(HONOLULU) - Thomas “Tommy” Friel, a conservation law enforcement officer for nearly three decades, has been named the new Chief of the DLNR Division of Conservation Resources (DOCARE), effective Monday, December 28, 2015.

HONOLULU -- The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife announces the opening of the 2015-2016 game bird hunting season on Saturday, November 7, 2015.

(HILO) - 19 officers from the DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE), with support from four Hawaii Police Department officers and a ranger with the Office of Mauna Kea Management, conducted a third law enforcement operation in the restricted area covered by the 120 day emergency rule, passed in June by the state Board of Land and Natural Resources.

(HONOLULU) – One billion dollars – that’s how much hunters and anglers contribute each year in the U.S. toward fish and wildlife conservation programs through taxes on their sport-related purchases. National Hunting and Fishing Day began in 1972 as a way for states to recognize the contributions of sportsmen and women in wildlife conservation and restoration, hunter education and to the shooting sports. For 78 years the Pittman-Robertson Act (American System of Conservation Funding) has imposed a 10.5%-11% federal excise tax on the sale of firearms, handguns, ammunition, archery equipment and accessories. That’s resulted in contributions of $9.24 billion toward wildlife restoration projects, including an allocation to the states of $808 million in 2015.

(HILO) - Eight people were arrested early this morning at a protest camp across the road from the Mauna Kea Visitors Center on Hawaii island. Seven women and one man were arrested for being present in the restricted area, outlined in the emergency rule passed by the Board of Land and Natural Resources and signed by Governor Ige. All of those arrested were transported by the Hawaii County Police Department to Hilo for booking.

(HILO) - Early Friday morning, July 31, 2015, officers from the DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement arrested seven men, camping in the restricted area on Maunakea on Hawaii Island. The Hawaii County Police Department provided transportation support and booking and rangers from the Office of Mauna Kea Management provided logistical support. An additional six men were issued citations and voluntarily left the mountain.

(HONOLULU) - The Mauna Kea emergency rule, restricting nighttime activity and camping on the mountain for the next 120 days was signed today by Governor David Ige. The rule,

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 -- 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 – A DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement Officer (DOCARE), on routine patrol Sunday morning, cited a Windward Oahu resident for having dozens of undersized fish. This resulted in not only the fish being confiscated for evidence, but also the fisher’s 16-foot skiff and 3500 feet of net.