Have you checked out The Hot Seat? It's our opinion-page blog that brings in your elected leaders and people in the news and lets you ask the questions during a live online chat.

On The Hot Seat last week was state Department of Land and Natural Resources Chairman Peter Young. Young is in charge of managing Hawai'i's vast natural resources, including state-owned parks, forest reserves, historic sites, coastal zones and the state's ocean and freshwater resources. On Wednesday, the state Senate will consider Young's confirmation. Here is an excerpt from that Hot Seat session.

Ralph: It is my understanding that the recent changes in lay net and bottomfish rules were made without considering recreational harvest rates. It is also my understanding that DAR (Division of Aquatic Resources) currently has a recreational fishing survey, but does not properly fund it, leaving it powerless to collect adequate data for such management decisions. Since both of these fisheries have a large recreational component, how could the department make these decisions without considering this huge group of users? Does the department have any plans on monitoring the recreational fishery properly in the near future?

Peter Young: As you know, the state does not have a formal recreational catch reporting system. We rely on voluntary reporting from fishers. I hope to improve this and work with recreational fishers so we can get good data.

We held several series of public meetings and hearings to get public input on the gill net rules. These were held on each island, and we listened to and incorporated comments from the public in the final rule.

We posted on our Web site a bunch of background information on the process and our commitment to monitor the resources. This link will lead you to the gill net and bottomfish rules, as well as other issues related to aquatic resources: www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/dar/index.html.

Halealoha: Some have criticized your management style, while not disagreeing with your vision and philosophy in taking care of Hawai'i's lands and natural resources. This signals to me that while there may be a need to make adjustments in how you manage, it certainly does not mean that you as a manager should be replaced. In fact, in my humble opinion, it would be irresponsible to replace the captain in mid-flight. Do you believe that vision and philosophy are of far greater importance than management style? And do you believe that where management style changes are called for and are warranted, that you would be willing to make such changes?

Young: I am trying to get all within DLNR to work better together. We are a large department with many (and sometimes conflicting) missions.

We have worked to improve communications within the department by doing the following: weekly staff meetings with administrators; DLNR weekly updates — posted on DLNR intranet and Internet — shared with all staff; brown bag in the boardroom with the boss; monthly DLNR Neighbor Island leadership meetings and formation of multidivisional task forces.

Likewise, I have opened up lines of communication with many others. I now have regular meetings with leadership of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs. I also have established periodic meetings with fisher groups — statewide (O'ahu, Maui and Big Island — soon, Kaua'i). I intend to hold more meetings with various DLNR constituencies across the state.

This has allowed us to continue to make significant progress in protecting the natural and cultural resources of our state.

Lea Hong: Mahalo for your involvement in the permanent protection of Moanalua Valley. Are there any other public/private partnerships that DLNR has been involved in that have protected other important natural or cultural areas?

Young: I, too, am proud of the recent acquisition of Moanalua Valley. This helps assure protection of this special place. This joins many of the other recent acquisition that we partnered with you and others on, including: Wao Kele 'O Puna, Waimea Valley, Keakealaniwahine-Keolonahihi, Honu'apo, among others.

I look forward to closing on Pupukea-Paumalu soon. Trust for Public Land has been an important partner in protecting (these) important lands.

DLNR has expanded on its partnerships with communities and organizations across the state. Sierra Club, The Nature Conservancy, Community Conservation Network are just some of the organizations.

In addition, we are working with communities across the state (such as Miloli'i, 'Ahihi-Kina'u, Ha'ena and others) to protect the special places across Hawai'i.

Not a Commercial Fisherman: Why would the department object to managing the state's fisheries parallel to federal guidelines in some areas, such as requiring that scientific justification be done prior to making management decisions, and not objecting to it in others, such as the Northwest Hawaiian Islands, banning the sale of 'opihi (not enough science), the akule and 'opelu fishery (well studied), etc? You know well that the Magnuson Stevens Act, recently signed into law by President Bush, requires that scientific justification be done, and this was with vigorous support from the types of organizations that now support you. Yet when fishermen ask that the department do this, they are told it is impossible, and the department cites polls organized by private organizations, taken over the phone and in the newspapers. Why would there be such vast inconsistencies in the department's management?

Young: The marine resources surrounding Hawai'i are on a decline and have been for quite some time.

Scientists tell us that the total biomass of reef fish is less than a quarter of what it was a century ago. Anyone who goes out in the ocean knows that we need to do something.

If we do not change the way we use our nearshore reefs, there is no reason to expect the decline in our marine resources to stop.

Modern scientific research is central to our management decision-making at DLNR, and our management decisions are based on the best-available science. In addition, I want to blend modern science with Hawaiian cultural practices for the best management regime.

Fishers are an important constituency to DLNR, and we want to continue to work together.

As a way to expand the discussions, I have set up periodic meetings to meet with fisher groups on O'ahu, Maui and the Big Island (and will shortly include Kaua'i.)

We will continue to work with fishers and others on marine management opportunities.

We have common goal of "fish for the future."

Keep up the good work: Why do you think most conservation and cultural organizations now support your reappointment after some of them had expressed concerns about the direction your department was going in? What are some significant changes (and/or achievements) that have occurred in the last two years that have built this support?

Young: In the past four years, I've worked to address various important issues within the department, internally, how we deal with the public and how we can work to help protect the resources.

Over the years, I've worked to communicate better so people understand not only what we do, but why we do it.

I'm happy with the interaction that the hard-working, dedicated employees at DLNR share in serving the public. I believe we have become more open and more responsive to the people we serve. I hope you've notice that, too.

As you know, we have worked on a number of programs to improve our natural and cultural resources. We implemented a multiyear, multimillion-dollar program to improve our park facilities, we expanded watershed partnerships to protect our mauka resources and are working on a number of projects to protect our streams and nearshore waters — just to name a few.

Joe: Why can't DLNR keep the boat harbor, particularly behind the Hawaii Prince Hotel, clean? It is a total dump, a total disgrace to Hawai'i, and not inviting to the many locals and tourists alike who walk along this area. Why can't the funds being received from the boat owners that pay for their slips be used to clean this area on a continuing basis?

Young: Many people don't realize that DLNR's boating program is almost totally self-supporting through user fees, rents, etc. We get some federal funds through grants and fuel taxes.

We recently increased mooring and ramp fees to have more funding to make long-needed improvements at our harbors and ramps. We made the commitment that the funding would go to repair and maintenance. Those funds are now coming in, and we are working to improve our harbors and ramps statewide.

Kaua'i Constituent: I feel it's necessary (to have) a fee for the Waimea Canyon and Koke'e State Park for tourists only, and it should commence as soon as possible. How do you feel about that?

Young: The Land Board already approved a plan where Hawai'i residents will not pay a fee to enter and use the park, but out-of-state guests will. This fee will help to maintain these important and special parks.

We are still in the master-plan process for these parks. Shortly, we will be coming back to Kaua'i and addressing the plan.

Scott Foster, Stewards of Waimea Valley: We greatly appreciate your role in protecting Waimea Valley from development. What role if any will DLNR have in helping to rebuild the valley's infrastructure (buildings, roads, etc.)?

Young: Waimea Valley is a great success story — a partnership including the community, DLNR, OHA, the Army, Trust for Public Land and the city.

OHA owns the valley now, and we have had some very preliminary discussion about partnering with them in the management.

We are looking at possibly modeling it after another success story at Wao Kele 'O Puna — again, a site now owned by OHA. We are negotiating a co-management agreement with them. We will ultimately phase out as OHA builds capacity and takes over full management.

Bill Mossman: A well-used reason for increasing the boater fees has been that the fees haven't been raised in (more than) 10 years; yet when the fees are finally approved by the BLNR (Board of Land and Natural resources), you and the governor sit on it for a year. Why? Along the same lines, but more astonishing, is your (BLNR) deferral of the approved cruise-ship passenger fee increase amendment last July and its consequent disappearance. Why are the boaters' fees increased while the fees of other users of the harbors (cruise-ship passengers) are allowed to remain at the 10-plus-year-old level of 30 cents one-way? This smacks of political motivation. Why do some users of our harbors (boaters) have their fees increased while other users (cruise-ship passengers) do not?

Young: We are finalizing the fee package for the cruise ships, and it should be before the Land Board shortly.

Debbie: Can you tell us what are your goals for increasing and improvement DLNR's enforcement to protect the natural resources and state lands? Will there be more funding for conservation officers? What about community watch groups; how are these helpful to protecting the resources?

Young: More enforcement is one of the top issues in our budget before the Legislature this year.

Please help us by asking your legislators to support it. We are asking for (more than) $5 million for just this DLNR division.

In a single word, it is "huge"and unprecedented in the history of the department. We are asking for 40 more officers and 10 staff to support them; in addition, we are asking for equipment and technology advances to support them.

In addition, we plan to expand our Mauka-Makai Watch program across the state. This is patterned after the nationally successful Neighborhood Watch program.

Chad: I consider Peter Young to be a public servant. How do you see yourself addressing the public concerns? And to what extent do you make yourself available to the public to hear our issues?

Young: Chad, I agree, I am a public servant, and I am open to discuss issues of interest. Recently, we started posting weekly updates on DLNR activities across the state. Visit hawaii.gov/dlnr to see the various updates — you will see summaries of the good work of the hard-working, dedicated people at DLNR.

If you or anyone has a question or comment about DLNR, feel free to e-mail DLNR@hawaii.gov. It will get to the appropriate person for action.