Department of Land and Natural Resources

HONOLULU — Hawai‘i Governor David Ige today signed Senate Bill 2453 authorizing alternative sentencing for aquatic violations. The new law provides clear legal authority to judges, allowing them to more effectively tailor sentences when aquatics statutes are violated. The bill covers most regulations under the jurisdiction of the DLNR’s Division of Aquatic Resources, including most fisheries violations. Judges will still be able to impose jail time or fine defendants. Now they’ll also be able to sentence offenders to an educational course or resource-specific community service work.

HONOLULU -- In order to expand Bowhunter Education certification options in Hawaii, the Hawaii Hunter Education Program within the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement, will begin offering Hawaii residents an online Bowhunter Education course, beginning on July 1, 2016.

HONOLULU — The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) is seeking new projects for the Hawaiʻi Forest Legacy Program that will protect important working forest lands from the threat of conversion to non-forest uses. The Forest Legacy Program, administrated through DLNR’s Division of Forestry and Wildlife, is accepting applications for conservation acquisition assistance through the program.

Governor David Ige proclaimed June 15, 2016 as Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument Day in Hawaii. This is in recognition of the 10th anniversary of the designation of the Monument. Representatives from co-management agencies, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Hawaii Dept. of Land and Natural Resources, along with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs attended a ceremony at the Governor’s Office this morning.

HILO) – At Sunday’s 13th annual Tokunaga Ulua Challenge Fishing Tournament weigh-in, you’d hear a call for “Mr. Barbless Hook.” That would be Kurt Kawamoto, a fisheries biologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center. Kawamoto earned the moniker as the driving force behind the NOAA and DLNR Barbless Circle Hook Project. Each time a fish caught with a barbless circle hook weighed in, Kawamoto stepped forward to slap a special sticker on it, and hopefully to see a new record. Since initiating the program more than a decade ago, ulua and other fish caught by shoreline fishermen with barbless hooks have weighed in at one hundred pounds or more; winning more than just a few tournaments.

HONOLULU -- Another long-lasting and economical tool to help schools keep their classrooms cool is by planting shade trees in strategic locations on school campuses to maximize their shading and cooling potential.

WAHIAWA, OAHU – The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of State Parks will completely close the boat ramp and parking area at the Wahiawa Freshwater State Recreation Area, on Walker Avenue, from June 13 through July 1, 2016 and reopen on July 2, 2016.

PUAKŌ, HAWAII - An educational workshop is planned on Saturday, June 11, for interested community members who want to learn more about ongoing resource management and conservation in Puakō. Puakō Makai Watch will host, ‘'Ike Kai,” which is designed to inform and engage community members on how they can volunteer with the Puakō Makai Watch program.

HONOLULU -- Beginning on July 1, 2016, all vessel registration transfers in the State of Hawai‘i will require a notarized bill of sale to be presented to registering agency the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR).

HILO — The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) announces the opening of the hunting season in the Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a Forest Reserve (PWW) Youth and Disabled Hunt and Makai Sections pursuant to Title 13, Chapter 123, “Rules Regulating Game Mammal Hunting.” DLNR-DOFAW also announces a special Ungulate Control Program for the PWW Mauka section pursuant to Title 13, Chapter 123, “Rules Regulating Game Mammal Hunting,” §13-123-9.