Question: There is a sizable school of halalu (baby akule) on the Diamond Head side of Ala Moana Beach where fishermen stand in the water to fish with their fishing poles. There is a man who throws his net to catch the halalu. I am wondering whether this is legal.
Answer: No, not likely. Halalu are generally too small to catch in a legal net. Plus, there’s a ban on net-fishing akule smaller than 8.5 inches from July through October (you submitted your question Oct. 28). Halalu, the juvenile specimen, grow up to about 5 inches long.
Per the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Aquatic Resources, via department spokeswoman Deborah Ward: “Without knowing all the specifics, I would guess the gear is not legal. The halalu, if it is small akule, would be too small to be caught in a legal-sized throw net of 2-inch stretched mesh. If the throw net is less than 2-inch mesh, it would be unlawful to use the net to catch any fish, as the net itself would be unlawful, regardless of the fish being taken. If the fish being taken is also unlawful by a season, bag limit, or other regulation, an additional violation may be possible.”
To report a potential violation, call the DLNR’s enforcement branch at 643-3567 (DLNR). An officer would have to witness the use of and inspect the net, Ward said.
Under Hawaii Administrative Rules 13-75-10, “it is unlawful for any person who is in the water or on or about the shore where fish can be taken to have in the person’s possession a throw net with a mess of less than two inches stretch mesh.”
Under HAR 13-95-19, “it shall be unlawful for any person to take any akule measuring less than eight and one-half inches in length with a net during the months of July, August, September and October.”
Q: Are there any more of those workshops on the charter amendments? I missed the first one, and there is a lot of information to plow through.
A: Yes. By popular demand, former Gov. John Waihee, who sits on the Honolulu Charter Commission, and Natalie Iwasa, a community advocate who is a certified public accountant, are speaking at two more free public events this week.
They’ll share information about the 20 proposed amendments this election which, if approved, would change the City Charter that governs municipal operations. Proposed amendments focus on issues including oversight of the police chief, affordable housing, the Oahu rail project and political term limits.
One forum will be held this evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Waikiki Community Center, 310 Paoakalani Ave. Call 923-1802.
Another will be held Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the state Capitol, in House Conference Room 325.
Bring your 2016 Charter Amendments booklet, which Oahu households received in the mail, to follow along easily with the discussion.
Mahalo
A belated “thank you” to the thoughtful person who turned in my box key with a pink strap to the Mililani Post Office in mid-October. — Grateful senior
Mahalo
I’d like to say “thank you” to all the kind people who helped me through my recent illness and long period of recovery. My appearance made it obvious that something was wrong, and yet every day I was greeted and encouraged with optimism and hope and cheerfulness that helped me get through another day. Strangers, family, friends, caretakers, health care professionals — all contributed in ways large and small so that I can not only survive, but thrive. Thank you. — A.K.
Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.
