(Honolulu) – The DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) is investigating the possible destruction of four, endangered Hawaiian ʻānunu vines in the Mauna Loa Forest Reserve on the backside of Pu‘u Huluhulu. This is where thousands of protesters have been illegally blocking Mauna Kea Access Road since mid-July. In addition to the alleged cutting of these vines, DOCARE officers found evidence that other rare plants have been trampled, either inadvertently or intentionally. “The destruction of the ʻānunu vine is particularly disturbing, since there may be only five populations of this species still in existence,” said DLNR Chair Suzanne Case. ʻĀnunu is federally listed as an endangered plant and under the Hawai‘i Natural Heritage Ranking it is considered critically imperiled. Rare and endangered plants were out-planted on State Land by natural resource teams from federal agencies which manage threatened and endangered species in the area. The ʻānunu vine is naturally occurring, but the restoration efforts help it to thrive. The damaged vines were not cut in the out-planting section but one other threatened or endangered species of imperiled plants were stepped on there. Federal officials are also concerned about access to national wildlife refuge and the potential impacts to endangered Hawaiian goose (nēnē) management efforts as the breeding season begins. While protest leaders have taken steps to restrict access to the top of Pu‘u Huluhulu cinder cone, DOCARE estimates as many as 2,400 people have been around Pu‘u Huluhulu at any given time, for the past seven weeks. DOCARE Officer Edwin Shishido and another officer hiked to the out-planting area on August 21st and discovered that four ʻānunu vines appeared to have been cut or ripped from koa trees. “An unmarked, ‘social’ trail led into the area, and two other federally and state listed endangered plants were laying across the trail indicating they’d been recently trampled,” Shishido said. The plants appear to have recovered. “This area of Pu‘u Huluhulu was specifically set aside to propagate these native Hawaiian plants,” explained Lyman Perry, a botanist with the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW). “It’s difficult to establish a viable population of these extremely rare plants, to keep them from facing extinction, so the PTA out-planting area was picked for the very reason that it saw little to no human impact,” Perry added. In addition to negative impacts to plants from thousands of people being in the area, there’s evidence that just the sheer number of people is adversely impacting animals and insects. Ian Cole, DOFAW’s East Hawai‘i Wildlife Manager said there are anecdotal reports that Hawai‘i’s State Bird, the nēnē, are avoiding the immediate area around the protest site. Cole explained, “We have reports that nēnē are avoiding landing around Mauna Kea Access Road and Daniel K. Inouye Highway (Saddle Road). It’s not surprising that they’re looking for different foraging areas…there are too many people around for their comfort. This area was likely one of their flyway resting areas.” Even the smallest of creatures are potentially being impacted by the nearly two-month long protest action. Entomologists report that the endemic Hawaiian wolf spider, which inhabits the area’s lava fields, is possibly being forced out of its natural habitat due to the large number of people camping and walking in the area. Previously researchers noted that the spider moved away from the location of a hale built by protesters at Halepōhaku, about six miles from the current protest location. They recorded a decline in the number of spiders and an increase in invasive insects. Chair Case remarked, “Early on in this protest we warned about potential impacts to endangered species from off-trail activities. Intentional or not, it’s happening, and it’s very concerning. You just can’t have thousands of people in sensitive natural areas like Puʻu Huluhulu without this kind of harm resulting. DLNR’s mission is to protect these species, and our staff is passionate about doing so, and it’s sad to see this now.” #MaunaKea #Maunakea #HumanImpactonland #rareplantsanimals #DLNR #DOCARE #MaunaLoaForestFeserve #PuuHuluhulu #anuanuvine #suzannecase #hawaiinaturalheritageranking #Endangeredplants #endangeredspecies #endangeredplants #KoaTrees #DOFAW #DivisionofForestryandWildlife #Hawaiianwolfspider #Maunakeaprotest #TMT #ThirtyMeterTelescope #SaddleRoad

(Honolulu) – The severe and widespread coral bleaching event predicted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is already occurring along reefs across the state. To view video please click on photo or view at this link: https://vimeo.com/359390811 Last week, a team from the DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) conducted a rapid assessment of coral health at Molokini and along Maui’s south shore from Makena to Maalaea. Russell Sparks, a DAR Aquatic Biologist reported, “Molokini is composed of high percentages of the coral species, Montipora capitata, and we found roughly 50% of this coral already bleached or paling heavily.” The team found in waters off Makena, Wailea, and Kihei the percentage of corals showing bleaching currently at less than 10%. Sparks said that reefs in dirty water (closer to shore at Kalama Park and other areas in North Kihei) are doing better than in similar areas with cleaner water. This may be due to the shading effect of dirty water reducing some of the stress from direct sunlight on these corals. At Olowalu, routine monitoring in August did detect numerous Porities corals bleached and overgrown with turf algae. Dr. Jamison Gove, a NOAA Research Oceanographer said, “Ocean temperatures remain well above average across much of the state. Areas along West Hawai‘i and Maui Nui are especially warm, as much as 3 – 3.5°F above typical summertime temperatures. Warm ocean temperatures are expected to persist in the coming weeks, likely worsening the coral bleaching that has recently been observed across the islands.” NOAA, DAR and the Arizona State University Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science (ASU-GDCS) have joined forces to collaborate on coral reef science, conservation, and management in Hawai‘i. One of the outcomes of this partnership is the creation of a coral bleaching alert card, which depicts six, simple steps people can take to reduce any additional stress on corals during the current bleaching event. Dr. Greg Asner, the Director of ASU-GDCS commented, “My team has partnered with DAR and NOAA as a technical source for advanced aircraft and satellite monitoring of reefs throughout the main Hawaiian Islands. We launched the website, www.hawaiicoral.org to provide a simple, but advanced platform that integrates coral observations made by residents and visitors with observations made from the air and Earth orbit. The outcome is a real-time monitoring system that informs citizens as fast as scientists are getting data. Together, we can not only monitor this terrible bleaching event, but also work to reduce secondary stress on the most impacted reefs. After the heatwave ends, we will have a good map with which to plan restoration efforts.” #CoralBleaching #NationalOceanicAtmosphericAdministration #NOAA #coralbleaching #DAR #JamisonGove #KalamaPark #NorthKihei #MakenaBeach #Wailea #Kihei #GregAsner #ArizonaStateUniversity #CenterforGlobalDiscoveryandConservationScien

(Gilbert Kahele Recreation Area) – 45 women, mostly from Hawai‘i, spent the last few days being schooled in outdoor skills during the first-ever “Becoming an Outdoors Woman (BOW)” retreat in Hawai’i. This is the Aloha State’s initial foray into a 20-year-old international program that sponsors skill-development weekends in 41 states, seven Canadian provinces and seven other countries. Andrew Choy, DLNR’s Hunter Education Coordinator led a team of twenty instructors, trip-leaders, drivers, observers and cooks, with the collective purpose of making certain the newly learned outdoor women had rich and rewarding experiences. They succeeded, according to participant Kathy Camp of O’ahu. Saturday, on the second day of BOW, standing far below Mauna Kea, preparing to go on a trail ride, Camp remarked, “This has far exceeded my expectations. The company is great and one of the appeals for me was to meet new friends – like-minded women but all with a variety of reasons for signing up.” She looked forward to practicing newly acquired rifle and handgun skills after going through a firearm safety and handling class on Friday. She hopes to improve her shooting skills to show her husband she can actually hit clay targets while skeet shooting. “He’s not a great teacher,” Camp joked, “so with my new-found skills maybe I can beat him?” Choy says the BOW concept was born out of studies two decades ago that showed sharp declines in women’s interest in outdoor sports. While hunting and fishing related skills make up 2/3rds of the curriculum, the other third is dedicated to non-harvest or non-consumptive outdoor pursuits like camping, kayaking, hiking and backpacking. “The Becoming an Outdoors Woman program,” he said, “is one of the reasons adult women are the only demographic group showing growth in fishing and shooting sports.” To view video please click on photo or view at this link: https://vimeo.com/358442478 Becoming an Outdoors Woman is a non-profit headquartered at the University of Wisconsin in Stevens Point. Two trainers from the BOW international office observed this first retreat and one of them, Kelly Van Laanen, commented, “That despite having to deal with far-flung venues on the Big Island, they did a great job and will learn from any minor hiccups.” Home base for the weekend was the Gilbert Kahele Recreation Area but other venues included the Dahana Ranch near Waimea (horseback riding), Camp Honokaia at Honoka’a (beginning rifle & handgun), Kealakekua Bay (kayaking) and Hilo for fishing. In addition to the Hawai‘i women who attended, a woman from Texas and two sisters from New Mexico joined the fun. Catherine Matthews and her sister from Las Cruces, NM joined their younger sister from Honolulu to celebrate her 50th birthday. When they were younger they enjoyed family camping and hiking trips, but then as Matthews described, “life gets in the way.” This was not only a chance to celebrate a birthday, but to embrace the kind of independence that outdoor skills provide. Catherine says a course on canning and making jerky is one that she’ll be able to use immediately, along with a first-aid course. She echoed the other Catherine’s reaction, saying, “This is a great group of women and it’s been so much fun getting to know them.” The Hawai‘i Becoming an Outdoors Woman team will analyze what worked well and what didn’t in preparation for the program’s expected return in 2020. DLNR will publicize application dates. #BecominganOutdoorsWoman #gilbertkahele #gilberkahelerecreationarea #dlnr #andrewchoy #maunakea #KathyCamp #BOW #KellyVanLaanen #DahanaRanch #Waimea #CampHonokaia #KealakekuaBay #Hilo #CatherineMatthews

Old Hawaiʻi on Horseback celebrates “Nā Wahine Holo Lio”. Loosely translated from Hawaiian, its meaning is “the woman horse rider”. This legacy event has a rich history in the Hawaiian paniolo culture. With the rest of the world catching on to and learning about Hawaiʻi’s paʻu riders and their very unique story, this seems like perfect timing. A recent article in VOGUE Magazine featured many of Hawaiʻi Island’s own. And, if you are here in Waimea, you can visit the Nā Wahine Holo Lio Museum now open at Pukalani Stables. After an absence of more than one decade, a grand tradition on Hawaii Island — the majestic Old Hawaii On Horseback pageant — makes a comeback to the island this September. The event will be staged on the Waikii Ranch polo grounds Sept. 14 with attendees enjoying the sounds of Grammy Award winner John Cruz from 10-11 a.m. followed by the pageant from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Detailed information on this grand event on Saturday, from West Hawai'i Today Judy Hancock rode dressed in brilliant yellow to represent Princess Kaiulani. Photo Courtesy of The Paniolo Preservation Society The event is a culmination of an 18-month celebration of Nā Wahine Holo Lio by Paniolo Preservation Society – a celebration inspired by the unheralded role that mothers, wives, grandmothers, great grandmothers, sisters, aunts and Hawaii monarchs such as Queen Emma and Princess Kaiulani played in this important aspect of the Hawai’i economy, culture and lifestyle. At Old Hawai’i on Horseback you will be able to witness magnificently draped paʻu riders in their finest, elegantly parading their horses onto Waikiʻi Polo Field, each in their paʻu units. A typical parade pa’u unit is made up of the pa’u queen and her princess, escorted by male members of her family. Missionary families, monarchs, princesses and naval captains may participate in the paʻu unit procession as well. It will be a beautiful representation of the history of Hawai’i on horseback, depicting historic moments in the state’s ranching history- from the arrival of the first cattle and horses forward to a glimpse of ranching life today. The story behind the long skirts originates back to the 1800s when women would drape themselves in pa’u silk skirts to protect their clothing as well as enabling them to ride astride with dignity and modesty. Often draped in colors representing each of the Hawaiian Islands, the pa’u rider is arguably the most visible celebration of paniolo culture. Lively, colorful and culturally rich, this is a performance you don’t want to miss! Governor David Ige and Lieutenant Governor Joshua Green proclaimed September 14, 2019 as “NᾹ WAHINE HOLO LIO OLD HAWAI’I ON HORSEBACK DAY” in Hawai’i. They ask the people of the Aloha State to join them in celebrating the beautiful history of Hawai'i on horseback! View proclamation here #NᾹWAHINEHOLOLIO #VogueMagazine #Horseback #PauRiders #PanioloPreservationSociety #Paniolo #QueenEmmaPrincesKaiulani #NᾹWAHINEHOLOLIOOLDHAWAIIONHORSEBACKDAY #davidige #joshuagreen #HawaiiMonarcy #Hawaiimonarchy #johncruz #waikiiranch #HawaiionHOrseback #HawaiionHorsebackPageant

More than 200,000 Americans are living with pulmonary fibrosis, a progressive and debilitating lung disease that leads to scarring of the lungs. The disease remains largely unknown, which can lead to later stage diagnoses. www.AboutPF.org is a great place to learn about specific symptoms and risk factors. The site includes a Pulmonary Fibrosis Risk List worksheet individuals can download and bring with them to their next doctor’s visit, as well as patient stories of those living with the disease. The microsite also directs individuals to the PFF site for resources to direct them toward next steps. Governor David Y. Ige and Lieutenant Governor Joshua B. Green proclaims September 20th, 2019 as POW / MIA Recognition Day in Hawai‘i. They ask the people in Hawai’i and urge everyone to become informed and involved in the fight to eradicate this serious disease. View the Proclamation here. #Breathing #PulmonaryFibrosis #PulmonaryFibrosisAwarenessMonth #Hawaii #HawaiiSenateMajority

HONOLULU – At the direction of the President of the United States, Gov. David Ige has ordered that the United States flag and the Hawai‘i state flag will be flown at half-staff on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2019, at the Hawai‘i State Capitol and upon all state offices and agencies as well as the Hawai‘i National Guard in the State of Hawai‘i. The flags will be flown at half-staff from sunrise until sunset to remember the nearly 3,000 people who perished on Sept. 11, 2001. By a joint resolution approved on Dec. 18, 2001 (Public Law 107-89), Congress designated Sept. 11 of each year as “Patriot Day”, calling upon all departments and agencies of the United States to display the flag at half-staff and to observe a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time to honor the innocent victims of 9-11. The president’s proclamation can be found here. #911 #September11 #HawaiiNationalguard #DavidIge #PatriotDay #PublicLaw10789 #HalfStafgf #Flarorder #Momentofsilence

HONOLULU - The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) would like to announce Safe Routes to School (SRTS) informational workshops on the islands of Kauai and Hawaii. The SRTS workshops provide community leaders, school officials, health and transportation professionals, law enforcement officers, parents and neighbors with the knowledge needed to develop SRTS programs in their communities. Additional workshops scheduled for Honolulu, Kahului, Kapolei and Hilo were announced previously. Schedule information for the workshops in Lihue and Kailua-Kona is: Tuesday, October 15, 2019 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm Lihue Civic Center, Moikeha Conference Room 4444 Rice Street, Lihue, Hawaii 96766 Friday, October 25, 2019 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm West Hawaii Civic Center, Council Chambers 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740 To register for a workshop, go to http://hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/srts/ and click on the link under Upcoming Workshops, or contact Tara Lucas at 808-692-7696, or e-mail saferoutestoschool@hawaii.gov. Communities around the country are using SRTS programs to make it safer and more appealing for children to walk and bicycle to school. Federal legislation has recognized the value of SRTS programs and has provided funding for states to establish programs. SRTS programs grow from community concerns about safety, health and traffic. A combination of engineering, encouragement, education, and enforcement strategies are used to address these concerns and make SRTS a reality. Workshop participants will gain the knowledge to develop sound SRTS programs based on community needs and conditions, best practices and responsible use of resources. Below is an overview of the workshop agenda. Why SRTS matters Engineering Education and encouragement Enforcement Evaluation Pick-up and drop-off area strategies SRTS federal, state and county programs How communities make SRTS happen For more information on the SRTS federal and state program in Hawaii, please visit http://hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/srts/ This workshop is accessible for individuals with disabilities. If you need an auxiliary aid/service or other accommodation due to a disability, contact Tara Lucas at 692-7696, or e-mail saferoutestoschool@hawaii.gov. Requests made as early as possible will allow adequate time to fulfill your request. Upon request, this notice can be made available in alternate formats. #governorige #saferoutes #saferoutestoschool #HDOT #HawaiiDepartmentofTransportation #HDOTHIDOT #SafeRouteSchool #SRTS #HawaiiDepartmentofTransportationHDOT

HONOLULU - Hawaii's public and charter schools combined enrollment for school year 2019-20 totals 179,331 students, compared to 179,698 last year, a difference of 0.2 percent. This year, Hawaii State Department of Education (HIDOE) schools enrolled 167,454 students and charter schools enrolled 11,877 students. In school year 2019-20, the five largest HIDOE public schools by grade level are: High Schools (grades 9-12): Campbell (3,077), Waipahu (2,777), Mililani (2,620), Farrington (2,396), Maui (2,082) Middle (grades 6-8) and Intermediate Schools (grades 7-8): Mililani Middle (1,875), Kapolei Middle (1,487), Ewa Makai Middle (1,390), Waipahu Intermediate (1,349), Maui Waena Intermediate (1,162) Elementary Schools: August Ahrens (1,274), Holomua (1,127), Waipahu (987), Kahului (933), Keoneula (912) The five smallest HIDOE schools in the state include: Niihau High and Elementary (10), Maunaloa Elementary (36), Hawaii School for the Deaf and Blind (62), Kilohana Elementary (71) and Waiahole Elementary (86). The five largest charter schools are: Hawaii Technology Academy (1,285), Kamaile Academy (878), the Hawaii Academy of Arts and Sciences (710), Ka Waihona O Ka Naauao (694) and Kihei Charter School (689). The five smallest charter schools are: Kanaka (33), Ke Ana Laahana (41), Ke Kula O Niihau Kekaha (50), Hakipuu Learning Center (55) and DreamHouse Ewa Beach (85). Click here to download the full enrollment figures. #HawaiiStateDepartmentofEducation #HIDOE #Enrollment #PublicSchools #CHRISTINAKISHIMOTO #HawaiiState

HONOLULU, Hawai‘i – The Hawai‘i State Senate will convene in Special Session on September 16 and 17, 2019 to consider seven judicial appointments. On August 28, 2019, the Senate received notice of Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald’s appointment: Jeffrey A. Hawk as Judge of the District Court of the Third Circuit In a separate correspondence the Senate also received notice of Governor David Y. Ige’s six appointments: Clyde J. Wadsworth as Associate Judge of the Intermediate Court of Appeals Kevin A. K. Souza as Judge of the Circuit Court of the First Circuit Lisa W. Cataldo as Judge of the Circuit Court of the First Circuit Ronald G. Johnson as Judge of the Circuit Court of the First Circuit John M. Tonaki as Judge of the Circuit Court of the First Circuit Trish K. Morikawa as Judge of the Circuit Court of the First Circuit Pursuant to Article VI, Section 3 of the Hawai‘i Constitution, the Senate shall hold public hearings and vote on each appointment within thirty days of any appointment. The Senate Committee on Judiciary will hold a hearing on the appointments at the State Capitol on Tuesday, September 10, 2019 at 10:00 A.M. and plans to hold a decision making meeting on Monday, September 16, 2019 at 10:30 A.M. The Senate will meet in Special Session on Monday and Tuesday, September 16 and 17, 2019 at 10:00 A.M. All public documents and hearing notices will be posted on the Capitol website: www.capitol.hawaii.gov #judicialnominees #FirstSpecialSession #DavidIge #governorige #markrecktenwald #JeffreyHawk #ClydeWadsworth #KevinSouza #LisaCataldo #RonaldJohnson #JohnTonaki #TrishMorikawa #HawaiiState #HawaiiStateSenate

Nearly 2,800 stakeholders responded to the call for equity, excellence and innovation in public schools during the summer. A Phase II feedback window on a first draft of the 2030 Promise Plan is open through Sept. 20, 2019. Click the above image to view the 2030 Promise Plan PDF. Mahalo! Educators, students, parents and the broader community gathered in more than 80 feedback sessions this summer to provide ideas and action opportunities for the Hawai‘i DOE’s next strategic plan. A feedback window on the draft of that plan is open through Sept. 20, 2019. A total of 2,782 participants provided feedback on the five student promises at the heart of the 2030 Promise Plan at 83 sessions across the Islands. Those promises — Hawai‘i, Equity, School Design, Empowerment, and Innovation — represent a shift in HIDOE’s strategic planning beyond discrete targets to include more qualitative educational outcomes and experiences. Phase I Feedback sessions were held from May 6 to August 1, 2019, and were supported with a downloadable community feedback toolkit. “Our work over the summer shows that our community is ready to engage with public schools in new ways to help them realize our promises to students,” said Supt. Christina M. Kishimoto. “I look forward to hearing everyone’s thoughtful feedback on this draft.” To participate in Phase II Feedback: Read the first draft of the plan: http://bit.ly/2030-Plan-Draft Take the survey to provide input on content and action opportunities: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2030PlanDraft Take our optional survey to provide your “stake in the ground” to help schools achieve these promises: http://bit.ly/2030-survey The main survey will give participants an opportunity to respond to community reactions to promises and rank action opportunities to provide focus going forward. The optional “stake in the ground” survey is meant to harness community energy around “change agency” — building the capacity of all schools to be innovation hubs that reflect the unique power of each community to contribute to a thriving, sustainable Hawai‘i. Participants can select from a menu of opportunities aligned to each of the promises. “It’s gratifying that so many responded and considered new ways the school system can evolve to support the empowerment of schools, teachers and students,” said Rodney Luke, assistant superintendent of the Office of Strategy, Innovation and Performance, which is spearheading the strategic plan work. “Communities working together can achieve great things through their public schools.” Phase II Feedback gathered through Sept. 20 will inform a final draft of the plan, which will include benchmarks and metrics in development, in late 2019. The Board of Education will review the final plan for approval in early 2020. Implementation will begin with the 2020-2021 school year. Learn more about the 2030 Promise Plan and process: http://bit.ly/2030PromisePlan. ​ʻŌlelo Community Media series on the 2030 Promise Plan Tune in each month to hear from educators and students who are living out these promises today. #Hawaiistatedepartmentofeducation #Promiseprogram #2030PromisePlan #ChristinaKishimoto #Equity #HawaiiEquity #SchoolDesign #Empowerment #Hawaii #Innovation #HawaiiPublicSchools #HawaiiEducation #RodneyLuke #OfficeofStrategyInnoivationPerformance #BoardofEducation

HDOT partnering with the U.S. Department of Transportation Small Business Transportation Resource Center – Southwest Region to bring small business workshops to Hawaii. HONOLULU – The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) and the U.S. DOT Small Business Transportation Resource Center – Southwest Region (SBTRC) will be holding workshops on working capital and debt financing for small businesses on Sept. 10 in Honolulu and Sept. 11 in Kapolei. These workshops are free to the public and limited seating is available. Interested small business owners can reserve a seat through 2019 at summerinitiative.eventbrite.com Workshop dates, times, and locations are: HONOLULU Tuesday, Sept. 10, 9-11:30 a.m. General Contractors Association of Hawaii, 1065 Ahua Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96819 KAPOLEI Wednesday, Sept. 11, 9-11:30 a.m. Department of Hawaiian Homelands, 91-5420 Kapolei Parkway, Kapolei, HI 96707 Workshop attendees will learn about different types of financing, what lenders look for from potential borrowers, and alternatives to traditional bank loans. The workshop organizers are transportation-focused, but the capital and debt financing strategies that will be presented may also be applied in other businesses. If you need an auxiliary aid/service or other accommodation due to a disability, contact Curtis Motoyama, ADA Specialist, at (808) 831-7931 or curtis.s.motoyama@hawaii.gov, as soon as possible. Please make requests as early as possible to allow adequate time to fulfill your request. Upon request, this notice is available in alternate formats such as large print, Braille, or electronic copy. #smallbusiness #HDOT #HawaiiDepartmentofTransportation #Curtismotoyama #SBTRC #USDOTSmallBusinessTransportation #Financingworkshops

To view video please click on photo or view at this link: https://vimeo.com/357202975 (Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park) – This holiday weekend, fishermen from Kaua‘i’s west side and from the north shore joined forces with a team from the DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) to try and remove invasive Black Chin Tilapia from Nu‘alolo Bay here. Over the past few weeks, anglers have reported the presence of thousands of tilapia in the shallow waters of the bay and this was confirmed by the DAR team, who initially collected some fish for biological sampling. It is believed the Black Chin Tilapia was introduced into Hawai‘i as a bait fish back in 1962, though an alternate theory has them being introduced around the same time to control aquatic weeds. On O‘ahu it is the most common tilapia species and is also documented on Hawai‘i Island. Using a combination of surround nets and throw nets under a State Special Activities Permit, more than a dozen fishermen and the DAR team, worked all day Saturday and into the night to try and remove as many of the wily fish as possible. Several volunteers commented, “they’re smart buggers.” As soon as they were trapped by a net many of the tilapia found openings and escaped. Ka‘ili Shayler of DAR led the weekend efforts, which included another full day of netting on Sunday, and said, “We removed about 300 tilapia. We tried different tactics and what seemed to work best was using throw nets at night during low-tide.” Previously, fishermen had removed an estimated 1000 fish on their own. Tilapia reproduce fast and DAR biologists say this means they out-compete other species (including native fish), and then often suffer massive die-offs. They’re considered pests in estuaries, canals and reservoirs, and though tilapia is largely considered a fresh-water fish, the Black Chin is known to be more tolerant to salt water and can spawn in salinities of up to 35 parts per million. It’s thought the tilapia that have invaded Nu‘alolo and other areas along the Nāpali Coast were washed down irrigation canals on the island’s west side and into the ocean during rain storms. Shayler and his colleagues are really appreciative of the help from the local community. He said, “It’s awesome for these folks to give up their Labor Day weekend with their friends and family to come to this pretty remote location to help and try to remove these fish. Fishermen from Kaua‘i’s west side and from the north shore don’t often get to interact, so that was a real bonus of the weekend’s operation.” The special activities permit allows the use of small-mesh nets for removing tilapia all around Kaua‘i. DAR staff are encouraging anglers to continue catching them and are also researching funding to do DNA tracking of the fish to better pinpoint where they came from. It’s hoped when winter arrives and north shore swells push them out to sea, predators can more easily get to them. While they are considered highly invasive and have a bad stigma, tilapia is considered both a good fish to eat and good as a bait fish. Shayler concluded, “This invasion gives us a chance to perhaps change what people think about them as a food source. People aren’t used to eating them, but you often see frozen, farm-raised tilapia being sold in stores, so clearly, they are considered a good fish to eat. We want people to feel free to catch and use as many as they can. Those efforts can’t hurt in helping to rid them from places like the Nāpali Coast.” #HawaiiDepartmentofLandandNaturalResources #kauai #invasivetilapia #tilapia #laborday #kailishayler #StateSpecialActivitiesPermit #BlackChinTilapia #nualoloBay #NapaliCoastStateWildernessPark #NapaliCoast #DLNR #DivisionofAquaticResources #DAR