(BIVN) – A series of 8 public hearings have been scheduled to gather public input on proposed changes to the rules for Hawaiʻi’s State Land Use Conservation Districts.
The Hawaiʻi 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, governing land use and permitting in the approximately two million acres of public and private conservation lands across the state, including beach and marine areas.
The proposed amendments, which apply to all islands statewide, 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
An informational briefing will be held on October 21, 2026, at 5 p.m. The DLNR OCCL says participants may attend in-person at the Kalanimoku Building on Oʻahu, or 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, state officials say.
Then, from October 28 through November 19, public hearings will be held across the state.
Two meetings will be held on Hawaiʻi Island:
- UH Hilo University, Rm. UCB 100, 200 W. Kawili St., Hilo, HI on November 9, 2026 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- West Hawaii Civic Center, Bldg. G, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy., Kailua-Kona, HI on November 10, 2026 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
More information about the proposed amendments, hearing schedule, locations and Zoom information is available on the DLNR OCCL website.
