Department of Land and Natural Resources

(Kona, Hawai‘i) – The people leading research and management of the fungal disease known as Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death revealed their latest scientific findings and management tools to interested people at a community forum at the West Hawai‘i Civic Center on Saturday.

(Honolulu) – Around Valentine’s Day, vandals carved a heart-shape into a wall at Kaniakapūpū, King Kamehamea III’s summer palace. Three-years ago vandals carved a series of crosses into another wall on the opposite side of the ruin’s entrance.

(Honolulu) – A 75-year-old man received wounds to his leg after 10:00 a.m. in an apparent shark encounter. The Hawai‘i County Fire Dept. received the report from an isolated area between ‘Anaeho‘omalu Bay and Keawaiki in the Waikoloa area of north Hawai‘i.

(Honolulu)-The Nominating Committee for the Commission on Water Resource Management (CWRM) is accepting applications for one vacant Commissioner’s position. The new term for the Commissioner will begin July 1, 2019 and run for four (4) years, expiring on June 30, 2023.

(Honolulu) – Today coastal experts from the DLNR Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands (OCCL) walked a short stretch of beach, fronting a dozen homes in the Portlock area of east O‘ahu. Salvatore Saluga and Shellie Habel looked for vegetation that was beyond the high-water mark.

(Honolulu) – Today the Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) approved a request from the DLNR’s Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) to temporarily close the Pua Loke Arboretum in Lihue “to make state and county facilities enhancements.” DOFAW plans to use a portion of the arboretum, just east of the Kukui Grove Shopping Mall, to expand its base of operations. DLNR and Kaua‘i County are in discussion about the county’s potential use of some of the property.

(Makawao) –Nearly 30 trees will be removed along portions of Olinda and Pi'iho'lo Roads near the Waihou Spring Forest Reserve to improve safety in and around the area.

(Līhu‘e) - As part of the on-going response to the detection of Rapid ‘Ōhi‘a Death (ROD) on Kaua‘i, DLNR will soon begin installing two types of signs and numerous boot-brush stations around the island. In areas where ROD has killed ‘ōhi‘a, signs will be installed with a cautionary message, “Stop: ROD (Rapid ‘Ōhi‘a Death) Alert. You are entering an area where ROD has been detected.”

(Honolulu) –Starting on Monday April 8, 2019 and until further notice, the Department of Land and Natural Resources State Historic Preservation Division (SHPD) will institute “I Mua Mondays”. On all Monday’s SHPD offices statewide will be closed to the public and SHPD will not accept meetings, phone calls, emails or “walk-ins”. SHPD’s Library will also be closed on “I Mua Mondays.”

(Honolulu) –Access to the Maunalua Bay Boat Ramp will be closed next week from March 25th to March 29th as contractors will be removing the condemned pier. Weather permitting and if the contractor can finish the work earlier, the boat ramp will re-open at that time.