[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 80 (Tuesday, May 25, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E928-E929]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     HAKALAU FOREST NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE EXPANSION ACT OF 2010

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MAZIE K. HIRONO

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 25, 2010

  Ms. HIRONO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Hakalau 
Forest National Wildlife Refuge Expansion Act of 2010, which authorizes 
the expansion of this Refuge on the island of Hawaii to encompass 
adjacent parcels containing native forest habitat that supports some of 
the most endangered forest birds in the Nation and the world. Both the 
2009 and 2010 U.S. State of the Birds reports call for particular 
attention to Hawaii, where more bird species are vulnerable to 
extinction than anywhere else in the United States.
  The Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge consists of two major 
units: the 32,733-acre Hakalau Forest Unit on the windward, eastern, 
slopes of Mauna Kea volcano and the 2,604-acre Kona Forest Unit on the 
leeward, western, slopes of Mauna Loa volcano. The Refuge's purpose is 
to protect and manage endangered Hawaiian forest birds and their rain 
forest habitat.
  Eight of the 14 native bird species occurring at Hakalau are 
endangered. Thirteen migratory bird species and twenty introduced 
species, including eight game birds, as well as the endangered 
`ope`ape`a, Hawaiian hoary bat, our only endemic terrestrial mammal, 
also frequent the Refuge. Twenty-nine rare plant species are found on 
the Refuge and adjacent lands. Twelve of these plants are currently 
listed as endangered. Two endangered lobelias have fewer than five 
plants known to exist in the wild.
  The forested parcels authorized for inclusion in this bill include 
13,129 acres for addition to the Hakalau Forest Unit and 2,604 acres 
for addition to the Kona Forest Unit. The proposed areas for addition 
contain some of Hawaii's and the world's rarest forest bird species, 
including the rare endangered Hawaiian honeycreepers such as the 
`akiapola`au, the `akepa, and the Hawai`i Creeper, as well as 
significant numbers of more numerous native

[[Page E929]]

honeycreepers such as the `i`wi, `amakihi, and `apapane and a native 
flycatcher, the `elepaio. In addition, these lands are habitat for the 
endangered pueo, Hawaiian owl, and the `io, Hawaiian hawk. The proposed 
expansion areas also include large numbers of native trees, primarily 
koa and `ohia, some 31 endemic species of flowering plants, and 37 
endemic ferns. Due to its geographic isolation--more than 2,000 miles 
from a major land mass--these bird species and plants only exist in the 
Hawaiian islands, and, in many cases, are restricted to this one 
island.
  The current owners of the two parcels authorized for acquisition 
under this Act are willing sellers. Due to the ecological importance of 
these parcels, there is strong interest in the conservation community 
in Hawaii in assisting with bridge financing to secure the parcels for 
ultimate acquisition by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
  As Members of Congress, it is our duty to help to preserve our 
precious natural heritage for future generations. Hawaii, much like the 
Galapagos, is a hotspot of species diversity and unique adaptations. 
And the Big Island of Hawaii, where this Refuge is located, is one of 
the world's great biological laboratories. This one island, comprised 
of 4,028 square miles, contains eleven of the world's 13 climatic 
zones. One of the most isolated relatively large land masses in the 
world, species arrived in our islands by chance and then evolved to 
take advantage of every ecological niche. And being an island, most of 
the animal species that arrived were birds and insects.
  So much has been lost in our world and Nation due to extinction, but 
we also know that through our intervention much has been saved. The 
bald eagle has been taken off the Endangered Species List; I am hopeful 
that we can also see the recovery of Hawaii's magnificent forest birds 
through preservation and restoration of habitat. Opportunities like 
this--to secure such valuable habitat from willing sellers--doesn't 
come along often. I am committed to protecting our natural world's 
biological diversity. As the Member of Congress representing one of the 
most beautiful and ecologically important places in our world, I am 
determined to do what I can to help preserve Hawaii's unique animals 
and plants. I would be grateful for your support.

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