Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 18, Number 1, 1 January 2001 — Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) designated a sanctuary [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) designated a sanctuary

T IS my belief that the recent President Clinton designation of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) as a sanctuary is an opportune time to begin planning for the large and nearly untouched area. The president has approved native access for traditional and customary practices as evidenced by artifacts and iwi found in the NWHI ehain whieh has demonstrated and confirmed ancient native presenee and usage. Such early occupancy allows speeial treatment for native people to continue to practice their religion and other activities, and allows, unlike other reports or findings regarding native access or preferential treatment being left undetermined. The net result of the president's action, is to emphasize this possibility of making the NWHI into a similar status as that of the island of Kaho'olawe. Kaho'olawe has been designated as being set aside for the future .Hawaiian Nation to work at managing and practicing traditional and customary rights. Since 1909, the President Theodore Roosevelt NWHI designation has been exercised as a wildlife refuge due to poaching of albatross eggs by the many many thousands and the extracting of sea bird feathers for fashionable ladies hats, so popular in years past. Now in year 2000 and 91 years later, the protection ean be enhanced

with the implimentation of the President Clinton designation by applying an old method of management using a kapu system on harvesting of resources. Take what you need and leave the rest for tomorrow. The oeean is an "iee box" and that way guarantees fresh product. We know there is no need to take more than is necessary.

Mueh of the wildlife in the NWHI has "retreated" there to escape human activity and urbanization. The encroachment by humans into the habitat of these species has made some endangered like the monk seals, threatened turtle species in their primary nesting grounds and put at risk the milhons of protected

sea birds. The NWHI is the pu'uhonua or refuge of many species today and has become the haven for early Hawai'i resident wildhfe. It is a natural region, ffagile and wondrous, deserving of strong protection even as it is a pu'uhonua itself. There are management disputes from some quarters in the eommunity. Mostly those not famihar with the remote islands of Hawai'i, seldom visited, but impressive in size and composition. The wide range of species that exist in the NWHI referred to as its biodiversity cannot be adequately described, due to its great abundance and variety and misconceptions have occurred. Among misconceptions, are that ah fishing wih stop and raise prices to the consumer. Not true, as fishing is permitted at present levels, although there ean be no increase in fishing permits or effort ffom the prior year's catch. Effectively ahowing fishing for the lifetime of the permit holder. KAHEA, the Hawaiian Environmental AUianee and other kupuna councils have joined together to help design a more detaUed management plan for the NWHI and would need support from the community. Everyone is encouraged to contact Cha Smith of KAHEA at 841-2176 to help support the president's directive in setting aside the NWHI as a preserve and for strong protection of the wildlife. ■

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