The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) will hold two public hearings, one online and one in person, on the proposed adoption of a new chapter under Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR) to establish the Milolii Community-Based Subsistence Fishing Area (CBSFA) to ensure long-term sustainable populations of fish and other marine species and to reaffirm and perpetuate fishing practices that were customarily and traditionally exercised for Native Hawaiian subsistence, culture, or religion along the southwest coast of Hawaii Island. The proposed CBSFA extends from Paakai Point at Kipahoehoe in the north to Kauna in the south, from the shoreline out to the 100-fathom depth contour, and includes the following sub-zones: the Opelu Traditional Management Zone, the Puuhonua Papa, the Pakuikui Rest Area, Puakaia Milolii, the Puuhonua Honomalino, the Puuhonua Kapua, and the Puuhonua Manuka. The proposed rules would establish bag limits, size limits, seasonal closures, and/or gear restrictions for aama crab, kole, opihi, pakuikui, uhu, ula, and uu within the CBSFA; prohibit the take of marine life for aquarium purposes within the entire CBSFA; establish additional restrictions on certain activities and species within the designated subzones; provide an exception allowing vessels in possession of restricted gear or species to traverse through the CBSFA as long as they remain in active transit; identify authorized administrative, criminal, and civil penalties for violations of HAR chapter 13-60.XX; and provide notice of the State’s authority to utilize civil asset forfeiture as an enforcement tool for violations of HAR chapter 13-60.XX.
The online public hearing will take place on Wednesday, April 20, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. All interested persons may view the online Public Hearing on YouTube at this link: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpGVbR8IMi1hnPksQeSVUZA. To be put on the list for live video or phone testimony please email your request to: DLNR.Aquatics@hawaii.gov. Please include your email, full name and phone number. A confirmation email will be sent to you with instructions and the meeting link and call-in phone number.

The in-person public hearing will take place on Wednesday, April 20, 2022 at 5:30 p.m. at the Milolii Community Outdoor Pavilion located at 89-1200 Milolii Road, Captain Cook, HI, 96704. All interested persons may attend in person and may provide oral testimony by writing their name on the testimony sign-up sheet at the public hearing.

Written testimony: Persons can also mail or email written testimony by May 6, 2022 to the Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR), 1151 Punchbowl Street, Room 330, Honolulu, HI 96813, DLNR.Aquatics@hawaii.gov.

Anyone with a hearing impairment who desires to testify, 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. 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 http://ltgov.hawaii.gov/the-office/administrative-rules or at http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dar/rules-and-public-notices or can be made available by request to DLNR.Aquatics@hawaii.gov.