10/12/26 – YOUR VOICE CAN HELP SHAPE HOW HAWAIʻI’S CONSERVATION DISTRICT LANDS ARE MANAGED

YOUR VOICE CAN HELP SHAPE HOW HAWAIʻI'S CONSERVATION DISTRICT LANDS ARE MANAGED

HONOLULU - Community members are encouraged to learn about proposed changes to the rules governing land use and permitting within Hawaiʻi's State Land Use Conservation District and be part of the rulemaking process by providing testimony at one of eight public hearings.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands (OCCL) is proposing amendments to Hawaiʻi Administrative Rules (HAR) Chapter 13-5, which governs approximately two million acres of public and private conservation lands across the state, including beach and marine areas.

The proposed amendments would reorganize and update the rules to:

• Strengthen conservation criteria
• Simplify permitting for minor activities
• Address coastal hazards and coastal erosion
• Update and overhaul shoreline hardening provisions
• Clarify regulations for restoration of existing structures
• Incorporate and streamline provisions for loko iʻa (ancient fishpond) restoration

If approved, the amended rules will apply to all islands statewide, so resident participation is encouraged.

Public Meetings

OCCL will host an informational briefing on October 21, 2026, at 5 p.m. Participants may attend in-person at the Kalanimoku Building in Honolulu and online via Zoom. The briefing will provide an opportunity for the community to discover the rationale behind the proposed amendments before statewide public hearings begin.

Public hearings will be hosted on Maui, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi Island, Kauaʻi and Molokaʻi from October 28 through November 19, 2026. Disabled individuals with needs that may require accommodation who are planning to attend hearings, are asked to contact OCCL staff in Honolulu at 808-587-0377 at least four days in advance of the hearing date to request assistance.

Written comments on the proposed rule amendments must be submitted electronically to [email protected], or postmarked no later than Monday, November 30, 2026, and mailed to:

Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands
P.O. Box 621
Honolulu, HI 96809

More information about the proposed amendments, hearing schedule, locations and Zoom information is available on the OCCL website:

https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/occl/proposed-rule-changes/

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RESOURCES

(All images/video courtesy: DLNR, unless noted)

Photographs: Hawaiʻi Conservation Lands
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/b4fc7kg5g5qsztsuhf5li/AF8YFxWTqSQvEQYv9rlktoQ?rlkey=nmijnavre55yibrrd5br2os20&st=yw0z8ai3&dl=0

Proposed Rule Changes: Department of Land and Natural Resources Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands
https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/occl/proposed-rule-changes/

Media contact:
Ryan Aguilar
Communications Specialist
State of Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources
Phone: 808-587-0396
E-mail: [email protected]