Department of Land and Natural Resources

(HONOLULU) - Curt Cottrell, a 25-year-long employee of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, has been chosen as the next Administrator for the DLNR Division of State Parks. He replaces Dan Quinn, another veteran manager, who recently retired.

HONOLULU - Hawaii’s unprecedented coral bleaching event this fall prompted dozens of new volunteers to receive training today by the Eyes of the Reef Network (EOR), to spot and report coral bleaching on their local reefs. Billed as Bleachapalozza, today’s statewide training was intended to increase the number of trained volunteers in the water, documenting and reporting bleaching to the network.

HONOLULU --- The Department of Land and Natural Resources is implementing a $1.2 million construction project to install approximately 766 linear feet of rockfall impact protective fencing on a hillside just below the popular Lanikai pillbox trail.

(HONOLULU) - Dr. Bruce Anderson, a well-known Hawaiʻi leader in environmental protection, has been selected to be the Administrator of the DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR).

HONOLULU -- A rock fall today has resulted in closure of the ‘Aiea Loop Trail in Keaiwa Heiau State Recreational Area. No one was hurt.

HILO -- The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) will conduct animal control activities specifically for trapping mouflon/feral sheep hybrids; staff hunting, and/or aerial shooting from helicopters for feral goats, feral sheep, mouflon and mouflon/feral sheep hybrids within palila critical habitat in the Mauna Kea Forest Reserve (Unit A), Mauna Kea Ice Age Natural Area Reserve (Unit K), and the Ka‘ohe Game Management Area (Unit G) on the island of Hawai‘i. Aerial shooting is required for compliance with the federal court order mandating the removal of sheep and goats from critical habitat for palila, a bird endemic to Hawai‘i.

(HONOLULU) – Coral 'bleaching', a stress response caused by high ocean temperatures that makes corals appear white and can ultimately lead to their death, is reaching unprecedented levels across Hawaii. Serious concern has already prompted a response from state and federal agencies charged with protecting and monitoring the health of coral reefs and volunteer organizations are also now responding. DLNR’s Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) is supporting the first-ever Bleachapalooza; a grassroots effort that will bring volunteers together statewide to receive training on how to identify coral bleaching in their areas and how to report their findings to the Eyes of the Reef Network (www.eorhawaii.org).

HONOLULU – The Department of Land and Natural Resources, in partnership with Cascadia Research Collective and Hawaii Pacific University, has been awarded nearly $1.2 million dollars over three years from NOAA Fisheries to support the conservation and recovery of Hawaii’s endangered false killer whales.

HONOLULU -- A volunteer clean-up of trash within the Ala Wai small boat harbor is planned for this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, September 26 and 27. Puma Punku Ocean Clean Up, Inc. is a new non-profit business formed to clean the ocean of plastic and marine debris.

HONOLULU -- The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Honolulu District are holding a public meeting on Wednesday, September 30, 2015 to present the Draft Feasibility Study and Environmental Impact Statement on the proposed Ala Wai Canal Project. The meeting will be held at Washington Middle School from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.