U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii) announced that the Senate passed legislation that would give the Park Service more authority to expand the boundaries of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park as well as make changes to the official names of national park units in the State of Hawaii.

The Senate unanimously approved an Akaka parks bill that combines two measures (S. 938 & S. 939) introduced earlier this year by Senator Akaka. The first would give the National Park Service the authority to acquire, by purchase, properties that are included in Hawaii Volcanoes' land protection plan. Currently, the Park Service is authorized to expand the boundaries of the park only by donation or exchange.

"By giving the Park Service this new authority," Akaka observed, "this legislation gives the agency the opportunity to buy nearby lands that contain natural or cultural resources of national significance, in order to protect such lands from development as well as protect existing park lands from the overflow effect of development or other non-park uses."

Akaka noted that he was forced to introduce and enact legislation in the last Congress to allow the Park Service to acquire the valuable "Great Crack" parcel on Hawaii Volcanoes' southern boundary. "By giving the Park Service this general acquisition authority, we will never again have to seek piecemeal authorization from Congress to acquire nationally significant properties for the Big Island park."

The second measure would change the names of several national park units in Hawaii to reflect their Native Hawaiian derivation. The following park names would be affected: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Haleakala National Park, Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park, and Puukohola Heiau National Historic Site.

"I strongly believe that if a park bears an indigenous name, we have an obligation to spell that name accurately, out of respect for the dignity of the native people and culture that it mirrors," Akaka said. The measure will allow the Park Service to print new brochures and interpretive materials for the respective parks that reflect their true spelling.

In hearings before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee earlier this year, the National Park Service testified in strong support of the two provisions.

The measure now goes to the House for consideration.