HONOLULU, HAWAII — The Senate Committee on Water, Land and Housing (WLH) Chair Senator Donovan M. Dela Cruz is hosting the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ (DLNR) O‘ahu Listening Session on Monday, January 9. The DLNR Administration team, including Chairperson William J. Aila, Jr., First Deputy Guy H. Kaulukukui, and Water Deputy Bill M. Tam, will attend to hear community comments, questions, and concerns regarding topics under the Department’s jurisdiction. DLNR has been attending listening sessions statewide over the past several months.
Senator Donovan M. Dela Cruz (D-Mililani Mauka, Wahiawa, Whitmore, Hale‘iwa, Mokule‘ia, Waialua, Sunset Beach, Pupukea), has been coordinating and attending these talk story sessions. “The meetings and site visits DLNR is conducting are very successful and have never been done before. Director Aila and Deputy Kaulukukui are being proactive in conducting these sessions to help Senators address community concerns and needs,” he said.
“These listening sessions are purely for the Department to visit with communities and receive feedback on the communities’ ideas and concerns relating to Department responsibilities,” said William J. Aila, Jr., Chairperson of DLNR, “community participation is essential to caring for our land and natural resources in Hawai‘i.”
The DLNR is responsible for managing 1.3 million acres of state land, 3 million acres of state ocean waters, 2 million acres of conservation district lands, our drinking water supply, our fisheries, coral reefs, indigenous and endangered flora and fauna, and all of Hawai‘i’s historic and cultural sites. DLNR’s management responsibilities are vast and complex, from the mountaintops to three miles seaward of our beautiful coasts. The health of Hawai‘i’s environment is integral and directly related to its economy and quality of life.
For more on DLNR and its divisions visit www.hawaii.gov/dlnr.
If you are unable to attend but would like to send your comments, questions, and concerns to the DLNR please e-mail: DLNR2011ListeningSessions@hawaii.gov .
O‘ahu Public Listening Session:
State Capitol
Monday, January 9, 2012
5pm – 7pm
State Capitol Room 325
415 S. Beretania Street
Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96813
A listening session is being planned for O‘ahu’s North Shore for a later date. Individuals requiring special assistance or accommodations are asked to contact Senator Dela Cruz’s office at (808) 586-6090 at least four days in advance of the meeting.