New national park in hands of Congress

By Timothy Hurley
Advertiser Maui Bureau

Now that the state Legislature has endorsed a resolution urging creation of a second national park on Maui, it's up to Congress to take the next step and authorize a feasibility study.

U.S. Rep. Patsy Mink (D-Hawai'i) has introduced such a bill, which is being considered by the House's Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands.

A resolution supporting the creation of a federal preserve along six miles of Maui coastline from La Perouse Bay to Kanaloa Point was approved by the state Senate on Wednesday, following the lead of the state House of Representatives.

It appeared the measure wouldn't make it out of the Senate, following a public hearing before the Economic Development and Technology Committee in which no testimony was received, prompting a deferral.

But the bill was resurrected by committee Chairman Rod Tam D-13th (Nu'uanu, Downtown, Sand Island) at the urging of state Sen. J. Kalani English (D-Wailuku, Kahului, Upcountry, Maui). English pointed out that the resolution had previously been endorsed by such diverse groups as the Maui Hotel Association and the Sierra Club. The Maui County Council has also approved a similar resolution.

Mary Evanson, founder of the Friends of Haleakala National Park, has been leading a community drive to create the new preserve. She said she was advised to generate widespread support for the project.

"The people of Hawai'i have spoken,'' she said following the Senate's action.

The region, much of it rugged lava lands owned by the state, was once home to a thriving Native Hawaiian population, and includes numerous archaeological sites and rare plants.

But there's growing concern about the increasing number of visitors being drawn to the once-isolated area.

Operators of off-road vehicles are unknowingly destroying sites because of lack of supervision, signs and cultural education, Evanson said.

Hawai'i already has two full national parks: Haleakala on Maui and Hawai'i Volcanoes on the Big Island. Five other sites are administered by the National Park Service, including Kalaupapa National Historical Park on Moloka'i and the USS Arizona Memorial on O'ahu.