Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 17, Number 7, 1 July 2000 — Hawaiʻi's valoable resources [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Hawaiʻi's valoable resources

TRUSTEE MESSAGES

ON MAY 26, President Clinton issued his Executive Order on Manne Protected Areas (MPA). The order included a memorandum to the Secretaries of Interior and Commerce on the protection of U.S. coral reefs in the Northwestem Hawaiian Islands. The two named agencies were directed to address appropriate stewardship for the submerged lands and waters of the Northwest Hawaiian Islands and, by the president's authority, extended permanent protection to resources of natural and culmral importance. In summary, the order proposes there be 1) no-take areas; 2) protection of cultural and historic resources and artifacts; and 3) provision for culturally significant uses of the Northwest Hawaiian Islands' marine resources by Native Hawaiians. This large coral reef complex

comprises between 70 and 80 percent of all the U.S.-managed coral reef systems. The OHA Land Committee has been invited to experience and observe these resources fīrst-hand during the middle of July. Public input on the management of the coral reef systems is being solicited. The Land Committee will work toward representing the Native Hawaiians, although the general pubhc is encouraged to make comment about the coral reef protection plans. Humphaek Whale Sanctuary OHA representatives have been participating in the MPA between Moloka'i, Maui and Lāna'i created by the set-aside for humphaek breeding. To date there have been negligible adverse interactions between the many Native Hawaiian fīshermen. This is a reason for OHA participation in the spirit of

mālama and taking care of the environment. The whale sanctuary program is up for reauthorization and publie input on the program is also being solicited. Rehabilitation The OHA Land Committee chair was invited to observe the activities of Māoii people in their homeland and was impressed by the method of helping those

incarcerated. There are similarities between native people here in Hawai'i and abroad, particularly with respect to the number of natives incarcerated and to their proportionate numbers in the entire population. Why is the percentage of natives in prison disproportionate to their numbers in the total populahon? The Māoii people have devised a system referred to as Mahi Tahi to assist. In this eonneehon, the organization PONO (Protecting Our Native 'Ohana) has advised it opposes the anticipated transfer of some 100 O'ahu inmates to the continental U.S. It would be inappropriate that Native Hawaiian inmates should be forced to leave their homeland in Hawai'i and be denied any 'ohana assisted healing in the process. Mauna Kea: Con- or destruction? The ongoing constmction on Mauna Kea has caused some eoneem, especially since sites are being damaged or disturbed and more consfruction plans are

being looked at for the future. It is of note that little benefīt will trickle down to natives even if substantial funds are being spent by the operators or users of the Mauna Kea telescopes. The University of Hawai'i leases Mauna Kea sites to telescope operators on ceded land, but neither the university nor the telescope operators contribute any of this ceded land ineome toward the betterment of the conditions of native Hawaiians. A report by "Volcano Watch" of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory stresses that Mauna Kea is not dead. It has erupted many times in the period between 4,000 and 60,000 years ago. Future emptions are likely, but we may have some advance warning. Our seismic and geodetic monitoring systems are in plaee and appear to be working adequately. Also, the telescopes on top of the volcano at Mauna Kea may become the first to indicate that something is about to happen, possibly serving as very expensive seismic instmments in case of any volcanic activity. ■

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