When, exactly, should an environmental assessment or impact statement be done for a state action? Regarding the century-long diversion of water from dozens of East Maui streams for sugarcane and now diversified agriculture and municipal uses, Alexander & Baldwin’s efforts … Continued
On May 8, the state Board of Land and Natural Resources extended, for the third time, a Conservation District Use Permit for a controversial shoreline erosion control project fronting the Hololani Resort Condominiums in West Maui. Under the original permit … Continued
Last month, Environment Hawai‘i reported on a new draft bat guidance document aimed at helping the state Endangered Species Recovery Committee (ESRC) make decisions regarding the Habitat Conservation Plans and Incidental Take Licenses that are required for wind farms to incidentally harm … Continued
COVID-19 Pandemic Impacts Spur DLNR To Consider Rent Deferrals, Fee Waivers Surf schools, concessionaires, and other businesses that pay rent or fees to the Department of Land and Natural Resources have pleaded for leniency, as government orders issued to control … Continued
Several million dollars have been spent over the past few years on research, habitat restoration, and land acquisition to mitigate the unexpectedly high number of endangered Hawaiian hoary bats being killed by wind farms across the state. Last month at … Continued
Where on O‘ahu are endangered Hawaiian hoary bats most active? According to an acoustic monitoring study launched in 2017, “by far and way, the bulk of activity is on northern part of the island,” said Joel Thompson of the Oregon-based … Continued
Last year, the number of longline sets targeting swordfish hit a record low of 300, according to Russell Ito of the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center. Only 14 of the 150 longline vessels fishing around Hawai‘i last year were shallow-set vessels, he … Continued
At the council’s March meeting, University of California at Santa Barbara professor Douglas McCauley briefed members on the potential threat deep sea mining poses to Hawai‘i’s pelagic fisheries. McCauley, who runs a website called Deep Sea Mining Watch, said mining could start occurring … Continued
Recent reports by the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) suggest that the pelagic population of false killer whales within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) around Hawai‘i may be larger than was previously thought. Or it may be about … Continued
On February 28, Curt Cottrell, administrator for the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of State Parks, asked the Land Board for permission to hold public hearings on proposed fee increases for parking, entry, and facility uses. He noted … Continued