Department of Land and Natural Resources

For 10 years now Makai Watch volunteers have helped be the eyes and ears for the protection of special places across Hawaii. Makai Watch State Coordinator Luna Kekoa described the program today for the members of the Hawaii State Board of Land and Natural Resources.

HONOLULU—The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Forestry and Wildlife is seeking to hire two planners to conduct outreach and provide technical assistance to new landowners participating in its Hawai‘i Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) .

HILO —The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Forestry and Wildlife has closed the Puna hiking trail until further notice, due to severe tree fall caused by Hurricane Iselle. These downed trees are blocking access to Haena (Shipman) beach in the South Hilo area.

HONOLULU – The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) is hosting a public forum to generate discussion about a management concept designed to reduce user conflicts in specific surf breaks in the waters off of Oahu.

HILO, HI – Anyone driving by an open field on the edge of downtown Hilo recently may have spotted several dozen people gathered around holes marked with yellow flags. This was the field exercise for an Archaeological Violation Class sponsored by the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) State Historic Preservation Division (SHPD). Combining two and a half days of classroom instruction, police officers from state and federal agencies, prosecutors and archaeologists participated in the field exercise to practice and test their crime scene investigation skills. The class was taught by Archaeological Damage Investigation and Assessment, a Missoula, MT-based company.

HILO —The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) is issuing permits for control of feral goats in the makai portion —and feral goat and feral sheep in the mauka portion —of the Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a (PWW) Forest Reserve, pursuant to Title 13, Chapter 123, “Rules Regulating Game Mammal Hunting,”䅉-123-9, “Nuisance or crop damage.” These programs will be conducted on weekends only, in two phases. Phase 1 will begin Sept. 20, 2014 - Oct. 19, 2014. Phase 2 will begin Feb. 7, 2015 - Mar. 15, 2015.

LIHU‘E -- The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) will conduct a feral goat and feral pig control hunt on Aug.16 and 17 in the Napali Coast State Park –Hunting Unit G. The animal control is necessary for watershed protection purposes, pursuant to Title 13, Chapter 123 (13-123-9).

PAHOA, HI -- Tropical Storm Iselle brought down or damaged thousands of trees in Hawaii Island's Puna District. At the request of Hawaii County, DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife crews have been operating chain saws and heavy equipment to clear entire trees, large limbs and other vegetation debris from roads in the Pahoa area.

HONOLULU – Following assessments in the wake of Tropical Storm Iselle, the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) has reopened the remainder of its state-managed forest lands and state parks on all islands – with a few exceptions pending removal and clearing of downed trees.

Persons Who Suffered Damage To Structures In The Conservation District From Tropic Storm Iselle Are Encouraged To Contact OCCL at 587-0377.