Updated at 10:19 a.m., Tuesday, February 20, 2007
First lady to help give marine monument native name
Advertiser Staff
First lady Laura Bush said today she will participate in the process of giving the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands National Monument a Hawaiian name during her trip to the Islands next week.The first lady made several remarks this morning at a briefing on the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands National Monument in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.
She thanked those involved in making the monument designation possible and spoke about her upcoming trip.
"I know that many of you were involved from a long time ago, really, and every step of the way, to make sure this beautiful and fabulous marine area — huge area, 140,000 square miles — is protected. He (George Bush) was the one who signed the proclamation but I'm the very lucky one that's going to get to go," the first lady said.
"I'm going to make a trip there, and then go to Honolulu where, with the governor, they will do the native naming of the monument.
"So I think that's really, really terrific. I'm looking forward to that, and having the chance to bird-watch for one day while I'm there, and then to go to Honolulu for a very, very special occasion for the people of Hawai'i, to know that these outer islands are protected, and then to have the native naming. So that will be great."
