#Jason Redulla

Recruitment for 53 entry-level officers with DLNR’s Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement opens Jan. 3, 2026. Vacancies for officer positions are located across the state.

Despite clearly posted park closure and hazardous conditions signs, people are continuing to ignore the risks and enter Sacred Falls State Park, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources reports.

Marine patrol units of the DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement are now active on O‘ahu, Hawai‘i Island, Maui and Kaua‘i.

The pair was found to be in possession of 144 undersized ‘opihi and were issued citations for violating Hawai‘i Administrative Rules (HAR) Section 13-92-1(a)(1) OPIHI. Also, on Saturday, DOCARE officers then approached a separate individual picking ‘opihi along the Ali‘i Drive shoreline and inspected his catch. The 60-year-old man of Kailua-Kona was cited after being observed in possession of 156 undersized ‘opihi.

Editor’s note: Images that appear within this story could be upsetting to some readers. Discretion is advised. A Facebook post sharing a photo of a dead green sea turtle with its shell missing, had generated thousands of reactions and hundreds of comments by Wednesday afternoon; but state officials say without direct reports, it is difficult to investigate, find possible suspects, and build a case to pursue prosecution.

Twenty-five recruits are now fully commissioned conservation officers with the DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement. Hawai‘i Island, Maui Nui, and O‘ahu will all have seven additional DOCARE officers, while Kaua‘i will have four.

Early Wednesday morning, Kaiwi (RK96) pupped at Kaimana Beach. This is the third offspring she’s delivered at Kaimana. Her three other pups were born along her namesake—the Kaiwi Coast in East O’ahu.

The twin lines, put up sometime in January behind the north shore O‘ahu school, attracted a crowd when a man was spotted walking across one of them. Images of his high wire walk appeared in social media and on a local television station.

Department officials say illicit Christmas tree burning at the sandbar has subsided over the last few years, in part from a better community understanding of its negative environmental effects, and from the presence of DOCARE officers patrolling the area after the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.

The new Hawai’i conservation resources enforcement officers will be assigned all across the state.

DOCARE Chief Jason Redulla said, “Despite our earnest efforts to ask people to delete images of the swing on their social media pages, some influencers continue to encourage others to do stupid things that could get them killed or seriously hurt by following their posts”.

About 36-hours after the official application period opened for 46 conservation officer positions, department officials closed recruitment, quickly fulfilling application limits.

Interested applicants for one of the state’s most sought after civil service positions will need to act quickly to try and land one of 46 available jobs within the DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement.

Tips about Halloween parties planned for last night at a popular East O‘ahu state park led to an increased presence of officers from the DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement. 

DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement reserve officer John Kahiapo was recognized over the weekend for his 30 years of volunteerism and community outreach.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources received reports of illegal burning of Christmas trees at Ahu O Laka (Kāne’ohe Bay sandbar) on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2020. Photos that circulated on social media sites showed groups of people standing should-to-shoulder maskless while trees burned in the background.