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.

Hawai‘i Island – Wednesday, July 26, 2023, 5:30-8:30 p.m.

-Online via Zoom (register at: https://bit.ly/OSUFPH07-26)

-Aupuni Center Conference Room, 101 Pauahi Street, Suite #1, Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720

-West Hawai‘i Civic Center – Community Meeting Hale, 74-5044 Ane Keohokālole Highway, Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i 96740

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