LIHU‘E — The state Board of Land and Natural Resources had planned to discuss and possibly take action today in Honolulu on a controversial amendment to ocean recreation and coastal areas rules, affecting Hanalei Bay on Kaua‘i’s North Shore. But
LIHU‘E — The state Board of Land and Natural Resources had planned to discuss and possibly take action today in Honolulu on a controversial amendment to ocean recreation and coastal areas rules, affecting Hanalei Bay on Kaua‘i’s North Shore.
But no more.
“I’m going to yank it from the agenda,” Kaua‘i BLNR member Ron Agor said. “We received tons of opposition.”
Agor was on Kaua‘i Wednesday gathering information from the community after receiving notice that there were a lot of people on the island concerned with the proposed changes. Some believe the changes will regulate boating, while others believe it will increase ocean activities.
The Department of Land and Natural Resources recently conducted several meetings statewide to gather comments, but many still felt left out.
“Although the department did their due diligence in letting the public know about the meetings, a lot of people said they didn’t know about it,” said Agor, adding that he has gathered a lot of names of fishermen and ocean users who want to give their input.
“I’m going to recommend it to go back to public hearing,” Agor said of the proposed amendments to Chapter 13 of the Hawai‘i Administrative Rules.
Other business
The amendments may be taken out of today’s meeting, but the board still plans to discuss two issues affecting Kaua‘i, specifically two proposed additions to the island’s forest reserve.
The first item asks for the board to confirm and adopt prior board action and recommend the governor to issue an executive order for the addition of roughly 52 acres to the Lihu‘e-Koloa Forest Reserve in Wailua.
The second item asks the board for approval and recommendation to the governor issuance of an executive order for the addition of approximately 11.66 acres to Pu‘u ka Pele Forest Reserve at Waimea Valley.
Go to www.hawaii.gov/dlnr for more information.
• Léo Azambuja, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) or lazambuja@kauaipubco.com.
