The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) will hold public hearings on the proposed adoption of Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR) chapter 13-78, establishing provisions for the Ocean Stewardship User Fee. The proposed new chapter will implement §187A-52, Hawaii Revised Statutes, which requires all operators of commercial vessels, watercrafts, or water sports equipment that are required to have a commercial operator permit or commercial use permit pursuant to HAR §13-256-3 to collect a $1 ocean stewardship user fee from each passenger carried or customer served and transfer these fees to DLNR.

Interested persons are urged to participate in the public hearings to present relevant information and individual opinion for DLNR to consider. There are three ways to participate: online via internet or telephone; in-person at one of our host locations; or by written testimony.

Maui, Molokaʻi, and Lānaʻi – Tuesday, July 25, 2023, 5:30-8:30 p.m.
• Online via Zoom (register at: https://bit.ly/OSUFPH07-25)
• Maui DAR Office, 130 Mahalani Street, Wailuku, Hawaiʻi 96793
• Kūlana ʻŌiwi, 600 Maunaloa Highway, Kaunakakai, Hawaiʻi 96748
• Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation – Lānaʻi Office, Mānele Small Boat Harbor, Mānele Harbor Road, Lānaʻi City, Hawaiʻi 96763

Please visit the DAR announcements page for more information and details: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dar/announcements/