Permit Without Purpose

An article in the July 2021 issue of HAWAII FISHING NEWS described how a misleading statement of entry requirements to a restricted watershed prevented the majority of Hawai‘i island residents from using a publicly funded shooting facility located within such designation. Let’s take a closer look at citizen entry to restricted watersheds. Hawai‘i Administrative Rule §13-105 states that entry to a restricted watershed is by permit only. In times past, Hilo’s potable water was collected from surface flows over the forested area above, designated as Hilo Restricted Watershed. Watershed entry restrictions were put in place over concerns about surface-water contamination. Reliance on surface water was terminated in 2003 with the switch to ground-water wells for community water needs. The watershed entry prohibitions remained unchanged. I remember the days when, hunting license in…