11/17/23 – FOUR SURF SCHOOLS WIN LOTTERY FOR COMMERCIAL PERMITS AT …

JOSH GREEN, M.D. GOVERNOR DAWN CHANG CHAIRPERSON FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Nov. 17, 2023 FOUR SURF SCHOOLS WIN LOTTERY FOR COMMERCIAL PERMITS AT KAHULU‘U BAY Click on photo to view video (KAILUA-KONA, HAWAI‘I ISLAND) – In an effort to better manage large crowds of surfers and commercial instructors in Hawai‘i Island’s Kahulu‘u Bay, four surf instruction companies were awarded permits in a first-of-its-kind lottery, this morning. Commercial surf instruction at the popular bay has been contentious for years because of unpermitted companies and overcrowding. The DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR) held a bingo-style lottery to select the four companies, from 17 that had entered. Those that did not get a permit were put on a wait list in the event one of the successful winners relinquishes their permit or fails to file additional permit paperwork within the next ten business days. The permits become effective on Dec. 4. After today’s lottery drawing at the Old Kona Airport Pavilion, DOBOR leadership was peppered with questions from surf school owners. Many centered around enforcement and compliance, to whom to report issues, and the fairness of the process. In setting up the lottery, DOBOR was transparent about the procedure, rules, and
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