Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 25, Number 6, 1 May 2008 — Protecting Papahānaumokuākea [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Protecting Papahānaumokuākea

lnput sought on draft plan By Lisa Asatū Public lnfurmatiun Specialist When the Clinton administration sought eommunity input on a plan to proteet the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, Vieky Takamine's group KAHEA was

there. In 2000, KAHEA and the 'īlio 'ulaokalani Coalition brought together seientists, attorneys, kūpuna, fisherman, eultural praetitioners and Native Hawaiian organizations for three days of meetings from whieh arose a draft plan for protection. "The monument guidelines we set in that 2000 meeting, Clinton adopted them," said Takamine, president of KAHEA, the Hawaiian

Enviromnental Allianee. Eight years later, the former reserve stands as the nation's largest conservation area and is known as Papahānaumokuākea Marine Nahonal Monument. And now that a draft management plan for the area is available and open for puhlie comment through Iuly 8, Takamine's group will be sure to onee again have their say. "For us, they need to establish guidelines for access and for permitting - we want to advocate for stricter regulations," said Takamine, calling the monument "one of the most sacred sites in Hawai'i. On Earth Day, April 22, Gov. Linda Lingle and federal leaders announced that a draft management plan was available for review and input on how the area - home to rare and endangered species like the Hawaiian monk seal - should be managed for the next 15 years. Lingle, who praised the Office

of Hawaiian Affairs for their support and participation in preparing the draft plan, said, "This vast area has a great deal of significance, not only to those concerned with protecting our environment, but to the Native Hawaiians who share such a strong cultural tie to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands." Retired Naval Vice Adm. Conrad Lautenbacher Ir. of the Nahonal Oeeanie and Atmospheric Association, who attended the press conference at Washington Plaee, said: "The draft plan truly embodies the spirit of cooperative conservation. The document reflects the best thinking of the thousands of people who have raised their voices on behalf of the monmnent. We look forward to working with the coimnunity and our fellow monument co-trustees to ensure the protection of this speeial and globally significant plaee that is Papahānamnokuākea." □

Draft plan View the four-volume, 1 ,200-page draft plan at public libraries or online at www, papahanaumokuakea.gov, Comment The puhlie coimnent period ends Iuly 8. Mail comment to: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Papahānamnokuākea Marine Nahonal Monmnent, Box 50167, Honolulu, HI 96850 or send an e-mail to pmnm_imnp_coimnents@fws.gov. Hand deliverto: Kūhiō Federal Building, 300 Ala Moana Blvd., Room 5-231 in Honolulu. Meetings for connnent will be held statewide in lune. For infonnation, www.papahanaumokuakea.gov.

NŪ HOU - NEWS

Announcing the Papahōnaumokuōkea AAahne National Monument draft management plan, Gov. Linda Lingle, center, praised the Office of Hawaiian Affairs for fheir supporf and parficipafion in its preparafion. OHA Chairpeison Haunani Apoliona, left, joined Deputy Secretary of the lnterior Lynn Scarlett, NOAA administrator Conrad Lautenbacher Jr., and OHA Trustees Oswald Stender and Boyd Mossman on stage. OHA Trustee Colette Machado also attended. - Photo: Blaine Fergerstrom