DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES

News Release

LINDA LINGLE

GOVERNOR

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

PETER T. YOUNG, CHAIRPERSON

Phone: (808) 587-0401

Fax: (808) 587-0390

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

For Immediate Release: April 24, 2007

DLNR Offers Coastal Land Use Workshops

HONOLULU -- The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands (OCCL) is hosting a continuing series of workshops centered on coastal land use. The workshops are for landowners, planning, regulatory and development community, realtors and the general public.

The workshops are casual and intended to encourage discussion on regulatory issues and common questions regarding coastal land use. Workshops are free and registration is not required.

“These workshops will cover a range of important topics concerning coastal development,” said Peter Young, DLNR chairperson.

“This includes understanding state shoreline certifications, landscaping, dune restoration, beach nourishment, emergency erosion control, hazard mitigation, county shoreline setbacks, jurisdictions, and more,” Young said.

Dolan Eversole, a University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant coastal geologist and workshop coordinator added, “With the recent release of projections for global climate change and the resulting sea level rise, it is clear we must begin to consider these implications in present-day coastal land use decisions.”

“At the same time we are undergoing tremendous development pressure in the coastal areas. We need to initiate proactive and progressive planning efforts in these areas in order to protect Hawai‘i’s valuable coastal resources and reduce the risk of these hazards to our communities.” he said.

Previous workshops have been held on Maui, Kaua‘i and O‘ahu.

The next meetings are scheduled:
May 4 -- Hilo, Hawai‘i
From 2-4 p.m. on Friday at the Hilo County Council Chambers-Ben Franklin Building, 333 Kilauea Avenue, second floor.

May 15 -- Honolulu, O‘ahu
From 3-5 p.m. on Tuesday, at the Honolulu Mission Memorial Auditorium, 550 South King St.

May 24 – Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i
From 3-5 p.m. on Thursday, at the King Kamehameha Hotel, Island room, 75-5660 Palani Road.

Free copies of a new document -- “Natural Hazard Considerations for Purchasing Coastal Property in Hawai‘i: A Practical Guide to Common Questions and Answers,” will be available during the workshop.

PDF copies may also be downloaded from http://www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/occl/files/Purchasing%20Coastal%20Real%20Estate.pdf

For more information, go to the OCCL website at http://www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/occl/ or call Dolan Eversole at (808) 587-0377 or email him at dolan.eversole@hawaii.gov

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For more information media may call:
Deborah Ward
DLNR public information specialist
Phone: (808) 587-0320