Department of Land and Natural Resources

The Hawai‘i State Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) will hear oral arguments in the Contested Case Hearing for the Conservation District Use Application (CDUA) for the Thirty Meter Telescope at the Mauna Kea Science Reserve, on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017 beginning at 9:00 a.m. in the Crown Room of the Grand Naniloa Hotel in Hilo. This is not a public hearing and members of the public will not be allowed to testify, argue, or otherwise present to the BLNR.

The popular Makapu‘u Lighthouse trail and parking lot will be closed from Wednesday September 13 through Friday September 15. The closure is necessary while a weather-resistant protective slurry seal coat is applied on the asphalt pavement of the park entry road and parking lot. The sealant requires time to cure and vehicles must stay off the pavement during this time.

The Board of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), today approved amendments to a wide range of state boating rules intended to improve management of State small boat harbors and ocean recreation-related activities in State waters.

The monk seal pup (RJ58), named Kaimana, who became a public and media darling after being born on the popular Waikiki beach of the same name was hooked on Labor Day. Volunteers from Hawai‘i Marine Animal Response spotted her around noon with a hook with a lure hanging from her mouth. They’d seen her two hours earlier without a hook.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) has long issued annual commercial and recreational aquarium fish permits, pursuant to HRS §188-31 and administrative rules, authorizing the use of fine meshed traps or nets to take aquatic life for aquarium purposes. On Wednesday, the Hawai‘i Supreme Court ruled that aquarium collection using fine meshed traps or nets is subject to the environmental review procedures provided in the Hawai‘i Environmental Policy Act (HEPA). The issue has been remanded to the circuit court for further proceedings.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) will be holding its sixth public information meeting on sea level rise vulnerability and adaptation on Tuesday, September 12, 2017. The meeting will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Mitchell Pau‘ole Community Center, located at 90 Ainoa Street in Kaunakakai, Moloka‘i.

Over $1.1 billion– that’s how much federal funds were made available to states in 2017 for wildlife and sport fish restoration programs. Over $8.1 million alone was made available to Hawaii in 2017! The source of these funds: the Pittman-Robertson (1937) and Dingell-Johnson (1950) Acts administered through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program: https://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/. These Acts impose federal excise taxes on the sale of firearms, handguns, ammunition, archery equipment, fishing tackle, yachts and pleasure craft. Revenue from these taxes goes right back into state wildlife agencies, like the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) in Hawaii, for wildlife and sport fish restoration projects, education, and shooting range development.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Island Conservation, and other Lehua Island Restoration Project partners became aware of social media posts, photos and video that show dead fish or birds that posters claim were killed by a rodenticide currently being used to eradicate non-native, damaging (invasive) rats from the island. However unlikely the connection, the project partners take any potential risks to non-target species and marine life, extremely seriously.

HONOLULU --  As summer draws to a close and Labor Day weekend beckons for outdoor activities, the Department of Land and Natural Resources wants to encourage everyone, especially those with pets, to practice safe fun in the sun. Help protect our natural environment and always properly dispose of any trash on land and sea.

HILO  --  The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Forestry and Wildlife will conduct an ungulate control program at Puu Waawaa Mauka (above Mamalahoa Highway), during three consecutive weekends in September: Labor Day weekend Sept. 2-4, Sept. 9 and 10, and Sept. 16 and 17. During these dates hiking will not be permitted.