Latest news with #DLNR
Yahoo
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Oprah Winfrey hits back at claims her private road on Maui estate was closed during tsunami evacuation
Oprah Winfrey is pushing back against accusations that a private road on her Maui estate was kept closed as local residents tried to flee to safety during a tsunami evacuation. A spokesperson for the billionaire shut down the accusations and said the claims are not true. "As soon as we heard the tsunami warnings, we contacted local law enforcement and FEMA to ensure the road was opened. Any reports otherwise are false," a spokesperson for Winfrey shared in a statement with Fox News Digital. Oprah Winfrey Receives 'Big Mahalo' From Hawaii's Governor For Aiding Fire Evacuations "Local law enforcement are currently on site helping residents through 50 cars at a time to ensure everyone's safety. The road will remain open as long as necessary." A tsunami warning was issued overnight, prompting evacuations and urgent efforts to reach higher ground across parts of the Hawaiian island. Read On The Fox News App Rumors quickly circulated online that suggested residents were unable to pass through a private, gated road on Winfrey's property. Like What You're Reading? Click Here For More Entertainment News A video shared on social media showed a man in his vehicle allegedly outside the former TV host's property with police guarding the area. "C'mon Oprah, save us," the guy was heard saying in the video. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Wednesday that after speaking with Hawaii Gov. Josh Green, "the evacuation order has been lifted for coastal inundation zones. Oprah: 'I Have Such A Beautiful Life', Why On Earth Would I Ever Run For President? "Please be careful, be careful when returning and watch out for damage. We will continue to monitor in Hawaii, Alaska, and California," she added. Her statement comes after a tsunami triggered by an 8.8 magnitude earthquake off the east coast of Russia reached Hawaii on Tuesday evening. This isn't the first time Winfrey's expansive Maui property has been the subject of scrutiny. Last June, two 19-year-old men were arrested on a public road in Hawaii that ran through Winfrey's property and were suspected of illegal hunting, officials said at the time. The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) identified the men as Luke Allen and Ty Munoz, both of Upcountry Maui. The public road runs through private property owned by the Oprah Winfrey Ranch. Winfrey reportedly owns nearly 1,000 acres on the island. Conservation officers stopped Allen and Munoz just before midnight on June 21, 2024, after witnessing them allegedly using a spotlight for hunting purposes, according to the state agency. "Last month, DLNR reached out to Upcountry ranchers regarding their efforts to prevent illegal poaching throughout the area and we agreed to cooperate. The arrests did not happen on the property," Winfrey's production company, Harpo, said at the time in an emailed statement to the Associated Press. Click Here To Sign Up For The Entertainment Newsletter Fox News Digital's Elizabeth Pritchett and Stephen Sorace contributed to this article source: Oprah Winfrey hits back at claims her private road on Maui estate was closed during tsunami evacuation
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Yahoo
Residents want sustained enforcement on Diamond Head homeless
DIAMOND HEAD, Hawaii (KHON2) — The issue of homelessness around Diamond Head continues to frustrate neighbors and beachgoers, even after a major sweep in April. Over 100 cleared from Diamond Head during homeless sweep KHON2 checked it out and found some troubling signs that the problem has not gone away. Kuilei Cliffs Beach Park looks like any other scenic spot on Oʻahu at first glance, but this corner of paradise was also home to a large and messy homeless encampment until June 5. 'And I've been writing letters and and sending in photos and I mean, I think people from all over the world come here. They shouldn't have to see that,' said Ann, a Diamond Head beachgoer. Ann and others who visit the beach said they have been pleading for help for weeks, but it was not until KHON2 reached out to HPD and the Department of Land and Natural Resources on Thursday that action was taken — the encampment was cleared out on Friday. Neither agency would say who made it happen — HPD told KHON2 that it was DLNR responsibility and DLNR said to ask HPD. There is concern that someone cooking dinner could provide the spark that lights up the whole mountainside with the summer heat drying out the slopes. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news City officials said at Mayor Rick Blangiardi's Town Hall meeting on Thursday that they were aware of the risks, especially from campfires and open flames. A joint sweep with the State removed most of the homeless living around Diamond Head in April. 'There were as many reported 120, 140 people on the Hill. There's 12 there now, seven on top, five below. We're going to zero. We're going to zero because of the fire safety issues that are posed there,' said Department of Community Services director Anton Krucky. Diamond Head Beach is still troubled even though some areas are mostly cleared. Folks are still living in the cliffs and along the shoreline — neighbors said it simply is not safe. 'It's a very dangerous place for anybody really, alone. Male or female, there's a lot of people on drugs here. You can tell. And, there's no police presence here,' said Arleen Velasco, Diamond Head Neighborhood Board vice chair. Velasco said the solution is not just clearing tents, it is sustained enforcement. 'If people knew there was a police presence and they were going to get tickets and fines. I think they'd go somewhere else,' said Velasco. 'You know, I used to come to Diamond Head all the time, for many years, and walk the beach, but now I go somewhere else because I don't like to walk past it. It's. It's a safety issue for me,' Ann said. Check out more news from around Hawaii Jurisdiction over enforcement is split between City police and State DLNR officers, and for now, this scenic part of the south shore is still caught between gorgeous views and serious problems. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Yahoo
Opihi picker banned from Pupukea after illegal collecting
COURTESY DLNR A tray of opihi that was unlawfully collected from Pupukea. 1 /2 COURTESY DLNR A tray of opihi that was unlawfully collected from Pupukea. COURTESY DLNR A tray of opihi that was unlawfully collected from Pupukea. 2 /2 COURTESY DLNR A tray of opihi that was unlawfully collected from Pupukea. COURTESY DLNR A tray of opihi that was unlawfully collected from Pupukea. COURTESY DLNR A tray of opihi that was unlawfully collected from Pupukea. An Ewa Beach man has been barred from entering the Pupukea Marine Life Conservation District on Oahu's North Shore after illegally taking dozens of opihi from the area, according to state officials. On Tuesday, Environmental Court Judge Bryant Zane banned Armando Posadas, 65, of Ewa Beach, from entering Pupukea for six months as part of a sentence for illegally taking opihi from the conservation district in March. Posadas accepted a plea deal which includes the six-month ban, $1, 000 in fines, and forfeiture of his equipment in addition to six months' probation and proof he complied with all terms by Nov. 18. The offense is considered a petty misdemeanor, punishable by a $1, 000 fine and up to 30 days in jail. The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources said it may be the first case in which a judge has handed a violator a sentence with a 'geographic restriction.' On March 26, DLNR's Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement officers cited Posadas for illegally taking 55 opihi from the conservation district. DOCARE seized the 55 opihi as evidence, along with a knife and a 5-gallon bucket. Posadas was one of that day, according to DLNR, for the possession of more than 200 pieces of opihi unlawfully collected from Pupukea. The other man, Elmer Ceredon, a Wahiawa resident, has yet to stand trial for allegedly taking 203 opihi from Pupukea. 'Malama Pupukea-Waimea is grateful to the Department of the Attorney General Criminal Justice Division and DOCARE for their vigilant enforcement of the laws that protect the precious marine life of the Pupukea Marine Life Conservation District, ' said Denise Antolini, chair of the community group, in a news release. 'The substantial fines and conditions imposed (Tuesday ) by the Hawaii Environmental Court in the Posadas case, as well as two additional MLCD cases that involved illegal fishing and /or harvesting of opihi in this state-protected marine reserve, show that these cases are being taken seriously by law enforcement and the courts.' The Pupukea Marine Life Conservation District is one of 11 in the state where aquatic life is protected to the greatest extent possible, DLNR said, with regulations designed to allow fish and other aquatic species to grow larger and produce more offspring. The boundary of the district stretches from the southern end of Waimea Bay up past Shark's Cove to Kulala Point. 'Under state law, Marine Life Conservation Districts enjoy the greatest level of protections for their unique and outstanding aquatic resources, ' said DOCARE Chief Jason Redulla. 'We're pleased with the dispositions in all these cases and hope this sends a strong message to the defendants and their circle of fishers that we take respect for the law in MLCDs seriously.' Anyone who sees suspected resource violations is urged to call the 24-hour DOCARE Hotline at 643-DLNR or report it via the DLNRTip app. 4 Comments By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our. Having trouble with comments ? .
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Yahoo
Opihi picker banned from Pupukea after illegal collecting
COURTESY DLNR A tray of opihi that was unlawfully collected from Pupukea. 1 /2 COURTESY DLNR A tray of opihi that was unlawfully collected from Pupukea. COURTESY DLNR A tray of opihi that was unlawfully collected from Pupukea. 2 /2 COURTESY DLNR A tray of opihi that was unlawfully collected from Pupukea. COURTESY DLNR A tray of opihi that was unlawfully collected from Pupukea. COURTESY DLNR A tray of opihi that was unlawfully collected from Pupukea. An Ewa Beach man has been barred from entering the Pupukea Marine Life Conservation District on Oahu's North Shore after illegally taking dozens of opihi from the area, according to state officials. On Tuesday, Environmental Court Judge Bryant Zane banned Armando Posadas, 65, of Ewa Beach, from entering Pupukea for six months as part of a sentence for illegally taking opihi from the conservation district in March. Posadas accepted a plea deal which includes the six-month ban, $1, 000 in fines, and forfeiture of his equipment in addition to six months' probation and proof he complied with all terms by Nov. 18. The offense is considered a petty misdemeanor, punishable by a $1, 000 fine and up to 30 days in jail. The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources said it may be the first case in which a judge has handed a violator a sentence with a 'geographic restriction.' On March 26, DLNR's Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement officers cited Posadas for illegally taking 55 opihi from the conservation district. DOCARE seized the 55 opihi as evidence, along with a knife and a 5-gallon bucket. Posadas was one of that day, according to DLNR, for the possession of more than 200 pieces of opihi unlawfully collected from Pupukea. The other man, Elmer Ceredon, a Wahiawa resident, has yet to stand trial for allegedly taking 203 opihi from Pupukea. 'Malama Pupukea-Waimea is grateful to the Department of the Attorney General Criminal Justice Division and DOCARE for their vigilant enforcement of the laws that protect the precious marine life of the Pupukea Marine Life Conservation District, ' said Denise Antolini, chair of the community group, in a news release. 'The substantial fines and conditions imposed (Tuesday ) by the Hawaii Environmental Court in the Posadas case, as well as two additional MLCD cases that involved illegal fishing and /or harvesting of opihi in this state-protected marine reserve, show that these cases are being taken seriously by law enforcement and the courts.' The Pupukea Marine Life Conservation District is one of 11 in the state where aquatic life is protected to the greatest extent possible, DLNR said, with regulations designed to allow fish and other aquatic species to grow larger and produce more offspring. The boundary of the district stretches from the southern end of Waimea Bay up past Shark's Cove to Kulala Point. 'Under state law, Marine Life Conservation Districts enjoy the greatest level of protections for their unique and outstanding aquatic resources, ' said DOCARE Chief Jason Redulla. 'We're pleased with the dispositions in all these cases and hope this sends a strong message to the defendants and their circle of fishers that we take respect for the law in MLCDs seriously.' Anyone who sees suspected resource violations is urged to call the 24-hour DOCARE Hotline at 643-DLNR or report it via the DLNRTip app. 4 Comments By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our. Having trouble with comments ? .
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
DLNR says injury to endangered Hawaiian hawk was suspicious
COURTESY DLNR This endangered Hawaiian hawk was found in Mountain View with its upper beak missing. Experts determined the injury to be human-caused. COURTESY DLNR This endangered Hawaiian hawk was found in Mountain View with its upper beak missing. Experts determined the injury to be human-caused. State conservation officers are looking for leads on a potential case of human-caused injury to an endangered Hawaiian hawk on Hawaii island. The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources said that last month, a Mountain View resident found an emaciated Hawaiian hawk, or ʻio, on her property with the upper portion of its beak missing. The injured hawk was taken to the nonprofit, which contacted the DLNR Divisions of Conservation and Resources Enforcement and Forestry and Wildlife. Upon examination, experts determined the injury was not natural, but human-caused. The hawk had to be euthanized because it was no longer able to feed itself. 'I just want to make people aware that these types of abuses are happening in our backyards and if community members see something, please say something, ' said DOFAW wildlife biologist Raymond McGuire in a news release. The Hawaii Wildlife Center received a tip the previous week of a free hawk being offered on Craigslist in Mountain View. Posted photos of the hawk showed similarities to the one admitted, but with its full beak. Officials said the post has since been deleted, and it has not been determined if the two are related. In Hawaii, endangered wildlife such as the io are protected, and intentionally harming or killing them are prohibited by law and punishable. DLNR is encouraging community members to report suspected cases. 'We've received several reports in recent years of shootings and other harmful misconduct aimed at Hawaiian hawks, ' said McGuire. 'We can all contribute to the protection of our native io and stop the trend of abuse if we keep our eyes open and speak up.' Tips can be reported to the DLNR hotline at 808-643-DLNR (3567 ) or via the free DLNRTip app. See more : 4 Comments By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our. Having trouble with comments ? .
