PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
FOR THE PROPOSED ADOPTION OF HAWAII ADMINISTRATIVE RULES CHAPTER
13-77.1, “AQUARIUM FISHERY MANAGEMENT” AND THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT AND COMPILATION OF HAWAII ADMINISTRATIVE RULES CHAPTERS 13-60.4,
“WEST HAWAI’I REGIONAL FISHERY MANAGEMENT AREA, HAWAI’I” AND 13-75, “RULES REGULATING THE POSSESSION AND USE OF CERTAIN FISHING GEAR”
The State of Hawai’i Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) will hold public hearings on proposed rules regulating the aquarium fishery. The draft rulemaking proposal would update and consolidate aquarium fishery regulations by:
1) Establishing the state of Hawai’i aquarium fish permit with general terms and conditions and requirements applicable statewide;
2) Repealing the West Hawai’i aquarium permit and associated rules from Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR) chapter 13-60.4, “West Hawai’i Regional Fishery Management Area, Hawai’i” (WHRFMA) and establishing a West Hawai’i geographical endorsement which includes West-Hawai’i-specific terms and conditions, a species whitelist, and annual catch limits;
3) Expanding the aquarium fishing vessel registration and marking requirements, currently only applicable to the WHRFMA, to apply statewide;
4) Establishing commercial aquarium dealer registration and requirements; and
5) Other various updates to existing aquarium fishing rules in HAR chapters
13-60.4 and 13-75 to address concerns identified through scoping and expressed via testimony regarding potential regulatory loopholes and compliance and enforcement issues.
Interested persons are urged to participate in the public hearing to present relevant information and individual opinions for DLNR to consider.
DAR is especially interested in gathering testimony on any impacts these proposed increased restrictions and requirements on the aquarium fishery may have on local, independent small businesses (less than 100 employees). DAR is also seeking testimony identifying any native Hawaiian traditional and customary rights or practices affected by the proposed increased restrictions and requirements on the aquarium fishery as well as suggestions on how to mitigate any identified negative impacts to those rights.
If you do not wish to testify but want to watch the public hearing online, you can view a live stream of the public hearings here:
https://bit.ly/DARYouTubeChannel
If you wish to provide testimony, there are three ways to participate: At the in-person public hearing, at the virtual online public hearing via internet video conference or telephone, or by submitting written testimony.
PUBLIC HEARING DATE, TIME, AND LOCATION(S)
Tuesday, March 31, 2026, 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Online via Zoom (register at: https://tinyurl.com/AQPublicHearing)
Wednesday, April 1, 2026, 4:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Kealakehe High School Cafeteria (IN PERSON ONLY)
74-5000 Puohulihuli Street
Kailua-Kona, Hawai’i 96740
TESTIMONY INSTRUCTIONS
1) Online Testimony
To provide online testimony at the virtual public hearing on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., you will need a computer with internet access, video camera, and microphone, or a telephone. If you wish to testify online, you must register using the registration link included above.
Please note that all fields are required to register to testify. Once you submit the online registration form, a confirmation will be emailed to you with instructions and the meeting link and call-in number. If you do not receive an email with a Zoom link, please email DAR.Rulemaking@hawaii.gov for assistance. We request that you register to testify at least one hour prior to the hearing to ensure that you receive the Zoom link on time. If you are unable to access the Zoom hearing, you may still provide written testimony as described below.
2) In-person Testimony
DLNR will hold a separate, in-person only public hearing at the address listed above where persons can attend in person to present live testimony on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, 4:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
3) Written testimony
The deadline to submit written testimony is Sunday, April 12, 2026. Written testimony may be e-mailed to DAR.Testimony@hawaii.gov or mailed to the address listed at the bottom of this notice.
If you need an auxiliary aid/service or other accommodation due to a disability, please contact DAR.Rulemaking@hawaii.gov or the DAR-O’ahu Main Office at 587-0100. 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 address listed at the bottom of this notice), or by calling the DAR-O’ahu Main Office at 587-0100 (voice or TDD). The proposed 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. The proposed rules are also available for review in person at the DAR-O’ahu Main Office (at the address listed at the bottom of this notice) from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Holidays, by appointment only. To schedule an appointment to review the proposed rules in person, email DAR.Rulemaking@hawaii.gov.
Department of Land and Natural Resources
Division of Aquatic Resources
1151 Punchbowl Street, Room 330
Honolulu, Hawai’i, 96813
Ryan K.P. Kanaka’ole, Acting Chairperson
Board of Land and Natural Resources
(1521599 WHT 2/28/26, SA 3/01/26)
