Moloka‘i Flooding Frustrates Residents Who Now Face EPA, DOH Enforcement
The forecast for Moloka‘i was grim in late August of 2018. Hurricane Lane, a category 5 hurricane, was on a track that put the Friendly Isle in its cross hairs. Charles “Chucky” Miguel Sr. was taking no chances. The lot … Continued
Hawai‘i Longliners Continue to Hook False Killer Whales in Federal Waters
In late November, the Hawai‘i deep-set longline fleet, which targets bigeye tuna, caught three false killer whales in federal waters off the Big Island. All of them were release alive, but had been hooked in the mouth area and freed with … Continued
Board Talk: Pua‘ahala, Waimea Acquisitions, Kane‘ohe Bay Rules
Board Approves Acquisition Of Ahupua‘a in East Moloka‘i The state’s purchase of the 800-acre Pua‘ahala ahupua‘a in East Moloka‘i has been years in the making and is a key part of a fencing project aimed at protecting some of the … Continued
Climate Commission Issues Guidance On Amending Shoreline Setback Rules
On December 23, the Honolulu Climate Change Commission approved guidance on how the Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP) should update the city’s shoreline setback ordinance, which has not been significantly amended in a decade. The ordinance — which Matt Gonser … Continued
New & Noteworthy: ‘Aina Le‘a, Corrections
‘Aina Le‘a Keeps Whiffing: Since August, ‘Aina Le‘a, Inc., has been attempting to win approval from the Hawai‘i County Planning Department of an environmental impact statement preparation notice, or EISPN. The notice is a necessary first step in moving forward with construction … Continued
Settlement Lets Pacific Paradise Owner Pay DLNR Cents on the Dollar for Damage to Reef
At approximately 10:30 p.m. on October 10, 2017, the Commercial Fishing Vessel (CFV) Pacific Paradise, a 79’ longline fishing vessel owned by TWOL, LLC, ran aground in shallow waters of the Waikiki-Diamond Head Shoreline Fisheries Management Area (FMA). Over the … Continued
Feds Seek Reimbursement of Costs To Salvage Grounded Fishing Vessel
The federal government is suing the owners of the Pacific Paradise for at least $1.66 million in an effort to recover costs associated with removing the fishing vessel from the reef off Waikiki where it ran aground in October 2017. … Continued
Discrepancies in Records of Vessel Owners
Michael Tosatto, administrator of the Pacific Islands Regional Office (PIRO) of the National Marine Fisheries Service, says his office requires holders of longline permits “to list the business and to declare (under penalty of perjury) that the information is true. … Continued