Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 33, Number 9, 1 September 2016 — PAPAHĀNAUMOKUĀKEA EXPANDED [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

PAPAHĀNAUMOKUĀKEA EXPANDED

August 26, 2016 The Honorable David Y. Ige Governor of Hawaii Honolulu, HI 96813 Dear Governor lge:

We are writing to concur with your recommendation, and the recommendations of others, that the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) be elevated within the management structure for the Papahānaumokuakea Marine National Monument. On February 18, 2016, we sent an iniīial letter to acknowledge your request to amend the 2006 Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to include the OHA as a Co-Trustee for the coordinated management of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument (Monument). In that letter, we shared that we had requested the Monument Management Board (MMB) to conduct a coordinated review of the MOA and make recommendations as to whether the MOA should be modified consistent with the Proclamation based on the past and current management of the PMNM. We are happy to report that the MMB worked diligently to expedite its review of the MOA, in large part due to the efforts of the State of Hawaii and OHA representatives on the MMB, and our offices received the MMB recommendations on July 21, 2016. We understand the cultural significance of the Monument to the Native Hawaiian community and that recognizing a greater role in managing this special plaee was important for a number of people in supporting the Monument Expansion. We are also pleased that President Obama's Proclamation establishing the Monument Expansion specifically recognized the cultural significance of this area. Additionally, we acknowledge the valuable cultural perspectives and insights that OHA has long provided in management discussions related to the Monument. The State of Hawaii, including OHA and the Department of Land and Natural Resources, the National Oeeanie and Atmospheric Administration, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service share a strong partnership and duty to protect the resources within the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument and Monument Expansion. As such, we wholeheartedly agree with the MMB's unanimous support for designating OHA as a Co-Trustee. We have directed our staffs to work with OHA to prepare a revised MOA within 90 days. It is through this agreement that we plan to formally elevate the role of OHA and renew our collective commitment to consensus-based management of the Monument. We appreciate your efforts to ensure that the Native Hawaiian perspective is given a greater voice in the administration of the monument. Sincerely, Penny Pritzker Sally Jewell Secretary of Commerce Secretary of the Interior

ON THE C0VER: From left to right: Masked Booby, Southeast lsland, Pearl & Hermes Atoll. - Photo: Susan Middletoir, Glass sponge. - Photo: Courtesy of NOM Office of Oeean Exploration and Pesearch, Hohonu Moana 20 1 6; Sea turtle. - Photo: Lee Gillenwater, 7 'he Pew Charitable Trusts, Kure Atoll, Kure Lagoon from Green lsland. ■ Photo: Susan Middleton; Cauliflower coral. - Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Wisdom the Albatross. - Photo: USFWS/Pacific Peaion, Whitetip shark. - Photo: Jim Abernethy