United States Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D - Hawaii) announced today that Congress has cleared two bills for the President that would protect and improve historic, cultural, and recreational resources on Hawaii. Under suspension of rules, the House of Representatives passed S. 700, the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail Act, to designate the Ala Kahakai ("Trail by the Sea") on the island of Hawaii a National Historic Trail, incorporating it into the U.S. National Trails System, and S. 938, the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Adjustment Act, to give the National 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 previously passed both measures by unanimous consent.
"I"m very pleased that the House has taken this action," Akaka said. "I appreciate Neil Abercrombie's support in getting these bills to the House floor. His kokua was critical. The Clinton Administration is very supportive of these initiatives, and I expect the President will sign these measures into law."
S. 700 implements the recommendations contained in a Park Service trail study, which had originally been authorized by legislation Akaka proposed in 1992. The "Ala Kahakai National Trail Study and Final Environmental Impact Statement," completed in January, 1998, recommended the trail's designation as a National Historic Trail since it meets all of the criteria required for such designation. Only Congress can designate a national trail.
"This bill paves the way for the National Park Service to develop and administer the Ala Kahakai, conferring federal protection on and support for a unique indigenous resource. No other trail in the National Trails System comes close to featuring as many historic and cultural sites as the Ala Kahakai."
The Ala Kahakai is the modern term for a 175-mile portion of ancient shoreline footpath, or Ala Loa ("Long Trail), that once circled the island of Hawaii and connected more than 600 communities of the island kingdom of Hawaii between the 15th and 18th centuries. Various sections of the trail are associated with prehistoric and historic dwellings, royal and sacred sites, and major battles.
A key section of the trail is associated with such important historical events as Captain Cook's landing and subsequent demise; Kamehameha's rise to power, consolidation of rule, and death; the overthrow of the ancient kapu religious system; and, the arrival of the first western missionaries.
The designation of the Ala Kahakai as a national trail is supported by the State, environmental groups, hiking organizations, Native Hawaiian organizations, and others. A few landowners whose lands are crossed by the proposed trail have expressed concern about the impact of federal designation on their properties, but Akaka expressed confidence that these concerns are addressed by the bill.
"S. 700 provides for full consultation with landowners, Native Hawaiian groups, and local communities in the administration, planning, development, and maintenance of the trail," noted Akaka.
About half (93 miles, or 53 percent) of the proposed trail is in local, state, or federal government ownership, and 82 miles cross private lands. Of the latter, 16 miles have been dedicated, through planning requirements, as public land. Of the remaining 66 miles of trail on private lands, as much as 35 miles are classified as "ancient trail" and thus claimable as state-owned under Hawaiian law. Akaka stressed that "for the remaining sections of trail that are not ancient trail, or for which the state's claim has been forfeited in some way, landowner participation would be entirely voluntary."
S. 938 gives the National Park Service the authority to acquire, by purchase, properties that are included in Hawaii Volcanoes' land protection plan and changes the names of several national park units in Hawaii to reflect their Native Hawaiian derivation.
Currently, the Park Service is authorized to expand the boundaries of the park only by donation or exchange. "With this new authority," Akaka observed, "the Park Service will be able 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. We will never again have to seek piecemeal authorization from Congress to acquire nationally significant properties for the park."
The bill authorizes the following new spellings for parks in Hawaii: Hawaii Volcanoes to Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park; Haleakala to Haleakal National Park; Kaloko-Honokohau to Kaloko-Honok hau National Historical Park; Puuhonua o Honaunau to Pu`uhonua o H naunau National Historical Park; and, Puukohola Heiau National Historic Site to Pu`ukohol Heiau National Historic Site.
"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. "This provision allows the Park Service to print new brochures and interpretive materials for the respective parks that reflect their true spelling."
