Rob Weltman

Detangling Hooked Up Monk Seals

From Maui TV News The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) and NOAA Fisheries today announced the health status of two recently hooked monk seals.  Since March 2012, NOAA Fisheries, DLNR and partners have responded to five seal hooking incidents involving four individual Hawaiian monk seals. HOOKED – Hawaiian Monk Seals, inadvertently “hooked” by commercial fishermen, have about a 50/50 chane of survival. (DLNR Photo)   “Monk seals are a vital part of Hawai‘i’s … Read more

South Maui Plans – Let Your Voice Be Heard

Attend Council Meeting 9am Next Tuesday May 29 County Council Chambers  200 High St Wailuku If you can’t come: send comments to General Plan Committee  gp.committee@mauicounty.us South Maui Alert: Four “NEW TOWNS” in South Maui? Your Voice is very much Needed on the “Maui Island Plan South Maui Maps”             THIS MAY BE THE ONLY CHANCE FOR PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON SOUTH MAUI GROWTH.  If you can’t come, send comments to the General Plan Committee: gp.committee@mauicounty.us Here … Read more

County Sued Over Lahaina Injection Wells

From ENS Newswire Four Hawaii community groups recently filed suit under the national Clean Water Act, asking the federal district court to direct Maui County to secure a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit that would set limits on the pollutants that can be discharged from injection wells at the Lahaina Wastewater Reclamation Facility. Earthjustice filed the complaint last month on behalf of Hawaii Wildlife Fund, Surfrider Foundation, West Maui Preservation Association and Sierra Club-Maui … Read more

Group Pleads Monk Seal Case

COMMUNITY COALITION PLEAS FOR EDUCATION AND DIALOGUE IN THE WAKE OF RECENT HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL DEATHS Honolulu, Hawai`i – In response to the series of “suspicious” Hawaiian monk seal deaths in Hawai`i, a group of concerned citizens and organizations have stepped up efforts to educate the public about the plight of the critically endangered marine mammal.  The group, identified as the Aloha Kanaloa Coalition (www.alohakanaloacoalition.org <http://www.alohakanaloacoalition.org> ) recently released a public service announcement video aimed … Read more

Haleakala Observatory Process in Trouble

Ilima Loomis at Maui news wrote: A hearing officer who acknowledged receiving inappropriate outside pressure to reach a decision on a major new telescope proposed for Haleakala said Monday that he was “surprised” to have his report thrown out and felt it was rejected because it embarrassed people on both sides. Attorney Steven Jacobson said that it was “irritating” to see his work rejected after four years of hearings and review. But with both supporters … Read more

Haleakala Telescope Hearings Officer Fired

A controversial solar telescope atop Haleakala suffered a setback Thursday when the hearing officer was fired and his recommendation to approve the project was thrown out by the Board of Land and Natural Resources. The board ruled that Steven Jacobson had inappropriate discussions with outside parties to the case — ostensibly, Sen. Daniel Inouye’s office and the University of Hawaii’s Institute of Astronomy, among others. The board ordered him immediately discharged from the case… Read … Read more