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.

Oʻahu and Kauaʻi – Thursday, July 27, 2023, 5:30-8:30 p.m.

-Online via Zoom (register at: https://bit.ly/OSUFPH07-27)

-Stevenson Middle School Cafeteria, 1202 Prospect Street, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96822

-Līhuʻe Neighborhood Center, 3353 ʻEono Street, Līhuʻe, Hawaiʻi 96766

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