[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 21 (Wednesday, February 5, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E136]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  AUTHORIZING EXPANSION OF KALOKO-HONKOHAU NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK, 
                             KONA, HAWAI`I

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. ED CASE

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 5, 2003

  Mr. CASE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a bill to authorize 
expansion of the Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, located on 
the Kona Coast of the Island of Hawai`i.
  This bill would authorize expansion of the park boundaries to allow 
the National Park Service to purchase a 2.14-acre parcel with an 
existing building to serve as a park headquarters. The park has been 
without a permanent headquarters since its establishment in 1978, and 
is now renting space some distance from the park.
  Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park was created for the 
national preservation, protection and interpretation of traditional 
native Hawaiian activities and culture. This 1,160-acre park is 
remarkable not only for its cultural and historical attributes, but as 
an incredibly beautiful, unspoiled natural treasure. The park is the 
site of an ancient Hawaiian settlement, which encompasses portions of 
four different ahupua`a, or traditional sea-to-mountain land divisions. 
Its resources include ancient fishponds, kahua (house site platforms), 
ki`i pohaku (petroglyphs), a holua (stone slide), and heiau (religious 
sites). The park is of tremendous significance to the people of 
Hawai`i, and especially to indigenous Native Hawaiians.
  The National Park Service is currently renting space for its 
headquarters at a cost of $150,000 a year. The current headquarters 
only has parking for three to four visitors at a time, which is 
woefully inadequate to accommodate the growing number of visitors to 
the park. Visitors increased from 54,000 in 2001 to 70,000 in 2002. The 
proposed acquisition has plenty of parking for visitors and park 
vehicles. And the existing building has more than adequate space for 
the park's administrative needs and interpretive mission. The already-
developed parcel has the additional benefit of being right next to the 
park; therefore, the fragile resources within the current park 
boundaries will not be adversely affected.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and to come to my 
birthplace, the Big Island of Hawai`i, to visit this magnificent 
national treasure. Aloha!

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