Department of Land and Natural Resources

(HONOLULU) – On a warm July evening, visitors Lonnie Watson and Mark Louviere from the Ft. Worth, Texas metro area did what they normally do during their frequent visits to Hawaii. They wandered out to the coastline to watch the setting sun. On this particular day they spotted something that they say has humbled and blessed them. Watson explained, “For some reason there was a beam of light…just a beam…it landed right on one of them and for some reason I just turned my head. I said, look, it was just a stroke of luck.”

KAILUA-KONA, HAWAI‘I -- The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR) is seeking public input regarding the installation of commercial signs at the Keauhou Bay small boat harbor.

HONOLULU -- Hawai‘i Environmental Court Judge Randal Shintani has imposed a fine of $600 upon Ming Ren Yan, captain and owner of the shrimp fishing vessel Da Opailolo II. The case stems from fall 2015, when Da Opailolo II was illegally mooring in Wai‘anae Small Boat Harbor.

WAILUKU, MAUI – The Commission on Water Resource Management will be performing work on the waterfall at the Waihe‘e Ditch siphon where it crosses Wailuku River*. The Commission has asked Wailuku Water Company, LLC (WWC) to reduce the amount of water to Wailuku River, in order to perform the work and provide a safe work environment.

LIHU‘E, KAUA‘I -- The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) announces the opening of the Kekaha Game Management Area (KGMA) of Hunting Unit A to black-tailed deer hunting season on the island of Kaua‘i. The Department of Hawaiian Homelands (DHHL) has granted a one year license agreement extension to DLNR, extending to to August 31, 2017.

WAHIAWA, O‘AHU – The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of State Parks tomorrow will reopen the Wahiawa Freshwater State Recreation Area, on Walker Avenue, following completion of repaved, restriped, and other improvements of roadway and parking areas in the park made for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. The restroom renovation is nearly complete but portable toilets are available for the time being.

LIHU‘E -- The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Hunter Education program, is working to improve class availability and certification options to meet the increased demand for Hunter Education classes on the island of Kaua‘i. Registration for the next available class in October will begin on Monday August 1, 2016.

(HILO) – Hawaii’s forestry industry is being encouraged to provide input for a possible Request for Proposals (RFP) for harvest and reforestation endeavors at the Waiakea Timber Management Area (WTMA) on Hawaii Island. The DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) published a Request for Information (RFI) on July 21, 2016. It asks for guiding information on the resources of interest, markets, products, harvest practices, processing, transportation, financing, etc.

(HILO) – The yellow, white-and-gray palila, a highly endangered Hawaiian honeycreeper, is one of the world’s most isolated birds. It lives only in a small patch of māmane forest on the western slope of Mauna Kea volcano on Hawai‘i Island. With the opening today of the new Palila Forest Discovery Trail, visitors will be now able to see palila and other native species that call this distinctive ecosystem home.

KAILUA-KONA -- Governor David Ige signed a new rule last week to create a new marine reserve at Ka‘ūpūlehu, on the west coast of Hawaii island. The rule will take effect on Friday, July 29.