David Y. Ige

KAILUA-KONA  —  The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) will hold a combined public information meeting and formal public rulemaking hearing in West Hawai‘i to amend Hawaii Administrative Rules (“HAR”) Title 13, chapter 60.4, to establish the Ka‘ūpūlehu Marine Reserve.

The public meeting and hearing will be held at the Kealakehe High School Cafeteria, 74-5000 Puohulihuli St., in Kailua-Kona, on Thursday, February 11, 2016.  The informational meeting portion will be held from 6 to 7 p.m.  The formal public rulemaking hearing will be held from 7 to 9 p.m.

The reserve boundaries will encompass the existing Ka‘ūpūlehu Fish Replenishment Area.  The proposed amendments would provide a 10-year near shore “no take” period—with limited exceptions—to allow for the recovery of reef fish stocks prior to the implementation of a subsistence fishery management plan for Ka‘ūpūlehu.

All interested persons are urged to attend the public meeting and hearing to present relevant information and individual opinion for the DLNR to consider.  Persons unable to attend or wishing to present additional comments, may mail written testimony by Friday, February 26, 2016 to the Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR); 1151 Punchbowl Street, Room 330; Honolulu, HI 96813.

Anyone with a hearing impairment who desires to attend the public hearing may request assistance of a sign language interpreter.  The request may be made in writing (to the DAR address in the preceding paragraph), or by calling 587-0100 (voice or TDD) in Honolulu.  The request will need to be received at least seven days before the hearing is scheduled to start.

Additional information or a copy of the proposed rules will be mailed at no charge upon receipt of verbal or written request to the Division of Aquatic Resources address above, or online at https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dar/ in the “Announcements” section.

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Media Contact:
Deborah Ward
DLNR Communications specialist
Phone: (808) 587-0320