Department of Land and Natural Resources

(Kula)–An opening hearing will be held to receive testimony on the December 8, 2018 submittal of the Auwahi Wind Farm draft Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) amendment. Auwahi Wind Energy, LLC operates eight 3-megawatt wind turbines augmented by an 11-megawatt battery storage system located on ‘Ulupalakua Ranch, on the eastern side of the island of Maui. The project was constructed in 2012 and has been in operation since that time.

(Honolulu) – Maintenance workers with the Dept. of Land and Natural Resources begin the process today of cleaning up from the weekend’s powerful winter storm. Heavy surf and high winds broke nine vessels away from their off-shore moorings on Maui and Molokai. At the Lahaina Small Boat Harbor on Maui six boats ended up on rocks on the shoreline. Two boats came ashore in Kihei one on Molokai.

(Honolulu) - Personnel from numerous DLNR Divisions continue monitoring the impacts of the major winter storm bearing down on Hawaii. DLNR Chair Suzanne Case and Sam Lemmo administrator of the DLNR Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands spent the day on Oahu’s north shore where there is particular concern about coastal erosion and wave inundation. They watched as the height of coastal waves steadily increased across the day. Case said, “The conditions are impressive but extremely dangerous. We don’t know yet the extent of sand loss on north-facing beaches.”

(Honolulu) – The DLNR Division of State Parks has or is closing the following units due to the impending storm: Ka‘ena Point State Park (O‘ahu) – Both Keawa‘ula & Mokulēʻia access closed due to potentially dangerous surf and water conditions Kaiwi State Scenic Shoreline (O‘ahu) – Tidepools trail closed

(Honolulu) – Numerous divisions of the Dept. of Land and Natural Resources are encouraging everyone to stay very aware of a major storm headed toward Hawai‘i that could bring destructive coastal flooding and erosion and high winds.

(Hilo) –The DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement will work on safety improvements at the Mile Marker 16 Shooting Range from Monday February 25 through Friday March 1, 2019. The shooting range will be closed during the week.

(Honolulu) – Experts from state and federal agencies have agreed that the best option for a whale carcass found stuck on a reef in Kaneohe Bay on Tuesday, is to leave it where it’s at for now. The large and badly decomposed whale carcass is on a patch reef in the northern part of the bay, about a mile off shore. It appears at this time that winds and waves will not bring it into land.

(Honolulu) – The carcass of what is described as a “very large” whale of unknown species washed onto a patch reef in Kaneohe Bay yesterday morning. It is about one mile off-shore from Waikane.

(Honolulu) – Albatross numbers at Kaʻena Point Natural Area Reserve continue to climb to record highs after being protected in 2011 by a predator-proof fence. In the 2018 season, 106 albatross pairs attempted to breed, and the number of wedge-tailed shearwater chicks have more than tripled in the last seven years.

(Kailua-Kona) –The Mahaiula section of Kekaha Kai State Park will be closed from Monday February 11th until Wednesday February 13th, with re-opening scheduled for Thursday February 14th.