(Honolulu) – If you’ve sold or bought property or if you work in the real estate or title business, you’re familiar with the huge volume of legal documents required for property transactions. The Bureau of Conveyances has just awarded a $1.3 million-dollar contract to West Central Indexing to implement a highly specialized Land Records Management System to increase accuracy and improve efficiencies in recording these documents. The Bureau of Conveyances is a division of the Dept. of Land and Natural Resources, responsible for maintaining these property transaction records for the public. It administers two systems of recording titles to real property in Hawai‘i: one is the Regular System (also referred to as Abstract) and the other is Land Court (also known as Torrens). The new system will improve on the work being done in both. To view video (from 11/4/16) please click on photo or view at this link: https://vimeo.com/190314178 State Registrar of Conveyance Les Kobata explains, “The Land Records Management System is considered ‘human-enabling technology’ in that it helps Bureau staff “connect the dots” or chain of title of property ownership. This will be particularly effective in providing accuracy and expediency in finalizing Land Court Transfer Certificates of Title (TCT) for land court property. These TCT’s memorialize all actions affecting a Land Court parcel during a given ownership period. The certificates tell the full story of a property and ensures legal ownership transfers over the years, and serve to identify easements, liens and other actions that may affect a property.” The new Land Records Management System will utilize optical character reading for scanning documents. Staff can teach it (artificial intelligence) to capture key pieces of information up front. Kobata said, “With the optical character reading capability, this system willprovide faster and more accurate inputs as well as more work-flow flexibility to help prevent errors.” This is critical with land court TCT’s as they need to be completely accurate to avoid issues with future property transactions. The Bureau takes in and records hundreds of thousands of documents each year and in the Land Court system, there’s a backlog of TCT’s that require updating or certification. This was due to past staffing issues in the Bureau, compounded by the housing/mortgage crisis beginning in 2008. This created a huge volume of foreclosures that amplified the complexity of the TCT backlog with administratively flawed recordings done by companies that went out of business. The backlog in correcting these errors and certifying TCT’s goes back to filings as far back as 2013. The new system is expected to significantly reduce the backlog with its advance functionality and optical character reading capabilities and is one step in the continued modernization of Bureau operations to maintain required record keeping. While the Land Records Management System is one step toward modernizing the Bureau and reducing the TCT backlog, since 2015 the Bureau has successfully digitized 35 million microfilm images and 5,500 reference books dating back to the mid-1800s. Hawai‘i’s Bureau of Conveyances is one of two nationwide that cover statewide recording duties where most of its mainland peers handle it on a county basis. DLNR Chair Suzanne Case commented, “The TCT backlog is caused by the tedious, time-consuming process of researching documents that need to be accurately reflected on the certificates, as well as the need to correct errors. The State Legislature has recognized those challenges and logistical issues have led to the back log in Land Court TCT certifications and have passed several measures to address it.” One example is a requirement that new time-share interests be recorded in the Regular System only, even if it was originally a land court property and that all existing land courttime share interests be “deregistered” and become part of the regular system. Case added, “While these measures are helpful in the long term, there are still some short-term issues, such as additional work needed to deregister properties and the difficulty in addressing properties with fractionalized interests that are partly recorded in Land Court and partly in the Regular System. Kobata said the title and escrow industry continues to be partners and work closely with the Bureau to help get administrative corrections done for documents so TCTs can be updated accurately and certified. “That has made the backlog pretty rare in the public view. However. we continue to focus on this TCT backlog issue and the Land Records Management System is an important step toward resolving it.” It is targeted for implementation in October 2020.” #DEPARTMENTOFLANDANDNATURALRESOURCESDLNR #DLNR #LandCourtRecords #Landrecordsmanagementsystem #LRMS #BureauofConveyances #LesKobata #LandCourtTransferCertificates #TCT #SuzanneCase

HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i State Department of Health (DOH) Emergency Medical Services and Injury Prevention System Branch in partnership with the Injury Prevention Advisory Committee will present this year’s Safe Hawai‘i Awards to Ralph Goto and Sharon Hanley Vitousek, M.D. The two honorees will receive their awards during the 2019 Hawaiian Islands Trauma Symposium on Friday, Aug. 9 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort’s Coral Ballroom in Honolulu. “These two individuals have spent their careers focused on preventing life-threatening injuries related to drowning and motor vehicle crashes in Hawai‘i,” said Alvin C. Bronstein M.D., FACEP, Chief of DOH’s Emergency Medical Services & Injury Prevention Branch. “Their work has saved countless lives and made a tremendous difference in improving the health of the people of Hawai‘i.” “The foresight and commitment of Mr. Goto and Dr. Vitousek is exemplary and the reach of their work over the years is infinite,” said Deborah Goebert, DrPH, chair of the Injury Prevention Advisory Committee. “They set the groundwork for much of what we consider the foundation of injury prevention in Hawai‘i today.” The Safe Hawai‘i Award acknowledges the contributions of either an individual or organization towards any given area of injury prevention in Hawai‘i. Drowning and motor vehicle crashes are the fifth and fourth leading causes of fatal injuries among Hawai‘i residents. In 2018, there were 102 drowning related deaths and 116 motor vehicle related deaths in Hawai‘i. Ralph Goto, retired administrator of the City and County of Honolulu’s Ocean Safety and Lifeguard Services Division and inaugural member of the Injury Prevention Advisory Committee is recognized for his lifetime of service preventing drownings and improving the safety of O‘ahu beaches. Between 1981 and 2013, Goto focused on ocean safety legislation, community issues, and governmental matters, while serving on boards, committees, and coalitions in Honolulu. He contributed to the development and formation of the Hawai‘i Region of the U.S. Lifesaving Association, the Personal Watercraft Rescue Program, and unionizing water safety officers. In 1984, Goto was appointed to the Accident Prevention and Injury Control Task Force, which established state-level injury prevention activities for the first time within the Department of Health. He was instrumental in incorporating the important concept of prevention guided by collecting, analyzing and interpreting data to drive environmental, legislative, and public education interventions in beach safety. Goto is the recipient of the national 2012 Paragon Award for Water Safety. Since his 2013 retirement, he continues to be a champion for water safety as a long-standing volunteer with the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association and co-chair of the Hawai‘i Drowning and Aquatic Injury Prevention Advisory Committee. Sharon Hanley Vitousek, M.D., retired director of the North Hawai‘i Outcomes Project is recognized for her major achievements in preventing traffic-related injuries and deaths in Hawai‘i. A graduate of Williams College, University of Hawai‘i (UH) John A. Burns School of Medicine, and the UH Internal Medicine Residency Program, Vitousek moved to Hawai‘i County in 1987. A Board Certified physician in internal medicine, Vitousek worked as director of the North Hawai‘i Outcomes Project from 1999 to 2013 measuring the relative health of the people in North Hawai‘i compared to the county, state and nation. When traffic deaths in Hawai‘i County became a focal point, Vitousek engaged and organized volunteers from public and private sectors to form the Motor Vehicle Crash Reduction Group. The group identified key causes of the high traffic death rate in Hawai‘i County and effective strategies to reduce traffic deaths in both the county and state. Members of the group included the Departments of Health and Transportation, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Hawai‘i County Police, county and state traffic engineers, Hawai‘i County Mass Transit, the Office of the Mayor of Hawai‘i, and community members. Through facilitated dialogue, the group set yearly joint priorities for traffic safety legislation, including ignition interlock. From 2000-2010, the traffic death rate in Hawai‘i County decreased by 52 percent. Vitousek also served for many years on the state Strategic Highway Safety Plan and on its Data and Information Systems Committee. Although she is now retired, Vitousek still advocates for traffic safety policies and for improving access to high quality primary care in Hawai‘i. #HawaiiDepartmentofHealth #SharonHanleyVitousek #RalphGoto #EmergencyMedicalServicesandInjuryPrevention #AlvinCBronstein #DeborahGoebert #OceanSafetyandLifeguardServices #PersonalWatercraftRescueProgram

(Lihu‘e) — Last spring, the Wailua Management Road, also known as “Loop Road” which leads to the Blue Hole in the Wailua area experienced severe damage due to heavy rains, falling trees and landslides. The conditions continue to deteriorate and are posing a public safety hazard. Wailua Loop Road. Photo credit: DLNR The DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) will be blocking vehicular access as of Thursday, August 8, 2019 until further notice. Repairs to the Loop Road will be ongoing and will involve repairing sections of the road and river crossings that were damaged by ongoing heavy rains and flooding. The road was closed May 25, 2018 to all vehicle access beyond Keahua Arboretum parking lot, due to hazardous road conditions caused by recent weather events. The entire Wailua portion of the Lihue-Koloa Forest Reserve is open for foot traffic, vehicular access will remain closed. Pedestrian traffic is not encouraged due to the hazardous conditions and the difficulty the area presents for emergency services to respond in the event of an accident. When the road and area is safe, the road will be re-opened for public use. #DLNRDivisionofForestryandWildlife #DLNR #Wailua #flooding #fallingtrees #landslide #repairs #lihue #LihueKoloaForestReserve

HONOLULU – Gov. David Ige is recruiting qualified and dedicated people who are interested in serving on the State Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR). The governor is seeking applicants with balanced and inclusive perspectives, committed to the conservation and protection and sustainable use of Hawai‘i’s natural and cultural resources that are the public trust responsibilities of the DLNR. The Department of Land and Natural Resources manages public lands under its jurisdiction, forestry and wildlife, aquatic resources, state parks, boating and ocean recreation, historic preservation, and conservation and coastal lands. These are volunteer board positions that require attendance at BLNR meetings on O‘ahu twice a month and more often as needed. BLNR members are nominated and, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, appointed by the governor, for a term of four years. At twice monthly meetings the BLNR reviews and takes action on departmental submittals, including land leases and conservation district use applications. Nominees are required to provide publicly viewable financial disclosure information prior to appointment to the BLNR. For further information about the responsibilities of a BLNR member, please refer to Hawai‘i Revised Statutes (HRS) Chapter 171-4. For more information and to submit nominations please visit: http://boards.hawaii.gov/ #DLNR #hawaiidepartmentoflandandnaturalresources #BLNR #VOLUNTEERBOARD #davidige #governorige #FORESTRYANDWILDLIFE #DivisionAquaticResources #stateparks #Boatingfacilities #DLNRDivisionofBoatingandOceanRecreation #StateHistoricPreservationDivision #coastallands

HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) will hold flu vaccination clinics in 185 public schools statewide from Oct. 14 through Nov. 27, 2019. The list of participating schools is available at http://health.hawaii.gov/docd/about-us/programs/stop-flu-at-school/. Parents or guardians wanting their child to receive a free flu shot should return the completed consent form to their school by Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. Consent forms will be sent home with students at participating schools. Electronic forms are also available online at https://vaxonlinereg.doh.hawaii.gov. The annual Stop Flu at School program provides free flu shots to children in kindergarten through grade 8 attending participating schools statewide. Flu vaccination reduces the spread of flu and helps protect those at risk of serious illness. Parents and guardians of students attending schools that will not have a school-located clinic are encouraged to contact their child’s healthcare provider to receive the flu vaccine in their office. For more information, call Aloha United Way’s information and referral service at 2-1-1. Additional resources include: • Stop Flu at School website: http://health.hawaii.gov/docd/about-us/programs/stop-flu-atschool/ • Fillable, electronic consent form: https://vaxonlinereg.doh.hawaii.gov • Consent form translations: http://health.hawaii.gov/docd/about-us/programs/stop-flu-atschool/. Stop Flu at School, Hawai‘i’s school-located vaccination program, is an innovative partnership between the State of Hawai‘i Departments of Health and Education. This program is endorsed by the Hawai‘i Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Hawai‘i Association of Family Practitioners and is paid for by federal funds and contributions from health insurers. #HawaiiDepartmentofHealth #fluviris #Schoolvaccination #stopflu #childrenshealthcare #consentformforflu #HawaiiEducation #HawaiiHealth #Departmentofhealth #governorige #davidige #bruceAnderson

HONOLULU – Gov. David Ige has again extended the emergency disaster relief period for last year’s Kaua‘i floods by issuing a ninth supplementary emergency proclamation. The proclamation gives the governor of the State of Hawai‘i the authority to deal with disasters or emergencies, to maintain the strength, resources, and economic life of the community and to protect the public health, safety, and welfare of the people. The proclamation extends authority to spend state funds as appropriated to protect the health, safety and welfare of Kaua‘i residents and visitors. The proclamation also supports the state’s efforts to provide quick and efficient relief of suffering, damage and losses caused by the flooding. Gov. Ige signed the initial emergency proclamation on April 15, 2018, followed by these supplementary proclamations: Supplementary proclamation issued April 18, 2018 Second supplementary proclamation issued June 17, 2018. Third supplementary proclamation issued by Acting Gov. Douglas S. Chin on Aug. 16, 2018 Fourth supplementary proclamation issued Oct. 15, 2018 Fifth supplementary proclamation issued Dec. 14, 2018 Sixth supplementary proclamation issued Feb. 12, 2019 Seventh supplementary proclamation issued April 12, 2019 Eighth supplementary proclamation issued June 7, 2019 This ninth supplementary proclamation continues until Oct. 5, 2019 unless terminated by a separate proclamation. #kauaiflooddisaster #Kauaiflood #supplementaryproclamation #disasterRelief #Safety #davidige #Governorige

HONOLULU – Gov. David Ige extended the disaster emergency relief period for homelessness across the state today, by issuing a fourth supplementary proclamation. The emergency proclamation helps to accelerate the completion of housing projects for individuals and families who are transitioning out of homelessness, and it expands shelter capacity and access to services. Gov. Ige signed the initial emergency proclamation on Dec. 14, 2018, a supplementary proclamation on Feb. 12, 2019, a second supplementary proclamation on April 12, 2019 and a third on June 7, 2019. This fourth supplementary emergency proclamation extends the relief period until Oct. 5, 2019 unless it is terminated by a separate proclamation. #homelessness #emergencyproclamation #governorige #davidige #housing #supplementaryproclamation #disasteremergencyrelief

HONOLULU — The Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) on Wednesday, August 7, 2019. The test code used will be the National Periodic Test (NPT). Unlike last year’s test, there will be no Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) test accompanying the EAS test. This year’s test will also be different in that it will be performed from the National Government to Primary Entry Points (PEP) versus a direct feed from the internet. In Hawaii, the State Emergency Operations Center is the designated PEP due to our unique geographic nature. Across the rest of the country, a local radio station normally fulfills the task. The test is being conducted through FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS). So far, there have been four successful Nationwide IPAWS Test conducted in the last eight years. The test will begin at 8:20 a.m. Hawaii Standard Time. A backup date has been planned for August 21, 2019 in the case of widespread severe weather or other significant events on the primary test date. All EAS participants are required to participate in this nationwide test. Members of the public and interested stakeholder organizations that are in a position to observe test results in their communities can provide useful feedback on the nationwide test, including any problems observed or any complications in the delivery of the EAS message during the nationwide test by reporting their observations to the Public Safety Support Center at https://www.fcc.gov/general/public-safety-support-center. #FCC #HIEMA #HawaiiEmergencyManagementAgencyHIEMA #EmergencyAlertSystem #NationalGovernmenttoPrimaryEntryPoints #PEP #StateemergencyOperationscenter #FEMA #IPAWS

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 at the State Capitol and upon all state offices and agencies as well as the Hawai‘i National Guard in the State of Hawai‘i beginning immediately until sunset on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019. This action is being taken as a mark of solemn respect for the victims of the terrible acts of violence perpetrated on August 3, 2019, in El Paso, Texas, and on August 4, 2019, in Dayton, Ohio. “We cannot become desensitized as we experience more of these horrible and senseless tragedies in communities across our country. Each death is a heartbreaking loss, and each person wounded will need our support,” said Gov. David Ige. #GovernorDavidIge #massshootings #ElPaso #Dayton #Ohio #Texas #HalfStaff #FlagOrder #StateofHawaii

At some point in the day, everyone is a pedestrian. While pedestrian fatalities remain high, there was a 1.7% decrease in the number of pedestrians killed in traffic crashes in 2017, totaling 5,977 deaths. NHTSA raises awareness of the dangers to pedestrians by providing safety tips, educational material and other resources. Find out how to protect yourself and your loved ones when walking, and learn how you can help us prevent pedestrian injuries and deaths. TRAFFIC SAFETY FACTS PEDESTRIANS, MARCH 2019 (PDF, 533.32 KB) Know the Basics—Pedestrian Safety 10 Walking Safety Tips Be predictable. Follow the rules of the road and obey signs and signals. Walk on sidewalks whenever they are available. If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic and as far from traffic as possible. Keep alert at all times; don’t be distracted by electronic devices that take your eyes (and ears) off the road. Whenever possible, cross streets at crosswalks or intersections, where drivers expect pedestrians. Look for cars in all directions, including those turning left or right. If a crosswalk or intersection is not available, locate a well-lit area where you have the best view of traffic. Wait for a gap in traffic that allows enough time to cross safely; continue watching for traffic as you cross. Never assume a driver sees you. Make eye contact with drivers as they approach to make sure you are seen. Be visible at all times. Wear bright clothing during the day, and wear reflective materials or use a flashlight at night. Watch for cars entering or exiting driveways, or backing up in parking lots. Avoid alcohol and drugs when walking; they impair your abilities and your judgment. 9 Driving Safety Tips Look out for pedestrians everywhere, at all times. Safety is a shared responsibility. Use extra caution when driving in hard-to-see conditions, such as nighttime or bad weather. Slow down and be prepared to stop when turning or otherwise entering a crosswalk. Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and stop well back from the cross-walk to give other vehicles an opportunity to see the crossing pedestrians so they can stop too. Never pass vehicles stopped at a crosswalk. There may be people crossing that you can’t see. Never drive under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. Follow the speed limit, especially around people on the street. Follow slower speed limits in school zones and in neighborhoods where children are present. Be extra cautious when backing up—pedestrians can move into your path. Finding and Creating Walkable Communities Resident's Guide for Creating Safe and Walkable Communities Want to improve the walkability of your neighborhood? Learn from the examples of other communities working to improve pedestrian safety. Walkability Checklist – English (PDF, 237.66 KB) | Spanish (PDF, 879.65 KB) | Asian Languages How walkable is your community? Take a walk with your child and find out for yourselves. Keeping Your Kids Safe While They Walk * Prevent Pedestrian Crashes: Parents and Caregivers of Elementary School Children (PDF, 165.61 KB) Elementary school children are very active and impulsive. Although they’re learning and growing, school-age children 10 and younger still need guidance and supervision when playing and walking near traffic. * Five Tips to Keep Your Children Safe on Their Way to and from School Strengthen your traffic safety knowledge: Teach and reinforce your children's pedestrian safety habits. * A Kid's Guide to Safe Walking (PDF, 3.04 MB) This colorful pamphlet will help you teach young children safety tips for crossing the street and things to remember when walking. ​ * Tips for Preteens & Teens: Prevent Pedestrian Crashes (PDF, 3.30 MB) Remind your preteens and teens that walking around traffic requires the same critical thinking skills as riding a bike or driving a car: Stop, look left-right-left, be safe and be seen. Walking Safely and Staying Fit as You Age Stepping Out as an Older Adult — Be Healthy, Walk Safely Share this resource with your aging parents to help them maintain their safety while walking for exercise or running errands. Safety Advocates If you're an advocate of pedestrian safety, or perhaps you work on a State or local pedestrian program, our curriculum and resources will equip you with the tools and information you need to effectively promote pedestrian safety. Accessible Pathways & Livable Communities Pocket Guide Pocket guide containing pathway accessibility and livability concepts for communities to consider (from Easter Seals). Checklist for Assessing the Accessibility of Transportation and Mobility Introduction and instructions on using a checklist to assess the accessibility of a transit route, including the path of travel (from Easter Seals). Child Pedestrian Safety Curriculum Lesson plans, assessment guides, and student response forms to teach and encourage pedestrian safety to children in kindergarten through 5th grade. ESL Teacher's Guide and Student Workbook: Walk and Bike Safely ESL guide and workbook to teach and encourage pedestrian and bike safety to adult immigrant students who are beginning English language learners. Neighborhood Wayfinding Assessment Pocket Guide Guide and checklist to help you find your way in your community (from Easter Seals). Pedestrian Safer Journey – Skills for Safe Walking for Ages 5 to 18 Interactive training package for children in elementary through high school to develop skills for safe walking. Pedestrian Safety Workshop: A Focus on Older Adults (PDF, 3.54 MB) and Instructor Guide (PDF, 3.54 MB) Presentation and guide for teaching older adults what they can do to increase their safety as pedestrians during this three-hour workshop. Tips for Preteens & Teens: Prevent Pedestrian Crashes (PDF, 3.30 MB) Walking around traffic requires the same critical thinking skills as riding your bike and driving a car. Apply the same walking skills you learned as a kid: stop, look left-right-left for traffic and be safe, be seen. Use these skills when you walk, and encourage others to do the same. Traffic Safety Facts – Children (PDF, 803.25 KB) Of the 5,987 pedestrian traffic fatalities, 245 (4%) were children in 2016. Traffic Safety Facts – Pedestrians (PDF, 573.55 KB) 5,987 pedestrians died in traffic crashes in 2016, a 9% increase from the number reported in 2015. Walkability Checklist – English (PDF, 237.66 KB) | Spanish (PDF, 879.65 KB) | Asian Languages Criteria to help you decide whether a neighborhood is a friendly place to walk. Visit FHWA's pedestrian web pages for additional information. MORE INFORMATION AT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S WEBSITE: https://www.nhtsa.gov

(Kailua-Kona) – Dramatic photographs of two oceanic whitetip sharks, lacking fins, along with photographs of a dead, three-and-a-half-foot long whitetip reef shark is raising concern among marine biologists on Hawai‘i Island. The two oceanic whitetip sharks, a species listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, were observed alive off the coast of West Hawai‘i and were photographed and reported by dive tour operators. Stacia Marcoux, a Fish & Habitat Monitoring Technician with the DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) commented, “Shark finning is not a new phenomenon, but the recent number of incidents is concerning. This is especially true for the threatened oceanic whitetip. We hope that once people see these photos they will join us in condemning and discouraging this kind of activity regardless of its legality.” In June, DAR colleague Megan Lamson found a whitetip reef shark, finned and dead, at Ka‘alu‘alu Bay. In addition to missing its dorsal fin it had been gutted. While the finning of the two oceanic whitetip sharks in West Hawai‘i was reported to the DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) it’s difficult to investigate without knowing when it happened and who may be responsible. Marcoux received photos provided by Big Island Divers and Aquatic Life Divers of the fin-less oceanic whitetips. She said, “It’s heartbreaking to see these terrible wounds on these individuals. Sharks deserve our respect and we’re encouraged that most tour operators are educating their clients about this issue. No one wants to see an injured shark swimming by.” Marcoux and Lamson indicate, “Sharks are apex predators and vital contributors to a healthy marine ecosystem. Many shark species are long-lived, they reproduce slowly, and anything that happens to threaten them can lead to sudden populations declines.” They added that pono fishing practices include shark protection because they help sustain healthy fish communities and a balanced marine ecosystem. Additionally, certain shark species are culturally and spiritually important. People can help sharks remain a keystone species in Hawaiian waters by discouraging shark feeding, fishing, finning or harassing activities. You can also reduce impacts to the coastal environment by packing out your own trash, collect any discarded fishing line or gear and cigarette butts. Brian Neilson, DAR Administrator, explained, “We can debunk the ‘Jaws’ myth that sharks are maneaters and we encourage people to learn more about sharks and respect the role they play in our Ocean.” Currently state law prohibits the take, killing, possession, sale, or offer for sale of whitetip reef shark and other shark species in West Hawaii. Take means to fish for, catch, or harvest or attempt to fish for, catch or harvest aquatic life. It is illegal to intentionally catch a whitetip reef shark to remove a fin within the West Hawaii Regional Fishery Management Area (HAR 13-60.4-4). Additionally it is illegal to possess, sell, offer for sale, trade or distribute shark fins anywhere in Hawai‘i (HAR 188-40.7). Anyone who sees any of these activities is asked to call the DLNR hotline at 643-DLNR (643-3567) or to report it via the free DLNRTip app available for both iPhones and android devices. #TheHawaiiDepartmentofLandandNaturalResour #shark #sharkfinning #oceanicwhitetipshark #endangeredspecies #stciamarcoux #fishhabittmonitoring #DLNR #DivisionAquaticResources #DAR #KaalualuBay #MeganLamson #bigIslanddivers #WestRegionalFisheryManagementArea

HONOLULU - Senator Lorraine R. Inouye is pleased to announce that Governor David Ige has released $135,000 for renovations and improvements at the Hamakua Youth Center, in Honoka‘a. “I want to thank Governor Ige for supporting the youth who benefit from these programs with the Hamakua Youth Foundation,” Senator Inouye said. “Keeping our keiki actively engaged in enriching activities and cultural exploration will pay great dividends in the future. This is a tremendous investment in our state and the Hamakua/Honoka‘a community.” Hamakua Youth Foundation is a grassroots community organization dedicated to creating nurturing, stimulating and enjoyable youth-centered, after-school, occasional weekend, and summer programs for youth of the Hamakua District. Guided by Hawaiian traditions and values, the Hamakua Youth Center engages local youth in leadership training, environmental stewardship, music, visual arts, recreational activities, and exploration of the many cultures represented in our area. #LorraineInouye #GovernorIge #HamakuaYouthFoundation #Hamakua #Honokaa #Hilo #HawaiiSenate #HawaiiSenateMajority