DLNR seeks members for advisory council

LIHU‘E — The Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife is inviting Kaua‘i residents to submit applications to establish a community council to advise the DOFAW Na Ala Hele Trails and Access Program. Applications are being accepted now and must be postmarked by April 4 to be considered for review, a press released stated.

The Na Ala Hele Advisory Council will be comprised of nine members representing different trail and access road user groups, such as hikers, hunters, bicyclists, equestrians, OHV users, cultural practitioners, fishers, conservationists, and adjacent land owners.

Interested parties can pick up an application form at the DOFAW office located at 3060 ‘Eiwa Street, room 306 in Lihu‘e or go to www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/dofaw under “announcements,” and click on the link for Kaua‘i Na Ala Hele Advisory Council.

Na Ala Hele is the State of Hawai‘i Trail and Access Program, established in 1988 in response to public concern about the loss of public access to certain trails and the threat to historic trails from development pressure. Na Ala Hele has become increasingly engaged in trail management and regulatory issues due to public and commercial recreational activities and emerging legal issues, the release stated.

Island trail and access advisory councils, comprised of trail user groups and constituents, provide a venue for public input on implementing the program.

Na Ala Hele is a recipient of funding from the Federal Highways Administration Recreational Trails Program to assist with operations and maintenance of motorized and non-motorized trails and roads. There are approximately 118 trails and access roads in the Na Ala Hele Trails and Access Program.

Call DLNR Public Information Specialist Deborah Ward at (808) 587-0320 for more information.