Man cited for taking nearly 350 undersized opihi at Onekahakaha Beach Park
A 27-year-old man was cited this morning for harvesting 345 undersized opihi from the shoreline at Onekahakaha Beach Park, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources said.
At around 11:20 a.m. DLNR Division of Conservation and Resource Enforcement, or DOCARE, officers observed Kyle Kaloi harvesting the opihi in the Hilo area. They contacted him exiting the shoreline with a red mesh bag filled with the opihi.
He had about 700 opihi total, and about half of them were undersized. DLNR administrative rules prohibit the take of opihi with shells less than 1.25 inches in diameter.
All the undersized opihi were measured, inventoried and returned to the ocean, the department said.
Anyone who sees illegal activity or resource violations can call the 24-hour DOCARE Hotline at 643-DLNR (3567) or contact DLNR via the DLNRTip App.