Hawai’i Fishing Fanatic

Posts Tagged ‘dlnr’

As a volunteer for Neil Abercrombie’s gubernatorial bid, I often get asked, what his feelings are about the deterioration of Hawai’i’s harbors, it’s facilities, and the public’s distrust with state agencies such as the Department of Transportation’s Harbors Division and the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

I know from my time with the campaign, that Neil Abercrombie shares a deep concern for the public that utilize Hawai’i’s state facilities for business and leisure activities. He has visited many different areas of our state and most recently, visited the Honokohau area in Kailua-Kona, Hawai’i (Big Island). He shared his thoughts and feelings on what is fast-becoming a formidable issue on the current state of affairs with our harbors and state facilities. You can see his whole transcript at NeilAbercrombie.com:

Honokohau Harbor

by Neil Abercrombie

On a recent visit to Honokohau Harbor, I was appalled, like many residents and small business owners, to see how we’ve let the harbor deteriorate. To make matters worse, I was disappointed to hear about the state’s proposal to raise the parking fees at Honokohau Harbor.

How can we create an additional financial burden for 200 small businesses by raising their parking fees? And how can we expect to charge visitors more money to visit a dangerous and dilapidated harbor with a collapsed pier in a public area that doesn’t provide basic comforts like shade while waiting for boats? The state is only now getting around to a minor capital improvement project that doesn’t address the basic issues.

There has been a collapse of leadership at the highest levels on basic government services from improving our public schools to maintaining our harbors. Raising the parking fees at Honokohau Harbor does not solve the problem. My position is that the parking fees should be set aside. Should they be imposed, when I’m Governor, I will rescind the fee increase until we can prove to the public that their dollars are being well spent.

We should be focusing our efforts on getting federal funds to improve our state’s infrastructure. That will spark revitalization of our economy and generate the business activity that we need. People deserve to feel proud of our harbors and public spaces.

More pictures of the Honokohau visit are on the Big Island for Abercrombie Facebook Page. Mahalo to Abercrombie for Governor supporter, Jean Bevanmarquez. for the additional photos.

Many of you know that I am a big supporter of Neil Abercrombie and during the next few days, the Democratic candidate for governor, former congressman and state legislator will be on the Big Island. He plans to visit several Big Island communities on March 20, 21, 23, and 24 to meet community members and obtain firsthand information on major issues and challenges facing the island residents. I’ll update you folks on other Big Island events as soon as possible.

If you should have any fishing-related or recent (Department of Land and Natural Resources) DLNR issues, please be sure to attend the nearest event and voice your concern/s. The following schedule of his Big Island activities are from the Abercrombie for Governor and Hawaii County Democrats offices:

Saturday, March 20
8 a.m.: Visit to the swap meet in Ocean View
8:45 a.m.: Pancake breakfast at HOVE Community Center.
10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.: Visits to businesses and the Farmers’ Market in Na’alehu.
1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.: Pot-luck luncheon and panel discussion on issues facing Ka’u residents at the Plantation House in Pahala.
4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.: Visits to businesses and merchants in Na’alehu.
5:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.: Spaghetti dinner at the Na’alehu Community Center

Sunday, March 21
8 a.m.-9:30 a.m.: No-host breakfast at the Paniolo Restaurant in Waimea
10:00-TBA: Local events and community meetings at the Honoka’a Park Gym and the North Hawai’i Educational Resource Center. (For information, contact Gil Kahele at 987-7958.)

Tuesday, March 23
12:00 p.m.-1:30 p.m.: Mauka Rotary Club Luncheon at Teshima’s Restaurant in Kainaliu.
2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.: Visits to local businesses and merchants in South Kona.
4:30 p.m.-6:00 p.m.: Talk story at the Aloha Theatre in Kainaliu, focusing on issues important to the South Kona community, including charter schools, food sustainability, and controlling little fire ants. Abercrombie will give opening remarks and will respond to the briefings presented by experts in these areas. The audience will also have an opportunity for one-on-one discussions with the candidate.

Wednesday, March 24
6:45 a.m.-8:00 a.m.: Kona Sunrise Rotary Club Breakfast Meeting at Tante’s Restaurant on Ali’i Drive in Kailua Town.
9:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m.: Visits to businesses and merchants on Ali’i Drive and other business districts in Kailua-Kona.
11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.: North Kohala Rotary Club Luncheon Meeting at Thiebault’s Restaurant in Waimea.
2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.: Visits to businesses located in Waikoloa Village Town Center.

If you are an Abercrombie for Governor 2010 supporter willing to cover the events on Twitter, Facebook or to blog about the Big Island events, please email me (hawaiifishingfanatic@gmail.com) or hit any of the Abercrombie links on Hawaii Fishing Fanatic for contact information.

In the subsequent months, I hope to give you a better picture of Neil Abercrombie and where he stands on fishing, environmental, outdoor and aquatic-related issues.

Mahalo to you all and have a great weekend!!!

Got wind of this from fellow F.B.I. blogger, Damon Tucker, who posted news that a pair of locals who had been scamming tourists for quite some time were arrested by Hawai’i County PD. I happen to catch the tail end of today’s newscast and remembered back in December that Aloha Kayak Co. had problems with illegal vendors. Check it out at KITV.com, “State Cracks Down on Illegal Vendors.”

I love kayak fishing and it hurts to hear these kind of things being done on the Big Island. For those who want to enter the sport, even as tourists, it discourages them from participating. Plus, this kind of news further deters me from venturing out or taking ‘ohana out to other Big Isle fishing spots without worrying about being hassled by hooligans. I’ve heard complaints about illegal vendors strong-arming folks but it seems these two did it very openly like many others without fear. Where’s the cops when you need them?

Take a look at these bruddahs and tell me you wouldn’t pay $5 for parking!

Herman Santiago

Kapahukula Voorhees

Auwe! Big Time to DLNR and Hawai’i County PD for not acting sooner!

Okay, if you’re like me wondering what’s going on and confused heading into the New Year about the National Saltwater Angler Registry (NSAR), don’t fret, other fishermen in the U.S. are having the same problem. Hawai’i is currently one of several states (Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Virginia and the U.S. Virgin Islands) that is required to have their fishermen register to fish because we do not have a comprehensive recreational saltwater license or registration program. NOAA has a site specifically to register and answer questions about the NSAR called the NOAA Marine Recreational Information Program.

There are pros and cons to having a national saltwater angler registry but I’ll defer on this while I wait and see what the Feds have in store for the data. Intrusive information that reminds me a little bit of the film, “Red Dawn,” where the Cuban leader ordered his men to gather information about the Boy Scouts (Remember? Said to be a paramilitary organization). I know, it might be a stretch and may never be used for dubious purposes, but too much identity theft and government security breaches going on that it makes me wary.

I always thought Hawai’i would be immune to this kind of licensing because of our long fishing tradition but it looks like the State of Hawai’i never implemented a program to keep or gather hard data for NOAA’s use. Read what other states in the same boat as Hawai’i are reporting:

New Jersey

Rhode Island

Virginia

Maryland

Massachusetts

Here’s an article from North Carolina that states that anglers don’t have to register because they have a program that NOAA can use to mine data:

North Carolina

Check out Hawai’i Fishing News and DLNR for other information.

Anyway, it’s free to register in 2010 but may have a fee attached later. So make your assessment and leave a comment. Maybe our government leaders in Hawai’i will make the right decisions regarding our recreational fishing interests. Do I hear, vote Abercrombie For Governor? You decide!

Waikiki-Diamond Head Fisheries Management Area

Great news for O’ahu shoreline fishermen for the New Year! A little information to help you get a head start on what is allowed and prohibited. Remember to malama (care for) the kai (ocean), in return, the kai will malama you.

Fishing spots open between the Waikiki Natatorium and the Diamond Head Lighthouse

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - The New Year means a new spot to fish is open on Oahu’s south shores.

Starting Jan 1st, fishermen are free to hit the shoreline between the Waikiki Natatorium and the Diamond Head Lighthouse.

The area is only open every other year to help the fish repopulate.

From Department of Land and Natural Resources:

WAIKIKI-DIAMOND HEAD SHORELINE FISHERIES MANAGEMENT AREA TO OPEN ON JANUARY 1, 2010 http://hawaii.gov/dlnr/chair/pio/nr/2008/N08-321.pdf

Waikiki-Diamond Head Shoreline FMA open to fishing January 1, 2010.
The Waikiki-Diamond Head Shoreline Fisheries Management Area is open to fishing during the calendar year 2010. This area is closed to fishing on alternate years to help restore fish populations.

Location
The Waikiki-Diamond Head Shoreline Fisheries Management Area extends from the ewa wall of the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium to the Diamond Head Lighthouse, from the highwater mark out to a minimum seaward distance of 500 yards, or to the seaward edge of the fringing reef if one occurs beyond 500 yards.

Fishing periods
“Open to fishing” from January 1 to December 31 of even-numbered years (2010, 2012, etc. ).
“Closed to fishing” from January 1 to December 31 of odd-numbered years (2009, 2011, etc. ).

Permitted
To fish for, take or possess any legal size marine life in season during the “open to fishing” period, provided that only hook-and-line, thrownet, handnet to land hooked fish, and spear fishing and hand harvesting methods are employed.
With a permit to engage in activities otherwise prohibited by law for scientific, propagation or other purposes.

Prohibited
To fish for, take or injure any marine life (including eggs), or to possess in the water any fishing gear during the “closed to fishing” period.
To use any spear between the hours of 6:00 pm to 6:00 am, or have or possess in the water any trap or net except thrownet or handnet to land hooked fish during the “open to fishing” period.

Download a pdf copy of the administrative rule and illustrative map of the Waikiki-Diamond Head Shoreline FMA.

NOTE: The Waikiki-Diamond Head Shoreline FMA is adjacent to the Waikiki Marine Life Conservation District where fishing is prohibited. Please see the DAR Fishing Regulations page or the Marine Life Conservation District pages for more information.

Once a week on Mondays, Hawai’i Fishing Fanatic will provide coverage on current fishing-related legislations, issues, laws, people, events, agencies, organizations, legislative links or news. If you should have any news, links or concerns to share, please email me or leave a comment.

Currently, Hawaii has no saltwater fishing license requirement. However, that may change soon and recreational fishermen should be aware that if that happens as in other states like New York, we’ll be in trouble. In fact, last week there was a furor over New York Attorney General, Andrew Cuomo’s refusal to defend the state against lawsuits from Long Island, NY towns. I’ve fished in New York state a lot when I lived on the east coast and they make a ton of money with their freshwater licenses. Non-resident fishermen, like me had to pay more and their game wardens are like license-seeking hawks during the peak fishing seasons. West coast states are contemplating licensing their saltwater fishery and that would be a tragedy. But they’re taking a wait-and-see approach with the New York situation. Hopefully, we won’t have to come to that in Hawai’i. You can check out the current DLNR fishing license requirments for Hawai’i here .

Hawaii Fishing News has taken on the cause and you can support their efforts by purchasing a shirt with their eye-popping graphics. Great for kama’aina and visitors. Get one for yourself and kokua HFN’s efforts. Here is their information:

Support Hawaii’s right to fish by purchasing a “Fight For the Right To Fish!” T-shirt. HFN is setting aside $1 from the sale of each T-shirt to create a special fund to not only battle for our ocean access but to create better habitat and enhance Hawaii’s fishery.

Shirts cost:
$15 for Large and Extra Large sizes with pocket
$17 for XXL T-shirt with pocket
Add $5 for postage for first shirt and $3 postage for each additional shirt.

Send your order with payment to Hawaii Fishing News, P.O. Box 25488, Honolulu, HI 96825, phone (808) 395-4499, FAX 396-3474. Sorry, no credit card orders.

Hawaiian “‘Aha’olelo” (Legislative) Mondays

Once a week on Mondays Hawai’i Fishing Fanatic will provide coverage on current fishing-related legislations, issues, laws, people, events, agencies, organizations, legislative links or news. If you should have any news, links or concerns to share, please email me or leave a comment.

Federal

A nice explanation of the federal jurisdiction provided by the National Marine Fisheries Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA) in Hawai’i.

State

I’m not sure if everyone knows about this but the DLNR has a Twitter address. DLNR Twitter . You can get their latest updates right on your timeline. Don’t forget DLNR website.