The state Board of Land and Natural Resources on Friday unanimously approved Hawaii’s first community based fisheries subsistence area rule package for Haena on the island of Kauai.
The state Board of Land and Natural Resources on Friday unanimously approved Hawaii’s first community based fisheries subsistence area rule package for Haena on the island of Kauai.
BLNR Chairperson William Aila called the approval a historic action that follows years of work by the Haena community in collaboration with Department of Land and Natural Resources staff.
“This rules package gives the Haena hui an opportunity to protect its fisheries, based on traditional and customary practices. Native Hawaiians knew how to practice sustainability in order to feed their ohanas,” Aila said in a statement. “This is strong recognition by government that we cannot do it alone and community-based management and buy-in is critical to sustaining Hawaii’s precious natural resources for now and future generations.”
The community worked hand-in-hand with the DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources to develop this rules package.
DAR administrator Frazer McGilvray said the CBFSA sets the precedent for other communities across the state to self-determine what’s best for their local areas based on long-held sustainability practices.
“Community based management isn’t only the past,” McGilvray said, “but is now the future.”
A hearing on Oct. 3 at Haena was attended by hundreds of people. Dozens of people testified with overwhelming support on Friday.
Erin Zanre, the CBFSA planner for DAR, said Haena sets a great example for how communities and DLNR can collaborate to better manage resources.
“We hope the process for other communities won’t be as long and arduous,” she said.
Implementation of the CBFSA rules package is pending adjudication of a contested case. All future CBFSA designations require approval from the BLNR.