email your request to: [email protected] at least 48 hours in advance.  Please include your email, full name, and phone number.  A confirmation will be sent to you with instructions and the meeting link and call-in number.  You can view the on-line public hearing here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpGVbR8IMi1hnPksQeSVUZA

            In-person: Persons can present testimony in person on August 19, 2020 at the following times and locations:

• Kualapu‘u Charter School, 260 Farrington Ave, Kualapu‘u, Moloka‘i – 5:30 to 8:30 pm
• BLNR Boardroom, 1151 Punchbowl Street, Honolulu, O‘ahu – 5:30 to 8:30 pm
• Kaua‘i Veterans Center, 3215 Kapule Hwy, Lihue, Kaua‘i – 5:30 to 8:30 pm
• Hilo State Building, DAGS Conference Room, 75 Aupuni Street, Hilo, Hawai‘i – 5:30 to 8:30 pm
• Maui DAR Office, 130 Mahalani Street, Wailuku, Maui – 5:30 to 8:30 pm
• Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority – Hale Iako, 73-970 Makako Bay Drive
  Kailua Kona- 5:30 to 8:30 pm
• Lāna‘i DOCARE/DOFAW Office, 917 Fraser Avenue, Lāna‘i City, Lāna‘i – 5:30 to 8:30 pm

            To provide testimony in person at one of the public hearing locations above, please email [email protected] or call (808) 347-0317 to register at least 48 hours in advance.  Please include your full name, phone number, and hearing location.  A confirmation will be sent to registrants with instructions for testifying in person. All persons providing in-person testimony must wear a mask at all times and comply with physical distancing guidelines. Only one person at a time will be allowed into the hearing room to present their testimony to a hearing officer.  All others will be required to wait outside or in their vehicles until their assigned time slot. 

            Written testimony: Persons can mail or email written testimony by August 26, 2020 to the Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR), 1151 Punchbowl Street, Room 330, Honolulu, HI 96813, [email protected] or [email protected].

The draft rule is available for viewing and download at this link.