Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 8, Number 12, 1 December 1991 — The Hawaiian people and land, more than endangered species [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The Hawaiian people and land, more than endangered species

by Moanikeala Akaka Trustee, Hawai'i

We should have been alarmed in early November by front page headlines in Honolulu Advertiser: "Doomsday for Hawai'i Wildlife!" and Honolulu Star-Bulletin: "Progress is Destroying Hawaii's Island Paradise

1 he hrst lmes of that article state, 1 he steady loss of Native habitat across the state is clear to anyone with eyes. Those tall buildings and golf courses weren't built with nature's hand." According to this report, "Hawaii's Extinction Crisis: A Call to Action," recently released and prepared jointly by DLNR, U.S. Fish and Wild Life Service and Nature Conservatancy, the waming is clear: "current efforts are not enough to stem the tide of extinction and time is running out!" lt warns that the state faces serious eeonomie losses if aggressive changes aren't made eeonome losses if aggressive changesaren't made to halt further loss of unprecedented numbers of native birds, insects, even entire natural communities. They forgot to add the endangered Hawaiian p>eople, culture, life style and unique and special 'ama, all part of the once-glorious eeosystem of these Hawaiian Islands. Our elected government leaders had better wake up before it's too late! Is it the democratic party that's to blame? Using computers for the first time, researchers helped identify and gather information on natural communities (groups of native flora and fauna) throughout the islands. This report paints a grim picture of the status of the fragile natural environment ('aina) and that private land owners must be given incentives to be good stewards of their 'aina. lt is ironic that those of us of the aloha 'aina movement have for decades been pointing out this impending crisis because of the destruction of our 'aina. The warning has fallen upon practically deaf ears. Maybe now those who consider themselves "in charge" like DLNR, Land-Use Commission, Planning Commission and departments will get on the stick and start being the stewards of these islands that they were elected and appointed to be. Several months ago 1 related to you how these very entities are negligent in fulfilling that responsibility. This crisis report says that for dozens of species now nearing extinction, survival depends on human intervention to collect and raise them in botanical gardens and zoos. Hawaii's rarest plants, like others in disappearing rainforests, may possibly be a future AIDS cure. Why don't we propagate these endangered plants whenever possible near the area where the plant grows naturally? We could train Hawaiian youth to look after these endangered wild life mueh like a Hawaiian WPA or Civilian Conservation Corps of the Great Depression. Many Hawaiians love and would prefer working outdoors. lt would be a preferable alternative to jobs working at Seven-ll, McDonald's or in a resort. 1 ean think of no better incentive to promote a project such as this than the admitted crisis and eall to action by DLNR and Fish and Wildlife. Many of these endangered plants and birds are on ceded lands. One day soon we Hawaiians will negotiate for some of those lands as our entitlement for all Hawaiians. The state now has control of more than 1.4 million acres of land. A good portion of those lands, maybe 500,000 acres, should go to OHA and eome under the control of

the Hawaiian people as part of our sovereign nation. This trustee contends that while the state has managed our affairs and 'aina, the present catastrophe has unfolded. It is only fair and reasonable then that the state should help heal and propagate these endangered species. The drastic deterioration referred to by the thousandfold in many instances has occurred while the feds, territory, and state controlled Hawaii's destiny — this is the other side of the great tide of Progress.

This report points out that the "challenge we face is in how to balance the needs of a growing populahon and isiand economy with preservation of Hawaii's limited natural resources." That challenge must be understood, because as islands we are a finite ecosystem with only limited carryingcapacity. We are victims of the "continental mentality." This crisis situation occurred because things are out of balance. This report is a warning to us, and as thinking people and responsible leaders, we must act and turn this spiraling crisis around through determined effort accomplished by well-directed, multi-faceted, properly funded programs. This report stresses that "preservation of the eco-system has an eeonomie value: the native environment contributes to the Islands' attraction for tourists." This trustee has repeatedly mentioned the eeonomie value of preserving our environment and that HVB (Hawai'i Visitors Bureau) should be at the forefront of the movement to protect and preserve the 'aina. Unfortunately HVB seldom opposes any developmental scheme no matter how shoddy the planning. We cannot allow them to rule our destiny in the future. At the very same time that this crisis study was being released, an international eco-tourism conference was being held in Waikiki. At this world-wide gathering, it was emphasized that native values, lifestyle, culture, sensitivity and tourism that is more in tune with the land and being non-exploitative are the key to saving the goose that lays our golden egg. Part-Hawaiian financier Kenneth Brown was quoted by fhe Honolulu Star-Bulletin: "lf tourism is allowed to be exploitative to our environment and our society, then it will damage that enviroment and that society. And then tourists will no longer be attracted to Hawai'i and go elsewhere." Is it not strange then that HVB chief Stanley Hong at his HVB Environmental Conference and in the Honolulu Advertiser Editorial (Nov. 8, 1991) said, "tourism must keep growing to sustain Hawaii's eeonomie health." He contradicts himself and goes on to say in a recent speech, "It is essential that our industry work to protect and enhanee those things that make Hawai'i Hawai'i." Sorry, Mr. Hong. There is no way you and your industry ean have continued reckless growth and hope to be taken seriously about eoneem for our 'aina. lt is just that short-term laek of vision kind of economics, laek of planning and laek of stewardship that will kill tourism — the golden goose, and our homeland. Wake up to the global problems of the '90's! Enough already! On another level the proliferation of golf course proposed throughout our islands has become totally out of control: 52 more golf courses are proposed on Hawai'i lsland alone. I attended the Hawai'i County Council Meeting Nov. 8 in Kona from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. One of the main issues of that meeting was the hotly debated sale of the 3/4 mile government road at Punaluu Beach in Ka'u to Sazale Japanese developers. They want the road for the 17th and 18th holes of their so-called 5-star world class golf resort development. This road has been in existence and used by our ancestors since the 1870s and is still very mueh in use to this day by

fishermen and others. This foreign developer threatened the Hawai'i County Council, saying that if they couid not purchase the road at $39,000 for their golf course, whieh is part of a resort proposal, they would not continue with their project. True to form of the plantation mentality, C. Brewer, former owner of Punaluu until they got the rezoning and sold out to Sazale, bused in their employees and senior citizens club (one older man told me he had nothing better to do that day) to strong-arm the eouneil into selling our ancient Hawaiian road. Mark Masukawa, the County Corporation Council attorney, explained to the County Council that he was not even sure they had the right to sell our ancient road to Sazale. That road was first sold to C. Brewer in 1986 and Punaluu Preservation Group with OHA's help, using attorney Alan Murakami from Native Hawaiian Legal Corps. sued on that initial sale of that Government Road and won. The state DLNR is now taking the position that ancient trails and roads suc as this should be protected. The County Council waited until after 9 p.m. when most of the 400 citizens had left, thinking the Punaluu Road decision was going to be put off until a future meeting. But an end run was made and the County Council pulled a fast one after a late dinner break when most everyone had left. The vote was called and the vote was 6-2 in favor of the sale of the road. Helen Hale and Merle Lai cast the only votes against the sale. Council members were told by many of us testifying, and their own attorney, that there will likely be a legal challenge. Kupuna Pele Hanoa and the Punaluu Preservation Group have worked hard to protect this area where her family kuleana exists. The county has no right to sell that road. lt was not theirs to sell. This trustee feels that OHA should be part of that suit. NHLC will probably be Pele's attorney. If this recent supplemental budget request goes through, OHA wil help provide NHLC over $1 million for FY91-92. All of this adds up to the fact that since the overthrow and incursion of western greed, "the Hawaiian Islands have become the global capital of extinction," according to U.S. Senator Daniel Akaka. There is no relief in sight because the powers in charge, including HVB, continue totally dedicated to immediate profits at the expense of long-range environmentally sustainable eeonomie growth. Damn their avaricious, greedy souls! Free Hawai'i! Ua mau ke ea o ka 'aina i ka pono.