NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) will hold a public hearing to receive testimony on proposed new Hawaii Administrative Rule (HAR) Chapter 13-60.7, Kahekili Herbivore Fisheries Management Area, Maui. The public hearing will be held at the Lahaina Civic Center, 1840 Honoapiilani Highway, Lahaina, Maui on February 4, 2009. DLNR will also hold a public informational meeting immediately before the hearing to present and hold a discussion on the proposed rule. The informational meeting will begin at 5:30 P.M.; the hearing will follow at 6:00 P.M., or shortly thereafter.

The purpose of the public hearing is to provide any interested person the opportunity to submit data, provide viewpoints, or to testify on the proposed new rule that would establish the nearshore waters of Kahekili, Maui as an herbivore fisheries management area. The proposed rule would prohibit the take of certain herbivores (surgeonfishes, parrotfishes, rudderfishes, and sea urchins). It is anticipated that protecting herbivores will result in enhanced ecological services by herbivorous fish and urchins and better coral reef health.

A copy of the proposed new rule HAR Chapter 13-60.7 is available for viewing or purchase (for a nominal copying charge) at either:

Division of Aquatic Resources, 130 Mahalani Street, Wailuku, Hawaii 96793; phone: 243-5832; or Division of Aquatic Resources, 1151 Punchbowl Street, Rm. 330, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813; phone: 587-0100.

Upon request, the DLNR can mail a copy by calling these offices during normal business hours (for a nominal copying fee and for postage). The proposed new HAR may also be viewed and downloaded from the Department’s website: www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/dar.

All interested persons are urged to attend the public hearing to present relevant information and individual opinion for the DLNR to consider. Persons unable to attend or wishing to present additional comments may mail written testimony by Thursday, February 19, 2009, to the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources, Maui or Oahu addresses as listed above.

Anyone with a hearing impairment who desires to attend the public hearing may request assistance of a sign language interpreter. Anyone who has difficulty reading may request a large print version of the proposed rules. The requests may be made in writing to the address in the preceding paragraph, or by calling 587-0100 (voice or TDD) in Honolulu. The request will need to be received at least 72 hours before the hearing is scheduled to start.

/s/ Laura H. Thielen