[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 71 (Wednesday, May 19, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E916]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E916]]
  INTRODUCTION OF THE PROPOSED NORTH MAUI COASTAL PRESERVATION ACT OF 
                                  2004

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. ED CASE

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 19, 2004

  Mr. CASE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the proposed North 
Maui Coastal Preservation Act of 2004, a bill directing the National 
Park Service to assess the feasibility of designating certain coastal 
lands on the north shore of the Island of Maui between the towns of 
Pa`ia and Sprecklesville as a unit of the National Park Service. This 
area is fully worthy of designation as a National Seashore, National 
Historic Park, or National Recreation Area.
  Since assuming office as the representative for Hawai`i's Second 
Congressional District, I have heard loud and clear from the people of 
Maui, in person during countless times on the island and through 
petitions and postcards from some 2,000 constituents, about their deep 
concern for preserving this beautiful, historically significant and 
resources-rich coastline. Although the 128 acres identified in the bill 
are currently zoned as open space or parkland, they lie directly in the 
path of development in Maui's hot real estate market.
  The desire of the people of Maui is to have the natural, scenic, and 
cultural resources of this unique area preserved and protected from 
development, and ultimately designated as the Patsy Takemoto Mink North 
Shore Heritage Park. As many of my colleagues know, my predecessor in 
this body, the late Congresswoman Patsy T. Mink, was born and grew up 
in Hamakua Poko, a small village near Pa`ia on just this coastline. If 
the Park Service finds that the area merits inclusion in the National 
Park System, I will introduce legislation authorizing establishment of 
a park and directing that it be named after Congresswoman Mink.
  I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the contribution of 
the Maui Sierra Club and especially of Lance Holter, a dedicated 
community activist, for inspiring the introduction of this bill. I can 
tell by the hundreds of cards I continue to receive from Maui residents 
in support of establishing such a park that there are many more people 
who have dedicated enormous energy and time in the hopes of preserving 
our precious natural and cultural heritage for future generations.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill, and invite 
you to come to the Island of Maui to visit this special area. I know 
that if you do so, you will be convinced as I am of the vital 
importance of protecting these lands.

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