Department of Land and Natural Resources

(Lāhainā) – Hawai‘i’s rich collection of unique, native plant species has added a new member to its ranks: a new species has been described for the first time. Only one individual of the new species, named Cyanea heluensis, is currently known from a remote location in West Maui. While exploring the steep slopes of Helu above Lahaina, botanist Hank Oppenheimer and colleague Jennifer Higashino found a single large plant in the deep shade of a healthy ʻōhiʻa forest.

(Honolulu) - The beaches of Waikīkī are chronically eroding, and the backshore is frequently flooded, particularly during high tides and high surf events. Without beach improvements and maintenance, sea level rise is likely to result in total beach loss in Waikīkī long before the end of the century. The DLNR Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands (OCCL) will be holding a virtual scoping meeting next month regarding the Environmental Impact Statement Preparation Notice (EISPN) for the Waikīkī Beach Improvement and Maintenance Program.

(LĪHU‘E) – For the first time, the more virulent of two fungal pathogens known to cause Rapid ‘Ōhi‘a Death has been confirmed in the Kōke‘e area along Miloliʻi Ridge Road within Nā Pali Kona Forest Reserve. During helicopter surveys this month, one tree was flagged as highly suspect for the infection that leads to Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death. 

(Honolulu) --   The Commission on Water Resource Management (CWRM) will hold public hearings online for an update to the State Water Projects Plan (SWPP) in January 2021. The SWPP is one of five component plans that together constitute the Hawai‘i Water Plan. The major objective of the SWPP is to provide a framework for planning and implementation of water development programs to meet projected water demands for State projects, such as schools, harbors, parks, agricultural parks, and office buildings.

(Līhu‘e )  —   The DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) announces the availability of applications for special feral goat hunt in Hunting Unit A, Kekaha Game Management Area (GMA) on the island of Kaua‘i. Permits will be limited determined by a lottery. Depending on the number of applicants, not all hunters may be drawn for the hunt. There will be no stand-by list. Applications are available at various vendors and all hunter check stations on Kaua’i. Deadline to submit applications will be Friday, January 15, 2021. Lottery to assign dates will be on Wednesday, January 20, 2021.

 (Honolulu) – To protect the health of Oahu’s largest drinking water source during times of temporary water shortage, the Commission on Water Resource Management (CWRM) adopted the Pearl Harbor Water Shortage Plan at its August 18, 2020 meeting. The plan identifies the actions that CWRM and water use permit holders will take if a water shortage is declared in the Pearl Harbor Aquifer Sector Area. These actions include reducing pumping from wells and increasing hydrologic data collection from CWRM’s monitor well network.

(Honolulu) – Using new DNA barcoding technology, a pair of shark researchers at the University of Hawai‘i‘s - Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB) have determined a tiger shark caused fatal injuries to a 56-year-old Lahaina man, who was bitten at Maui’s Honolua Bay on December 8. Separately, by measuring bite marks on the surfer’s board, they have determined the shark was approximately 14.3-feet-long. 

(HONOLULU) – Just before the gate opened at Diamond Head State Monument (DHSM) at 6 a.m., a relatively short string of cars began cueing up. Their passengers, and numerous cyclists and pedestrians became the first visitors to the iconic park, since it was closed exactly nine months ago due to COVID-19 concerns. 

(Hilo) – The opening of the 2020-2021 Game Bird Hunting Season at the Kahua/Ponoholo Ranch Cooperative Game Management Area will begin on Saturday, December 19, 2020.  This game bird hunting season will run through Sunday, January 17, 2021, with legal hunting days on Saturdays and Sundays, only. The hunting area will be open from 6:30 am to 5:00 pm. All hunters must be checked out of the area by 5:00 pm as the gates will be locked at that time. During this season, the areas that are open for hunting may change on a weekly basis as cattle operations are actively taking place.

(Kahului, Maui) – After receiving an anonymous tip a pair of officers from the DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) cited a 37-year-old Kahului resident on suspicion of selling undersized ahi. The species is one of the most popular food fish in Hawai‘i.