Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 33, Number 9, 1 September 2016 — Papahānaumokuākea expanded to world's largest marine protected area [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Papahānaumokuākea expanded to world's largest marine protected area

OHA named co-trustee of the Northwestern Hawaiian lslands preserve

ByTreenaShapiro Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument will be heeome the world's largest marine protected area, according to an announcement from the White House. Encompassing the marine area of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, home to more than 7,000 marine species and important historic and scientific artifacts, Papahānaumokuākea will be expanded to four times its original area, making it twice as large as Texas. In May, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs

Board of Trustees voted to conditionally support the proposed boundary expansion of Papahānaumokuākea Marine Nahonal Monument provided that: • OHA is elevated to a co-trustee position, • The cultural significance of the expansion area to Native Hawaiians is recognized, and • There is no boundary expansion southeast toward the islands of Ni'ihau and Kaua'i. All conditions have been met. "The expansion of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument is an important acknowledgment by the president of a shared goal to be responsible stewards of this environ-

mentally-sensitive area," said OHA Board Chairman Robert K. Lindsey Jr. "It is largely for this reason OHA now looks forward to the longawaited opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to helping manage the cultural signiheanee of the entire expanded area." An Aug. 26 letter to Gov. David Ige affirmed OHA's role as co-trustee will be formalized over the next 90 days. "We understand the cultural

significance of the Monument to the Native Hawaiian community and that recognizing a greater role in managing this special space 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 spe-

cifically recognized the cultural significance of this area," wrote U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell, who received input from more than 500 Hawai'i residents before coming to their decision. "Additionally, we acknowledge the valu-

able cultural perspectives and insights OHA has long provided in management discussions related to the Monument. The State of Hawai'i, 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 Papahānaumokuākea Marine Nahonal Monument and Monument Expansion," the letter continues.

"OHA applauds President Obama's decision to elevate the voice of Native Hawaiians in the management of the lands and waters in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Papahānaumokuākea is critical to Native Hawaiian spiritual wellbeing, and this action by the

President helps revive our eonnection to our kūpuna islands and reinforce our understanding of Hawai'i as a contiguous spiritual and cultural seascape," I said OHA Ka Pouhana/CEO Kamana'opono Crabbe. "Thanks to the President's decision, these resources will be better protected for generations to eome." OHA's Board of Trustees had voted to support the expansion as proposed by U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, provided the boundary expansion did not expand southeast towardNi'ihau and Kaua'i, the cultural significance of the area was recognized and the Hawaiian-serving agency had a greater role in the mon-

ument's management. "The elevation of OHA to a Co-Trustee position rightfully places the Native Hawaiian voice at all levels of decision making in the governance of Papahānaumokuākea. This has been a 10 year effort to achieve this position and this success marks the beginning of a new era of collaboration for the co-managers of the area to fulfill the tremendous responsibility of protecting and

caring for this sacred plaee," Crabbe added. According to the White House, President Ohama will be in Hawai'i to address world leaders on the eve of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's World Conservation Congress and will travel to Papahānaumokuākea on Sept. 1. ■

< PAPAHĀNAUMOKUĀKEA* expan ded ;

OHA Ka Pouhana Kamana'opono Crabbe and members of the Expand Papahānaumokuōkea eoalihon shared mana'o about the significance of the marine monument's expansion. - Pnoto: Aliee Silbanuz

Papahānaumokuākea Marine Nahonal Monument Expansion map. - CourtesyMap

Expand Papahānaumokuākea eoalihon members William Aila, Jr., Keola Lindsey, Kamana'opono Crabbe, Sol Kaho'ohalahala, Richard Pyle, Kekuewa Kikiloia and Kawika Riley. - Photo:Alice Silbanuz

More than 7,000 marine species make their home in the protected waters. - Photo: Courtesy of NOAA

Endangered Hawaiian monk seal are among the species protected at Papahānaumokuākeaa. - Photo: Courtesy of NOAA