The state is investigating the death of scores of baby hammerhead sharks found on land this week near the La Mariana Sailing Club at Keehi Lagoon. And earlier this month, a private citizen notified the state Department of Land and Natural Resources that two hammerhead sharks had been found dead near Heeia Small Boat Harbor.

DLNR is encouraging citizens to serve as proxies for conservation officers by reporting possible violations of conservation resource rules with a new free smartphone app that connects the public with conservation officers and agency alerts. DLNRTip is available for download, www.dlnr.hawaii.gov/docare.

Loss of Hawaii County homes will hurt

Earlier this week, when Hawaii County Civil Defense reported that the count of homes destroyed by the Kilauea eruption was approaching 660, Realtor.com noted that the losses were the equivalent of more than one-quarter of Hawaii island’s for-sale housing inventory.

Replacing that much inventory will surely prove challenging. In addition to historic barriers to new housing development, the island is seeing a decrease in long-term rental inventory — and an increase in short-term vacation rentals, which can be more profitable. Last week, county officials estimated the real estate market losses at nearly $372 million. Unfortunately, that figure is still climbing.