Public Hearing Notice
For Proposed Adoption of Hawaii Administrative Rules
Chapter 13-60.9, Moomomi Community-Based Subsistence Fishing Area, Molokai

The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) will hold a statewide online public hearing and statewide in-person public hearings on the proposed adoption of a new chapter under the Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR) to establish the Moomomi Community-Based Subsistence Fishing Area (CBSFA) to manage and protect fish stocks and to reaffirm traditional and customary native Hawaiian subsistence fishing practices along the northwest coast of Molokai. The proposed CBSFA extends from Ilio Point in the west to Nihoa Flats in the east, from the shoreline out to approximately one mile. The proposed rules would establish new bag limits, size limits, seasonal closures, and/or gear restrictions for uhu, kumu, kole, moi, spiny lobster, opihi, and limu; prohibit night diving and SCUBA spearfishing; prohibit commercial fishing, with exceptions for bottomfishing for deep 7 bottomfish and trolling for all species; and establish special regulations to minimize disturbance of the marine environment in Kawaaloa Bay.
All interested persons may view a pre-recorded presentation describing the proposed rules, which will be made available for viewing via a link on the Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) website: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dar one week prior to the hearings.
Interested persons are also urged to participate in either the online public hearing or one of the in-person public hearings on August 19, 2020 to present relevant information and individual opinion for DLNR to consider. There are 3 ways to participate: online via internet or telephone; in-person; or by written testimony.
Online: Persons can present live video/oral testimony via internet or telephone at an online public hearing on August 19, 2020 from 5:30 to 9:30 pm. To participate, you will need either a computer with internet access, video camera, and microphone, or a telephone. To sign up, please email your request to: CBSFA@hawaii.gov at least 48 hours in advance. Please include your email, full name, and phone number. A confirmation will be sent to you with instructions and the meeting link and call-in number. You can view the on-line public hearing here: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpGVbR8IMi1hnPksQeSVUZA
In-person: Persons can present testimony in person on August 19, 2020 at the following times and locations:
Kualapuu Charter School Cafeteria, 260 Farrington Ave, Kualapuu, Molokai –
5:30 to 8:30 pm
BLNR Boardroom, 1151 Punchbowl Street, Honolulu, Oahu – 5:30 to 8:30 pm
Kauai Veterans Center, 3215 Kapule Hwy, Lihue, Kauai – 5:30 to 8:30 pm
Hilo State Building, DAGS Conference Room, 75 Aupuni Street, Hilo, Hawaii – 5:30 to 8:30 pm
Maui DAR Office, 130 Mahalani Street, Wailuku, Maui – 5:30 to 8:30 pm
Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority – Hale Iako, 73-970 Makako Bay Drive, Kailua Kona- 5:30 to 8:30 pm
Lanai DOCARE/DOFAW Office, 917 Fraser Avenue, Lanai City, Lanai –
5:30 to 8:30 pm
To provide testimony in person at one of the public hearing locations above, please email CBSFA@hawaii.gov or call (808) 347-0317 to register at least 48 hours in advance. Please include your full name, phone number, and hearing location. A confirmation will be sent to registrants with instructions for testifying in person. All persons providing in-person testimony must wear a mask at all times and comply with physical distancing guidelines. Only one person at a time will be allowed into the hearing room to present their testimony to a hearing officer. All others will be required to wait outside or in their vehicles until their assigned time slot.
Written testimony: Persons can mail or email written testimony by August 26, 2020 to the Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR), 1151 Punchbowl Street, Room 330, Honolulu, HI 96813, DLNR.Aquatics@hawaii.gov or CBSFA@hawaii.gov
Anyone with a hearing impairment who desires to testify in person,
may request assistance of a sign language interpreter. The request will need to be received at least seven days before the hearing is scheduled to start. Individuals requiring further assistance with the live online public hearing, please contact
DAR at least 72 hours prior to the meeting at (808) 347-0317 so that arrangements can be made. Additional information or a copy of the proposed rules will be mailed at no charge upon receipt of verbal or written request. The requests may be made in writing (to the DAR address in the preceding paragraph),
or by calling 587-0100 (voice or TDD) in Honolulu. The Rules can be reviewed online at https://ltgov.hawaii.gov/the-office/administrative-rules or at https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dar/rules-and-public-notices or can be made available by request to DLNR.Aquatics@hawaii.gov.