Public hearings scheduled for proposal to amend fishing regulations for manini, kole, kala, uhu, and pāpaʻi kualoa (Kona crab)

The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) will hold public hearings on the proposed amendment and compilation of Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR) chapter 13-95, updating rules for manini, kala, uhu, and pāpa‘i kualoa (Kona crab), establishing rules for kole, and updating the chapter with other various housekeeping amendments.

The proposed amendments include:

  • Increasing the minimum size for manini (Convict Tang) from five inches to six inches;
  • Establishing a minimum size of five inches for kole (Goldring Surgeonfish);
  • Establishing a bag limit for kala (Bluespine Unicornfish) of two per person per day with a possession and sale exception for commercial marine dealers;
  • Prohibiting the take of any uhu ‘ele‘ele (Terminal-phase Redlip Parrotfish) or uhu uliuli (Terminal-phase Spectacled Parrotfish);
  • Increasing the minimum size for uhu pālukaluka (Non-terminal-phase Redlip Parrotfish) and uhu ‘ahu‘ula (Non-terminal-phase Spectacled Parrotfish) from twelve to fourteen inches;
  • Establishing a minimum size of ten inches for all other uhu (Parrotfish – family Scaridae);
  • Establishing a bag limit of two uhu of any variety per person per day with a possession and sale exception for commercial marine dealers;
  • Allowing the take of female pāpa‘i kualoa (Kona crab) without eggs;
  • Extending the current closed season (May-August) for pāpa‘i kualoa to May-September; and
  • Making other non-substantive housekeeping amendments for clarity and consistency with other chapters including adding new definitions, amending old definitions, and other stylistic and grammatical corrections throughout the chapter.

View the full notice of public hearing for dates, times, and locations, as well as instructions on how to provide testimony.

Download the most recent draft of the proposed amendments to HAR §13-95.