KAILUA-KONA, Hawai’i Island – Conservation officials are cracking down on illegal ‘opihi harvesting along the Ali’i Drive shoreline in Kailua-Kona. On Saturday, two individuals were cited and one man was arrested for violations related to undersized ‘opihi.
The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) Marine Patrol Unit played a crucial role in the latest bust. Marine Patrol officers observed several individuals appearing to be harvesting ‘opihi. They relayed this information to officers patrolling on shore, who then approached two individuals, identified as Theodore Benedicto, 54, and Tracy Benedicto, 47, both of Pāhoa.
A routine inspection of their catch revealed the pair were in possession of 144 undersized ‘opihi. They were issued citations for violating Hawai’i Administrative Rules (HAR) Section 13-92-1(a)(1) OPIHI, which prohibits the harvesting of undersized ‘opihi. The Benedicto’s are scheduled to appear in Kona District Court on May 15th.
According to DOCARE officials, the undersized ‘opihi were alive and in good condition. The individuals were instructed to carefully place the ‘opihi face down in a nearby tide pool, maximizing their chances of reattaching to the rocks and surviving.
“The perspective officers get from the ocean is entirely different than what land-based officers may be seeing,” commented DOCARE Chief Jason Redulla, highlighting the importance of the Marine Patrol Unit, which operates on O’ahu, Maui, Kaua’i, and Hawai’i Island.
In a separate incident later on Saturday, DOCARE officers approached another individual also gathering ‘opihi along Ali’i Drive. James Kanuha, 60, of Kailua-Kona, was found to be in possession of 156 undersized ‘opihi and was also cited for violating HAR Section 13-92-1(a)(1) OPIHI. He is scheduled to appear in Kona District Court on May 8th. Like the Benedicto’s, Kanuha was instructed to return the ‘opihi to a tide pool.
However, further investigation revealed that Kanuha had an outstanding bench warrant for Contempt of Court for failing to appear in court on a previous, similar ‘opihi-related case from 2023. Utilizing Hawai’i’s eBench Warrant System, officers confirmed the warrant, arrested Kanuha, and transported him to the Kona Police Station for booking. He later posted $250 bail and was released.
These incidents underscore the ongoing challenge of protecting Hawai’i’s precious marine resources. DOCARE officials are reminding the public to familiarize themselves with the regulations regarding ‘opihi harvesting to ensure the sustainability of this culturally significant and ecologically important species.
