Hearings set on
whale sanctuary plan

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Star-Bulletin staff

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will begin a series of public hearings in May to discuss its new draft management plan for the Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary in the Hawaiian Islands.

The agency, part of the Department of Commerce, plans to leave sanctuary regulations and boundaries unchanged during this periodic review.

The Hawaii sanctuary, one of 13 in the national program, is co-managed with the state. It encompasses about 1,300 square miles of coastal waters where endangered North Pacific humpback whales migrate each winter to engage in breeding, calving, and nursing of their young.

Copies of the draft plan and State of the Sanctuary report are available at www.hihwnms.nos.noaa.gov/planreview or in hard copy at any sanctuary office in Hawaii. The reports give sanctuary background, accomplishments, and current resource management issues of concern. The public can enter comment until May 24.

Those who cannot attend the meetings may submit written comments to NOAA's Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, Attn: Management Plan Comments: 6700 Kalanianaole Highway, No. 104, Honolulu 96825.

NOAA's National Ocean Service manages the program; for more information, visit www.nos.noaa.gov.

Public meetings will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. at the following dates and locations:

>>	May 1: Tokai University Auditorium, 2241 Kapiolani Blvd.
>>	May 2: Kihei Community Center, Lipoa Street at Piilani Highway.
>>	May 3: Radisson Kauai Beach Resort, Ginger Room 3441 Kauai Beach Drive, Lihue
>>	May 8: King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel, Kamakahonu Ballroom, Rooms 1 & 2, 75-5660 Palani Road
>>	May 9: Naniloa Hotel, Hoomalimali Room, 93 Banyan Drive
>>	May 21: Lanai Public Library, Frazier Avenue
>>	May 22: Mitchell Pauole Center, 90 Ainoa St., Kaunakakai