Fifteen landowners in the Marconi Point area of Kahuku have been warned to stop clearing land, removing trees and spreading mulch on the state conservation district without authorization or face heavy fines.

What You Need To Know

  • Conservation officers conducted site inspections on Tuesday and Wednesday and found that shoreline habitats had been impacted by land clearing and tree removal

  • Under state law, alterations in conservation districts like Marconi Point require a permit or approval from either DLNR or the Board of Land and Natural Resources

  • DOFAW officials are concerned that habitat for the endangered yellow face bee and native seabirds has been negatively impacted so state officials are investigating potential violations of laws that protect endangered and threatened species

  • Spreading mulch is prohibited because mulch is a breeding medium for the invasive Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle, which is infesting and killing native palm trees

The Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands staff plus personnel from the Division of Forestry and Wildlife and a Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement conducted site inspections on Tuesday and Wednesday and found that shoreline habitats had been impacted by land clearing and tree removal.

Under state law, alterations in conservation districts like Marconi Point require a permit or approval from either DLNR or the Board of Land and Natural Resources. Landowners can be fined up to $15,000 for each violation. Subsequent violations can be met with additional fines of up to $15,000 per day for each day the violations continue.

“Any activity which alters conservation districts without a permit, especially habitat for endangered species, will be dealt with firmly and to the fullest extent of the law,” said DLNR chair Dawn Chang in a news release issued on Thursday. “Our mission is to protect and preserve these unique cultural and natural resources.” 

According to the release, DOFAW officials are concerned that habitat for the endangered yellow face bee and native seabirds has been negatively impacted, so state officials are investigating potential violations of laws that protect endangered and threatened species. The yellow face bee habitat at Marconi Point is considered among the most robust on Oahu. 

In addition, spreading mulch is prohibited because mulch is a breeding medium for the invasive Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle, which is infesting and killing native palm trees. 

The violations will be taken up by the BLNR as soon as possible, and the landowners have 30 days in which to propose potential mitigative actions for consideration, according to DLNR.

Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at michael.tsai@charter.com.