[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 80 (Monday, June 17, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H3571-H3573]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
PU'UHONUA O HONAUNAU NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK ADDITION ACT OF 2002
Mr. HANSEN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 1906) to amend the Act that established the Pu'uhonua O
Honaunau National Historical Park to expand the boundaries of that
park, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 1906
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Pu`uhonua o Honaunau
National Historical Park Addition Act of 2002''.
SEC. 2. ADDITIONS TO PU`UHONUA 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 the following:
``Section 1. (a) 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.''.
[[Page H3572]]
SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATIONS OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be
necessary to carry out this Act.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Utah (Mr. Hansen) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen).
Mr. HANSEN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, H.R. 1906, introduced by the gentlewoman from Hawaii
(Mrs. Mink), would amend the act that establishes the Pu'uhonua O
Honaunau National Historical Park to expand the boundaries of the park
by up to 397 acres. The expansion would add part of the historical
village of Ki'ilae, several significant burial caves, and the upper end
of the prehistorical royal sledding trek, which all should have been
included in the original park boundary in 1955.
Madam Speaker, the Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park has
become a legacy of Hawaiian culture, housing some of the most
significant artifacts of the island's early village life. In fact, the
park preserves the site where Hawaiians who broke ``kapu,'' one of the
ancient laws used to balance and protect the laws of nature, could
avoid certain death by fleeing to a place of refuge, or Pu'uhonua.
Madam Speaker, although not part of the legislation, I would
encourage the National Park Service to perform a reconnaissance study
of the Kauleoi area, which is adjacent to the lands included in the
boundary expansion, for its historical archaeological resources.
Madam Speaker, H.R. 1906 is supported by the administration and the
majority and minority of the Committee on Resources. I urge my
colleagues to support H.R. 1906, as amended.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
{time} 1430
Mr. KILDEE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
(Mr. KILDEE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. KILDEE. Madam Speaker, H.R. 1906 was introduced by the
gentlewoman from Hawaii (Mrs. Mink) and cosponsored by my colleague on
the Committee on Resources, the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr.
Abercrombie). The bill would amend the act that established the
Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park in Hawaii to provide for
the addition of important archaeological lands to the park.
The park preserves an ancient sacred refuge or sanctuary site and
includes numerous archaeological and historical resources dating back
to 1100 A.D. It contains spectacular shore scenery as well. However,
significant archaeological sites associated with the park remain
outside the park boundary.
H.R. 1906, as amended, is identical to S. 1057, which passed the
Senate last year and has been referred to the Committee on Resources.
H.R. 1906, as amended, adds 238 acres of land in the park and
authorizes the future addition of another 159 acres upon acquisition.
The lands added by H.R. 1906 would provide for the inclusion of an
ancient coastal village within the park, an addition recommended by a
1992 boundary study.
Madam Speaker, the language of H.R. 1906, as amended, is supported by
the administration and members of the Hawaiian delegation. I also
support the amended bill and urge its adoption by the House today.
Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the
gentlewoman from Hawaii (Mrs. Mink).
Mrs. MINK of Hawaii. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from
Michigan (Mr. Kildee) for yielding me this time. I really appreciate
this opportunity to ask this House to pass H.R. 1906, which authorizes
the expansion of Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park. It is
an enormously important national treasure which is located in South
Kona. I want to especially take this opportunity to thank the gentleman
from Utah (Mr. Hansen) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee) for
reporting this bill up today on suspension and certainly the gentleman
from California (Mr. Radanovich) and the gentlewoman from the Virgin
Islands (Mrs. Christensen), the subcommittee chairman and the ranking
member, for the committee hearing and for reporting this bill out to
the full committee. The support of the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr.
Abercrombie), who is a member of the Committee on Resources, also has
made this event possible today.
The citizens of the Big Island, and really the whole State, are
enormously grateful to the Committee on Resources and their leadership
for reporting out this bill. They have been lobbying for years to have
this done and the park boundaries extended, because so many of the
valuable attributes of the park are located currently outside the park
boundaries.
The Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park, formerly known as
the City of Refuge National Historical Park, was authorized on July 26,
1955. It formally was established in 1961. It is a very, very valuable
natural, national and native Hawaiian resource. The park had a
tradition where the kings and the monarchs of the Republic would allow
citizens who had broken a law, a kapu, to escape to this city of
refuge; and if they succeeded in arriving there, no harm could come to
them until such time as they were released. That is the name, Pu'uhonua
O Honaunau, City of Refuge.
There are enormous values that will be added to this park by the
passage of this bill. The proposed addition of 397 acres, which
includes the Ki'ilae Ahupua'a which is a land designation of the
mountain to the sea, contains many, many important cultural and
historic resources. It has some 800 cultural sites; some 25 caves; a
minimum of 10 heiaus, which are the native worshipping temples; 25 or
more closures which are part of this concept of their religious
worships; and over 40 burial sites, including many trails. This
addition is going to add some very, very important aspects to an
already well-visited park.
The bill, H.R. 1906, has been revised from the original version,
which I offered, which would have added some 800 acres. The bill
actually parallels identically the bill which was passed by the Senate
offered by my colleague in the Senate, Senator Akaka. Hopefully if this
bill passes today and is transferred over to the Senate, it will be
very quickly adopted and passed on to the White House for signature.
I am very grateful to hear the words of Chairman Hansen, who is
asking the National Park Service to do a reconnaissance study of the
remaining 400 acres which are part of the bill which I introduced which
I believe are essential additions to the park. This may take a while
for the reconnaissance study to be completed, but I am confident that
once it is done that the Park Service will recommend this addition as
well to this historic park.
I thank the committee again for taking up this bill. It is enormously
important. Our county officials have passed resolutions in support of
the addition to Pu'uhonua O Honaunau, and today's action will really
come as a great tribute and celebration for the people of Hawaii,
particularly the native population that lived in this area since the
12th century.
Mr. HANSEN. Madam Speaker, I compliment the gentlewoman from Hawaii.
I think her legislation is very meritorious and should be passed.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R.
1906, which will authorize the expansion of one of the most beautiful
and historically important parks in Hawaii.
The site was a place of refugee for the early Hawaiians up into the
19th century. As a national historical park, it is still an important
refuge for people today. Several areas neighboring the park have been
found to be rich with archaeological artifacts and remains of the
Hawaiian culture. The Trust for Public Land has done its part by
acquiring and protecting these neighboring lands, but now it is time to
make these historical treasures a part of our National Parks System.
This will help the National Park continue to be a place where people
can get away and learn more about the history and culture of Hawaii.
Hawaii is well known for its fabulous hotels and prestigious resorts,
but I am pleased to see that the Gentlelady from Hawaii continues to
fight for Hawaii's national parks too--places that are accessible to
all Hawaiians and visitors from the continent as well. I support that
endeavor, and H.R. 1906.
Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of
H.R. 1906.
The Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park was authorized by
Congress nearly
[[Page H3573]]
50 years ago to preserve a truly unique relic of Hawaiian history and
culture. Up until the early 19th century, Hawaiians who broke the
ancient code of law could avoid an otherwise certain death by fleeting
to this place of refuge, or pu'uhonua, for absolution and clemency.
Defeated warriors and non-combatants could also seek refuge here during
times of battle. It is this function that gave this park its name, City
of Refuge, which was later changed to Pu'uhonua o Honaunau.
In addition to the refuge, which is enclosed by a great wall, the
surrounding land also housed several generations of powerful Hawaiian
chiefs, adding to the area's great historical value. The pu'uhonua and
royal grounds are still considered sacred by native Hawaiians and the
sites draw a half million visitors each year who come in search of the
vast cultural, spiritual, educational, and recreational opportunities
the park has to offer. Visitors can attend cultural demonstrations of
traditional Hawaiian arts and crafts, hike along the historic 1871
Trail to several archaeological sites, observe wildlife such as the
endangered green sea turtles in Keone Ele cove, or snorkel in the clear
waters of Honaunau Bay.
When the National Historic Park was established in 1955, nearly two-
thirds of the ancient village of Ki'ilae remained undiscovered and
outside of the park in a single private ownership. Recently, the
approximately 238-acre Honaunau tract, which contains the balance of
the Ki'ilae Village site and a human habitation record stretching back
nearly a thousand years, became available for acquisition. This
property is extremely rich in pre-history, and provides important clues
about ancient Hawaiian life. Agricultural structures, stone piles, and
walls are interspersed among recreational sites and the burial sites of
the villagers. Acquisition of this area is crucial to protect
extraordinary early Hawaiian cultural sites and expand the public
understanding and interpretation of cultural traditions and Hawaiian
subsistence patterns. This public acquisition will safeguard this
important glimpse into early Hawaiian village life and social dynamics.
It is important to note that the acquisition and expansion of
Pu'uhonua o Honaunau is overwhelmingly supported by the National Park
Service, the County of Hawaii, and the local community. In addition, an
identical version of H.R. 1906 has already passed the Senate in the
form of S. 1057. All that remains is the passage of H.R. 1906 in the
House of Representatives.
I urge my colleagues to protect these ancient Hawaiian cultural sites
and support this legislation.
Mr. HANSEN. Madam Speaker, I have no requests for time, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
Mr. KILDEE. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Biggert). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen) that the House suspend
the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1906, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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