Department of Land and Natural Resources

HONOLULU – The major walkway along the coastline of Wai‘anapanapa State Park will be replaced beginning on September 6. The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of State Parks will be phasing the project over the next 6 months to avoid a complete closure of the walkway. However, the construction of the new 4-foot wide concrete walkway will disrupt access along portions of the path over several months. The current walkway provides access to the scenic lookouts along the coastline and to Pailoa Bay, the popular black sand beach. Pailoa Beach will be closed for approximately 2 weeks, probably in October, for the construction of a new concrete pathway with steps. The campgrounds, picnic tables, and restrooms will remain accessible but may require alternate routes during construction. Roadways and parking areas may be temporarily impacted by the construction activities.

(Haʻena, Kauai) — The DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) has finalized the management plan for the Hāʻena Community-Based Subsistence Fishing Area (CBSFA) and will brief the Hawaii Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) on the outcomes of the public comment process and the final management plan at its regular meeting on August 26th, 2016.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) is supporting a proposed rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) which would prohibit approaching a Hawaiian spinner dolphin within 50 yards by any means. This would include commercial swim- with-dolphins programs.

HONOLULU -- As global climate change progresses, what will happen to Hawai‘i’s aquifers and the ecosystem services which healthy forest watersheds provide? Will we be able to meet our future fresh water needs for drinking and agriculture?

(Molokai) – Scattered across an expansive coastline of valleys, sea cliffs, boulders, and beaches, is a problem that affects everyone. “It doesn’t matter the name you give it, marine debris, ocean litter, coastal trash, or where it came from,” says James Espaniola of the Department of Land and Natural Resources. “The best thing to do is to get busy and do something about it.” That is exactly what The Nature Conservancy Molokai (TNC-Molokai), Kalaupapa National Historical Park (KNHP) and the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife’s (DOFAW) Natural Area Reserves System decided to do.

(Honolulu) – The deep, beautiful orange and black hue of Hawai’i’s official state insect is well known by visitors to native forests, and cultural practitioners. It is considered a critical pollinator for numerous native plants. The Kamehameha butterfly, like so many insects, plants, and animals in Hawai’i, is being crowded out of its traditional habitat by ever-encroaching human presence, the introduction of invasive predator species, and global climate change. Although the butterfly is historically known from all the main Hawaiian Islands (Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Lanaʻi, Maui, and Hawai’i), it is no longer found in some areas where it used to be common and it appears to be declining. The Pulelehua Project includes an effort to map current populations of the Kamehameha butterfly using observations submitted by the public, combined with surveys of remote areas by scientists. Pulelehua is the Hawaiian word for butterfly.

(Click on image to watch video)

(Honolulu) - The Hawaii Dept. of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) has established a special website for information on the upcoming International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress Hawaii 2016, being held in Honolulu, Sept. 1-10, 2016.

KAHULUI - The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) will close the Kula Forest Reserve, Walpoli Access Road, Kahananui Forest Reserve – Papa‘anui Tract, and Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area from Monday, September 12, 2016, through Friday, September 23, 2016, to allow scheduled road repairs, road safety improvements, and fuel mitigation work (such as removing underbrush) and to be completed for both the unpaved and paved sections of the road.

HONOLULU -- The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Forestry and Wildlife is notifying the public that vehicle access to Kuaokala and Peacock Flats has been restored. The closure was due to heightened security levels at military access points (i.e. Ka‘ena Point Satellite Tracking Station).