#Department of Land and Natural Resources
Mission set up to remove fire caused marine debris, destroyed vessels from Lahaina Harbor, waterways
Unified Command for the Lahaina fire in West Maui has established a mission to assess, remove and dispose of hazardous materials, oil discharges, marine debris and sunken or displaced vessels from Lahaina Harbor and waterways.
FBI Underwater Search & Evidence Response Team begins probe in Lahaina waters
The FBI is using specialized equipment to pick up any belongings or identifiable items to assist in the continuing effort to identify people who remain unaccounted for, from the Aug. 8 fire which leveled most of the town.
Hawaiʻi State Department of Land and Natural Resources names interim water deputy
Dean Uyeno, a 25-year-long staffer with the Commission on Water Resource Management, has been assigned on a temporary basis as the interim Water Deputy with the Hawaiʻi State Department of Land and Natural Resources.
Action planned to address health and safety risks at former Uncle Billy’s hotel
The dilapidated and condemned Uncle Billy’s hotel will have a perimeter fence constructed around the entire property beginning this month. The purpose of the fence is to physically secure the site from continued illegal occupation and to alleviate health and safety concerns. Demolition of the building could begin by the end of the year.
Senate Ways and Means Committee to tour Maui and Molokaʻi facilities
The Senate Ways and Means Committee will visit Maui on Wednesday into Thursday, July 26-27, and Molokaʻi on Thursday and Friday, July 27-28, 2023.
700 acres to be added to State Legacy Land Inventory, including 515 acres on Molokaʻi
Two properties on O‘ahu, one on Kaua‘i, and one on Moloka‘i are being added to the DLNR 2023 Legacy Land Conservation Program. The DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife will acquire the Moloka‘i property, while the other acreage is being purchased by nonprofit organizations.
41 new DOCARE officers start work today
After eight months of training in disciplines combining classroom work and intense field exercises, the new Hawai‘i Conservation Resources Enforcement Officers will deploy to four DOCARE branches: O‘ahu (14), Hawai‘i Island (14), Maui (7), and Kaua‘i (6).
Kanahā Pond on Maui to get predator-proof fencing to protect nesting habitats
The new fencing at Kanahā Pond State Wildlife Sanctuary will provide safe nesting habitats for native and endangered birds by excluding mammalian predators such as rats, mongoose and cats.
Hawaiʻi conservation officers will increase by 50% with 42 recruits
The new Hawai’i conservation resources enforcement officers will be assigned all across the state.
Forestry and agriculture connection serve as blueprint for Hawai’i land stewardship
Over the past 20 years, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources has transferred 19,000 acres of land to the state Department of Agriculture and another 19,000 acres to the DOA’s Agribusiness Development Corporation.
Big Island nature park with colorful ʻōhi‘a trees honors two volunteers posthumously
Leningrad Elarionoff and Carol Hendricks were posthumously awarded the DLNR & YOU Citizen Conservationist Award during an event Friday at the Waimea Nature Park.
Video shows how biocontrol saved native Wiliwili trees in Hawai’i from extinction
“Wiliwili is a keystone species in our dry forests, and nearly every part of this special tree is used by cultural practitioners. The impact of losing this species would have been profound.” — Chipper Wichman, President of the National Tropical Botanical Garden
Barge operator to pay $1.1 million for damaging 15,000 corals in Honolulu Harbor
In May 2021, while dredging Honolulu Harbor, the anchors and cables of a barge operated by Healy Tibbitts Builders broke or damaged more than 15,000 corals and 140 square yards of live rock.
Land Conservation Fund has nearly $6 million for grants to acquire and preserve land
The Hawaiʻi State Department of Land and Natural Resources, through its Legacy Land Conservation Program, is now accepting applications for grants to acquire and preserve land that has natural, environmental, recreational, scenic, cultural, agricultural production or historic value.
Five land parcels on Moloka’i purchased for conservation and restoration
Five parcels of land in the ahupua‘a of Mākolelau on Molokai were purchased for conservation and restoration by a federal, state and private partnership.
Bird rescue team desperate to find two critically endangered ʻakikiki on Kaua’i
In the remote central mountains of Kauaʻi, a bird rescue team is searching for Abby and Carrot, two critically endangered Hawaiian honeycreepers, the ʻakikiki.
How is Rocky’s Hawaiian monk seal pup Koalani doing at his new secret home?
Hawaiian monk seal pup Koalani is enjoying his new remote beach on Oʻahu with a few swims of 2 to 3 nautical miles and 300 feet deep.
Kula Forest Reserve remains closed with conditions still unsafe from December storm
Access roads and trails in the Kula Forest Reserve remain closed due to extensive damage and unsafe conditions caused by the December 2021 Kona storm.
Maunakea telescope decommissioning takes key step with final environmental assessment
The decommissioning of the University of Hawaiʻi’s Hōkū Keʻa Observatory on Maunakea met a critical milestone with the environmental assessment finding no significant impact to remove two buildings and supporting infrastructure.
Hunting licenses and stamps now available for 2022-23 season
On June 15, the Hawaiʻi State Department of Land and Natural Resources will begin issuing hunting licenses and stamps for the new hunting season that runs July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023.