Public hearings set on Maui for proposed changes to state conservation land rules

The state Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands will hold two public hearings on Maui this month and Molokaʻi next month on proposed amendments to the rules that govern land use and permitting in Hawaiʻi’s Conservation District.

The Maui hearings are scheduled for 5 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 28 at Lahaina Intermediate School, 871 Lahainaluna Road, and Oct. 29 at the Kahului Community Center, 275 Uhu St., according to the office’s website. The Molokaʻi hearing will be held from noon to 2:30 p.m. Nov. 14 at the Mitchell Paul Community Center in Kaunakakai.

The office, part of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, is proposing changes to Hawaiʻi Administrative Rules Chapter 13-5, which the department says covers about 2 million acres of public and private conservation land statewide, including beach and marine areas. The state Board of Land and Natural Resources approved statewide public hearings on the proposal June 12.

The department said the amendments would reorganize and update the rules to:

• Strengthen conservation criteria.
• Simplify permitting for minor activities.
• Address coastal hazards and coastal erosion.
• Overhaul provisions on shoreline hardening.
• Clarify regulations on restoring existing structures.
• Incorporate and streamline provisions on restoring loko iʻa, or traditional Hawaiian fishponds.

The department said the rules would apply on all islands if approved.

The office will hold an informational briefing on the proposal at 5 p.m. Oct. 21 at the Kalanimoku Building in Honolulu. People can also join by Zoom. The department said the briefing will explain the reasoning behind the amendments before the hearings begin.

To participate in the Oct. 21 Zoom meeting:

Join Zoom Meeting 
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87520039738?pwd=OjhVvD5BKDehAdYUZOpltxpff8jXEb.1

Meeting ID: 875 2003 9738 
Passcode: 1234

People with disabilities who need accommodations to attend a hearing should contact the office’s Honolulu staff at 808-587-0377 at least four days before the hearing date, the department said.

Written comments must be emailed to DLNR.OC.Chap13-5@hawaii.gov or postmarked by Monday, Nov. 30. Mailed comments go to:

Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands
P.O. Box 621
Honolulu, HI 96809

The proposed amendments, the full hearing schedule, locations and Zoom information are on the office’s website.