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To follow up this effort, we introduced legislation for consideration by the 1994 Legislature 

 which the Governor signed into Law as Act 271 (1994). 



SECTION 1 of the Act authorized our Department to designate community based 

 subsistence fishing areas thru adoption of Hawaii Administrative Rules. Proposals for 

 any subsistence fishing area would be prepared by the community groups and 

 submitted to DLNR with a description, justification, management plan, and other 

 information. The DLNR would review and promulgate the Rules for the proposals 

 that are approved. 



SECTION 2 of the Act mandates us to establish a subsistence fishing pilot 

 demonstration project for native Hawaiian subsistence fishing, non-native Hawaiian 

 recreational fishing, and continue existing commercial fishing. The project area 

 would be between Ilio Point and Nihoa Flats along northwestern Molokai. The pilot 

 demonstration project Rules are to be adopted by June 30, 1995, and shall cease to 

 function on July 1, 1997. A report is due to the 1997 Legislature to allow evaluation 

 of the effectiveness of community-based natural resource management. 



The Board of Land and Natural Resources considered the adoption of the final draft of the 

 Rules, Chapter 13-59, "Kawaaloa-Moomomi Bays Subsistence Fishing Pilot Demonstration 

 Project, Molokai" (copy attached). Staff have been meeting with and discussing a proposal 

 to establish a community-based Fisheries Management Area encompassing the coastline area 

 between Ilio Point and Nihoa Flats on Molokai subsequent to the Pilot Demonstration 

 Project. 



Another fisheries-related co-management endeavor relates to Hawaiian fishponds. Local 

 community interest in restoring and utilizing them is increasing. We support putting these 

 fishponds into production in order to preserve them and associated cultural practices for 

 future generations. The Department has been co-funding a community-based demonstration 

 project at Ualapue Fishpond on Molokai since 1989. The Department also chaired the 

 "Governor's Task Force on Molokai Fishpond Restoration" and is following through with the 

 permitting of two Task Force initiated, community-based resource management 

 demonstration projects. 



Thank you for inviting me to provide input on this matter. 



