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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, December 3, 2002

Maui heritage area considered

Advertiser Staff

HANA, Maui — Two meetings this week are aimed at boosting efforts to have East Maui declared a National Heritage Area.

On Thursday, the Alliance for the Heritage of East Maui will host the chairman of the Alliance of National Heritage Areas, who will discuss the program at a 6 p.m. meeting in the Hana Office of Council Services. The speaker will be Augie Carlino, president of the Steel Industry Heritage Corp., managing entity for the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area encompassing seven counties in southwestern Pennsylvania.

On Saturday at 10 a.m., the alliance will hold its first task force working group organizing session at the same location. The meeting will be dedicated to choosing who will act as task force representatives for the various communities throughout East Maui and setting the date for the official opening of the group's work.

The late U.S. Rep. Patsy Mink introduced a bill asking for a feasibility study for an East Maui National Heritage Area, and the alliance's task force will help direct a study and make a recommendation on whether to pursue designation.

There are 23 National Heritage Areas in the United States, most of them east of the Rockies. If East Maui becomes a National Heritage Area, it will be the first in Hawai'i. Designation would allow access to federal funding for conservation, preservation and education.

For more information, contact Kekula Bray-Crawford at (808) 248-8532, e-mail info@eastmauiheritage.net or visit the group's Web site.