Jaxbch.net

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 4, 2020

WIKI PERMITS RESUMES SERVICES FOR BEACH WEDDINGS & VOW RENEWALS

 (Honolulu) – Effective immediately Wiki Permits, the online permitting system for limited commercial activities on State beaches, such as weddings and vow renewals, is resuming service subject to the following COVID-19 “Act With Care” restrictions:

• No group shall exceed 10 persons.

• Members of each group who are not part of the same household shall comply with social distancing requirements, provided that a caregiver may accompany a dependent.

• The beach or sand area may only be used one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.

• All other restrictions found within the Governor’s emergency proclamations on COVID-19 and applicable county Mayor’s orders shall be followed, such as any applicable quarantine restrictions.

• All standard terms and conditions of Wiki Permits shall also be complied with, including restrictions on placement of accessories, structures, devices, etc. on the beach, with limited exception (see standard permit condition no. 14).

For more information, visit: https://dlnr.ehawaii.gov/permits/welcome.html. 

With the exception of Wiki Permits events (weddings, vow renewals, etc.), State beaches remain closed to all other commercial activity.

# # #

Media contact:

AJ McWhorter
Communications Specialist
Hawai’i Department of Land and Natural Resources
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
808-587-0396 (Communications Office)

Read more http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/blog/2020/06/04/nr20-079/

Read more http://www.ncwildlife.org/News-Archives/nc-wildlife-resources-commission-announces-new-executive-director

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 3, 2020

BOATING AND WATER SPORTS COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS RELAXED STATEWIDE

(Honolulu) – Effective immediately, emergency restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic for commercial and recreational boating and ocean recreation are being relaxed statewide.

Commercial and recreational boating can now include up to ten people on a vessel at one time, operating under new COVID-19 “Act With Care” guidelines. This includes passengers and crew and applies to all recreational and commercial vessels. It applies in all four Hawai‘i counties. The ten-person limitation can be exceeded if everyone is from the same household.

Commercial water sports operators, like surf schools and kayak rental companies, can also resume operations with the same restrictions – a limit of 10 people including crew or staff. 

Boating and Ocean Recreation COVID-19 guidelines are based on Dept. of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, as well as input from boaters in Hawai‘i and in coordination with the counties. These guidelines remain in effect and call for physical distancing, frequent hand washing and wearing of masks, when practical. Boating and Ocean Recreation COVID-19 guidelines to be followed are linked below.

Additionally, offices of the DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR) across the state will reopen for transactions tomorrow. All patrons will be required to abide by now common health protections. This includes asking whether someone is sick prior to entering an office and only allowing one customer in at one time. Face masks are required. Maintenance of six-foot social distancing will be in place as practical and hand sanitizers or disinfectant wipes will be available.  Further protective steps include the installation of barriers to separate staff from visitors, frequent hand washing and frequent disinfection of high use areas. Note, that many boating and ocean recreation transactions can now be accomplished online.

# # #

RESOURCES

Commercial Boating and Watersports Operation Restrictions:

https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dobor/covid-19-dobor-response/

Online boating and ocean recreation transactions:

https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dobor/

Media Contact:

Dan Dennison
Senior Communications Manager
(808) 587-0396
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Read more http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/blog/2020/06/03/nr20-078/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 3, 2020

2020 LOTTERY CANCELLED FOR MOUFLON SHEEP ON LANA‘I

A new hunting season combining mouflon sheep and axis deer will be announced

(Lānaʻi City) – The 2020 hunting lottery for mouflon sheep on the island of Lānaʻi has been cancelled by the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW). The usual season will be modified in order to create a combined season for both mouflon sheep and axis deer. Details regarding this modified season will be announced in the coming weeks based on regulation of interisland travel and considerations regarding COVID-19.

Hunters will be receiving replacement or new application and permit cards in the mail indicating their assigned weekend. Hunter weekends will be assigned based on the weekend for which hunter groups were drawn for the axis deer season. Hunters who applied for the 2020 Lānaʻi mouflon sheep season but did not apply for the 2020 Lānaʻi axis deer season will be assigned a weekend, by random drawing.

Commencement of the hunt is contingent upon the lifting of travel restrictions, adherence to social distancing guidelines, the health and safety of both DLNR staff and support from Pulama Lānaʻi and the Lānaʻi community. Hunters should remain informed of the changing status of the COVID-19 emergency, as changes may result in the postponement, reassignment, or cancellation of scheduled hunts.

Further details regarding additional opportunities for mouflon sheep and axis deer hunts will be announced on the DOFAW website.

# # #

DOFAW website: http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dofaw

Media contact:

AJ McWhorter
Communications Specialist
Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
808-587-0396 (Communications Office)

Read more http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/blog/2020/06/03/nr20-076/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 3, 2020

OFF-LEASH DOGS POSE THREATS TO MONK SEALS AND OTHER WILDLIFE

(Honolulu) – Dogs, by instinct, chase things, and in the case of resting Hawaiian monk seals and other wildlife, this natural trait can have serious and even deadly consequences. Last week a couple of off-leash dogs approached a seal pup resting in a coastal area of O‘ahu, threatening the animal. 

Fortunately, a team member from Hawai‘i Marine Animal Rescue intervened, and the seal was not injured. The dog’s owner was cited by the DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE).

Nearly six years ago, in July 2014, a two-week-old monk seal pup was killed by two at-large dogs on the north shore of Kaua‘i.  According to NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service, it appears the mother attempted to defend her pup, and suffered bite injuries as well. Two other pups and one other mother seal in the area also had dog bite lacerations and punctures. One pup was treated for the injuries by NOAA and DLNR.

Two weeks prior to the Kaua‘i attack, DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) wildlife cameras captured images of the two dogs roaming the  same area. Both dogs were captured with live traps, tested negative for disease, and surrendered to the Humane Society.

Last summer, officials caught two loose German Shepherds on the same beach as a newborn pup, likely averting another fatality. No owners were in sight. 

Loose dogs have also been documented killing hundreds of ground-nesting seabirds. 

These are the primary reasons anyone walking their dogs on Hawai‘i’s beaches should keep them on leash at all times.

Anyone who sees or suspects a natural or cultural resource violation is asked to please call, 643-DLNR or use the free DLNRTip app.

# # #

Media Contact:

Dan Dennison
Senior Communications Manager
(808) 587-0396
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Read more http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/blog/2020/06/03/nr20-077/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 29, 2020

DOCARE SEEKING INFORMATION ON WILDLIFE INCIDENT

(Honolulu) – The DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) is seeking information on a wildlife incident on an East O‘ahu beach yesterday morning. DOCARE is seeking help in identifying the woman in the attached photo. Two dogs may be involved.

Anyone with information pertinent to this ongoing investigation is urged to contact the O‘ahu DOCARE  branch at (808) 587-0077 and reference case number 20-0878-OA. People can also provide anonymous information via the DLNRTip app. 

# # #

Media Contact:

Dan Dennison
Senior Communications Manager
(808) 587-0396
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Read more http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/blog/2020/05/29/nr20-074/

Read more http://www.ncwildlife.org/News-Archives/16th-annual-wildlife-in-nc-magazine-photo-competition-now-accepting-entries

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 2, 2020

2020 RAINBOW TROUT FISHING SEASON STARTS JUNE 20^th AT KOKE’E PUBLIC FISHING AREA, KAUA‘I

(Līhuʻe) – The fishing season for rainbow trout at Pu’u Lua Reservoir on Kaua‘i will begin June 20th. To address COVID-19 concerns and accommodate social distancing, a lottery system will be used to control entry. Anglers will be able to access the reservoir for 4-hour sessions scheduled between June 20th and July 11, 2020 on Saturdays and Sundays.

Application for the lottery will be online only through the DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) website. Applicants must fill out an online form and provide an email address for the session assignment. Notification of fishing session assignments will be via email only. Entrance to Pu‘u Lua Reservoir will require a lottery confirmation email, fishing license, and photo identification.

The deadline for application is June 12. Confirmation emails with fishing session assignments will be sent out on or before June 17.

For more information contact DAR Biologist Heather Ylitalo-Ward at 341-2472.

# # #

DAR website: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dar/

Media contact:

AJ McWhorter
Communications Specialist
Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
808-587-0396 (Communications Office)

Read more http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/blog/2020/06/02/nr20-075/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 29, 2020

DOCARE SEEKING INFORMATION ON WILDLIFE INCIDENT

(Honolulu) – The DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) is seeking information on a wildlife incident on an East O‘ahu beach yesterday morning. DOCARE is seeking help in identifying the woman in the attached photo. Two dogs may be involved.

Anyone with information pertinent to this ongoing investigation is urged to contact the O‘ahu DOCARE  branch at (808) 587-0077 and reference case number 20-0878-OA. People can also provide anonymous information via the DLNRTip app. 

# # #

Media Contact:

Dan Dennison
Senior Communications Manager
(808) 587-0396
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Read more http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/blog/2020/05/29/nr20-074/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 29, 2020

GOAT & PIG HUNTING OPPORTUNITY IN THE NĀPALI  COAST STATE WILDERNESS PARK

(Līhuʻe) – Opportunities to hunt for feral pig and feral goats in the Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park is opening. The areas open to animal control will be between the Ho’olulu (4-mile valley) to Kalalau Valley (11 miles), portions of Hunting Unit G. The animal control is necessary for watershed protection purposes.

Permits will be issued by mail-in application and control permits will be free of charge. Interested participants will need to possess a valid 2020 hunting license and are required to sign a wildlife control permit-agreement for individual voluntary services. Animal control activities will be held daily from June 1, 2020 thru June 15, 2020. Up to sixty (60) participants will be allowed each day. Participants must call in prior to the day they plan to hunt to check availability. After completion, hunters will be required to call in and report their harvest. There is no limit on how many times a person can participate. 

Applications can be found at all hunter check stations, Westside Fish and Feed, Umi’s Store, Salt Pond Country Store, JGB Arms, Elite Hunter, Pono Market, and Lace it Up.

Hunters who want to camp will need to get a camping permit from the DLNR Division of State Parks.  The bag limit will be six (6) goats and four (4) pigs for each participant daily. Conventional rifles are permitted. Dogs are not allowed. All State Game Mammal Hunting Rules will apply.

Participants will only be allowed to enter the Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park by foot or boat. 

For more information, call the Kaua’i Division of Forestry and Wildlife office at 274-3433.

# # #

Media contact:

AJ McWhorter
Communications Specialist
Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
808-587-0396 (Communications Office)

Read more http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/blog/2020/05/29/nr20-073/