Division of Aquatic Resources

The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) will hold a public hearing on the proposed amendment of Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR) chapter 13-60.4, “West Hawai‘i Regional Fishery Management Area, Hawai‘i” on November 13, 2024 at 5:30PM. The proposed amendments would 1) extend for an additional two years (through December 18, 2026) the current moratorium on take of any pāku‘iku‘i put into place on December 19, 2022 through the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ (Department’s) adaptive management rulemaking authority, which is set to sunset after December 18, 2024; 2) establish for a period of ten years (through December 18, 2036) following the sunset of the proposed extended moratorium after December 18, 2026, a Pāku‘iku‘i Fisher Registration requirement for any take of pāku‘iku‘i, including registration terms and conditions, such as a monthly reporting requirement, and establish a bag limit of zero (0) pāku‘iku‘i per person per day (the proposed bag limit of zero (0) is a placeholder to facilitate further discussion on bag limits); and 3) make other non-substantive amendments to the chapter, such as the addition of Miloliʻi Community-Based Subsistence Fishing Area, Hawaiʻi (HAR chapter 13-60.10) to the list of designated areas in subsection (c) of HAR § 13-60.4-2, “Geographical Jurisdiction of Chapter Provisions.”

Interested persons are urged to participate in the public hearing to present relevant information and individual opinions for DLNR to consider.  There are three ways to participate: online via internet or telephone; in-person at the designated host site; or by written testimony.

If you do not wish to testify but want to watch the public hearing online, you can view the online public hearing here.

PUBLIC HEARING DATE, TIME, AND LOCATION
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
5:30 – 8:30 – Public Hearing hosted by DLNR
Online via Zoom (register here)
In Person at:
West Hawaii Civic Center, Community Meeting Hale
74-5044 Ane Keohokālole Highway
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740

TESTIMONY INSTRUCTIONS
Online Testimony
To provide online testimony, you will need a computer with internet access, video camera, and microphone, or a telephone. If you wish to testify online, you must register using the registration link included above.

Please note that all fields are required to register to testify. Once you submit the online registration form, a confirmation will be emailed to you with instructions and the meeting link and call-in number. If you do not receive an email with a Zoom link, please email [email protected] for assistance. We request that you register to testify at least one hour prior to the hearing to ensure that you receive the Zoom link on time.  If you are unable to access the Zoom hearing, you may still provide oral testimony at the in-person host site or you may also submit written testimony.

In-person Testimony
DLNR will set up an in-person host site at the address listed above where persons can attend in person to present live video/oral testimony via computer on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Written testimony
Persons can email or mail written testimony by Wednesday, November 20, 2024 to the following addresses:

email: [email protected]

Division of Aquatic Resources
1151 Punchbowl Street, Room 330
Honolulu, HI 96813

Anyone with a hearing impairment who desires to testify may request assistance of a sign language interpreter.  The request will need to be received at least seven days before the hearing is scheduled to start.

Additional information or a copy of the proposed rules will be mailed at no charge upon receipt of verbal or written request.  The requests may be made in writing (to the DAR address in the preceding paragraph), or by calling 587-0100 (voice or TDD) in Honolulu. The proposed rules can be reviewed in person, by appointment only, at the Oʻahu DAR office at 1151 Punchbowl Street Room 330, Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96813 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Holidays. To schedule an appointment to review the proposed rules in person, email [email protected]. The proposed rules can also be viewed online.