[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 83 (Thursday, June 14, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6348-S6349]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. AKAKA (for himself and Mr. Inouye):
  S. 1067. A bill to authorize the addition of lands to Pu`uhonua o 
Honaunau National Historical Park in the State of Hawaii, and for other 
purposes; to the committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I rise today along with my colleague 
Senator Inouye to introduce legislation that is important for the 
people of Hawaii, for the National Park Service, and for the nation as 
a whole. I am offering legislation that would allow expansion of the 
boundaries of Pu`uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park on the 
island of Hawaii by 238 acres. These lands are adjacent to and 
contiguous with the park's current boundaries.
  Pu`uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park preserves a site with 
great significance for Native Hawaiians, students of history, 
archaeologists, and the people of Hawaii in general. It is nestled 
along the coast of the island of Hawaii where, up until the early 19th 
century, Hawaiians who broke kapu or one of the ancient laws against 
the gods could avoid certain death by fleeing to this place of refuge 
or ``pu`uhonua.'' The offender would be absolved by a priest and freed 
to leave. Defeated warriors and non-combatants could also find refuge 
here during times of battle. The grounds just outside the wall that 
encloses the pu`uhonua were home to several generations of powerful 
chiefs. The 182-acre park was established in 1961 and includes the 
pu`uhonua and a complex of archeological areas including temple 
platforms, royal fishponds, holua (sledding tracks), and coastal 
village sites. The Haloe o Keawe temple and several other structures 
have been reconstructed to provide visitors an understanding of life 
during the early days of the royal families.
  The park, on the famed Kona coast of the Big Island of Hawaii, is 
appreciated by Native Hawaiians and the general public as a place where 
the story and history of native culture are interpreted for all 
Americans. It is worth mentioning that the National Park Service 
oversees 384 units across the nation, including national parks, 
battlefields, military parks, memorials, monuments and historic trails. 
Of these nearly 400 sites, there are only a handful of national 
historic parks that celebrate interpretations of contemporary native 
cultures. I am pleased that two of these parks, Pu`uhonua o Honaunau 
and Kaloko-Honokohau, are in Hawaii on the Big Island. I invite you all 
to visit us for a truly remarkable immersion in Hawaiian cultural 
history, something very close to my heart.
  The proposed expansion has national significance from an 
archaeological and historical perspective. The archeological resources 
are very important. They illustrate that the Ki`ilae village complex, 
with its numerous sites and features, represents one of the most 
complete assemblages of the coastal component of the ancient Kona field 
system. This system was not just an agricultural system utilized by the 
early Kona chiefs, it was a complex economic system that supported a 
dense population. Archaeological records have shown that this system 
allowed the Kona chiefs to become very powerful for a period of at 
least 200 years and most likely supported the growth and development of 
Kamehameha the Great's army and thereby contributed to his rise to 
power in the Hawaiian Islands. The cultural landscape here includes not 
only residential features, but also religious, agricultural and 
ceremonial sites. The unusually high number of heiau is believed to be 
an indication of the importance of this area to the Hawaiian ruling 
class.
  Mr. President, the expansion of the park has widespread support from 
local communities and county officials. There is a long history of 
study and analysis of expansion possibilities for the park. The 1977 
Master Plan for the Pu`uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park 
originally proposed boundary expansions in four contiguous areas. 
Following the original master plan, in 1992 the National Park Service 
conducted a feasibility study for protecting adjacent lands through 
boundary expansions. Then in August of last year, given the 
notification of the recent land transaction between the McCandless 
Ranch and a private development corporation, the NPS prepared a special 
report on the proposed park expansion to include the Ki`ilae village 
parcel. The Service held three well-attended community meetings on the 
Big Island, with enthusiastic support for the expansion.
  The 238-acre expansion authorized by this bill is the preferred 
option of the NPS, although additional acres could potentially be 
acquired. The Ki`ilae village property meets the criterion of national 
significance for historical and archaeological areas. The Trust for 
Public Land (TPL) is providing funds for the appraisal of the property, 
and has indicated an interest in helping facilitate the expansion of 
the park. The TPL financial assistance is a departure from their normal 
business practice, and they made the decision to commit the funds in 
recognition of the unique conservation values that this property 
presents for the National Park Service.
  I submit for the Record a letter from Mayor Harry Kim of the County 
of Hawaii which shows the depth of public support and appreciation for 
the expansion, particularly from the Hawaiian

[[Page S6349]]

community. I ask unanimous consent that the letter and the text of the 
bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                S. 1057

  Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Pu`uhonau o Honaunau 
     National Historical Park Addition Act of 2001''.

     SEC. 2. ADDITIONS TO PU`UONAU O HONAUNAU NATIONAL HISTORICAL 
                   PARK.

       The first section of the Act of July 26, 1955 (69 Stat. 
     376, ch. 385; 16 U.S.C. 397) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``That when'' and inserting ``SECTION 1. 
     (s) When''; and
       (2) by adding at the end thereof the following new 
     subsections:
       ``(b) The boundaries of Pu`uhonua o Honaunau National 
     Historical Park are hereby modified to include approximately 
     238 acres of lands and interests therein within the area 
     identified as ``Parcel A'' on the map entitled ``Pu`uhonua o 
     Honaunau National Historical Park Proposed Boundary 
     Additions, Ki`ilae Village'', numbered PUHO-P 415/82,013 and 
     dated May, 2001.
       ``(c) The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to 
     acquire approximately 159 acres of lands and interests 
     therein within the area identified as ``Parcel B'' on the map 
     referenced in subsection (b). Upon the acquisition of such 
     lands or interests therein, the Secretary shall modify the 
     boundaries of Pu`uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park 
     to include such lands or interests therein.''.

     SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
     necessary to carry out this Act.
                                  ____



                                             County of Hawaii,

                                           Hilo, HI, May 16, 2001.
     Hon. Daniel Akaka,
     U.S. Senate, Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Akaka: The purpose of this letter is to 
     request that you seek Congressional authorization to expand 
     the boundaries of Pu`u Honua O Honaunau National Park.
       As I am sure you know, our local media have given a good 
     deal of attention to a development proposed on 800 acres 
     adjacent to Pu`u Honua O Honaunau. The community, 
     particularly the Hawaiian community, has been outspoken in 
     its desire to see this acreage preserved and the park 
     enhanced. Numerous historic sites have been identified on 
     this acreage, some or all related to the ancient Hawaiian 
     village of Ki`ilae.
       My staff has spoken with Ms. Geri Bell, Park 
     Superintendent, and she has said that at least 238 acres (out 
     of the 800) are closely linked to the park and associated 
     with the village of Ki`ilae. Moreover, she has indicated that 
     the owner of the land would willingly sell the 238 acres to 
     the National Park. The next step is Congressional 
     authorization.
       The acquisition could be 238 acres, 800 acres, or something 
     in between, and I would leave that determination to the 
     experts to decide. However, your support for acquisition of 
     at least the smaller portion would allow for a valuable 
     addition to the park and assure preservation of an important 
     part of our ancient Hawaiian heritage.
       I fully support the expansion of the park by acquisition of 
     this acreage, and hope you will let me know if there is any 
     way in which I can be of assistance.
       A similar letter has been sent to the other members of our 
     Congressional delegation.
           Aloha,
                                                        Harry Kim,
     Mayor.

                          ____________________