Ka'u News Briefs Thursday, August 24, 2017

     One of them is Hawai'i’s Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, which expanded during the presidency of Barack Obama to become the largest marine preserve in the world, covering 582,578 square miles.
     The Washington Post story by Juliet Eilperin and Darry Fears quotes Conservation International Center for Oceans. Its senior Vice President Aulani Wilhelm was Papahanaumokuakea's first superintendent. The Washington Post reports Wilhem saying that the 582,578 square miles of land and sea across the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands are the world’s largest gathering spot for seabirds and home for a myriad of endangered species that have proven largely resilient despite climate change. "There’s a need to have areas in the ocean not only to understand the changes underway but to protect functioning systems as a hedge against those changes," Wilhelm told The Washington Post.
     The Washington Post also reports: "The Hawai'i-based long-line fishery has argued that the expansion of Papahanaumokuakea’s boundaries last year impedes its catch. But the industry has already used up 94 percent of this year’s fishing quota, prompting federal officials to temporarily close the fishery as of Sept. 1."

Papahanaumokuakea National Marine Monument could be opened to commercial fishing, according to a recommendations by the Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zenke. Map from Papahanaumokuakea National Marine Monument

      Referring to Obama's establishment and expansion of National Monuments, including Papahanaumokuakea, under the Antiquities Act, Zinke wrote, “No President should use the authority under the Antiquities Act to restrict public access, prevent hunting and fishing, burden private land, or eliminate traditional land uses, unless such action is needed to protect the object.” He said that the recommendations he sent to Trump will provide "a much needed change for the local communities who border and rely on these lands for hunting and fishing, economic development, traditional uses, and recreation.”
      According to The New York Times, "Robert D. Rosenbaum, who serves as counsel to the National Parks Conservation Association, said Wednesday that no president has sought to shrink a monument’s boundaries in the past four decades: 'If the president attempts unilaterally to take adverse action on any of the monuments under review, he would be on very shaky legal ground, and we expect the action would be challenged in federal court.'"
      See https://www.papahanaumokuakea.gov and visit Papahanaumokuakea National Marine Monument's Mokupapa Discovery Center in Hilo.

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Infographic from www.bikemaui.com

HUNTING  FERAL PIGS ON STATE LAND IN THE KA'U FOREST RESERVE is an issue before the Hawai'i Supreme Court, which is pondering a decision on a suit brought by the Pele Defense Fund.
     The Pele Defense Fund, Palikapu Dedman, Terri Napeahi, John Griffiths, Jr. and Tammy Ka'awa sued the state Department of Land & Natural Resources Devision of Forestry & Wildlife over the state's Ka'u Forest Reserve Management Plan for 61,641 acres. The plaintiffs contend that an Environmental Impact Statement, rather than and Environmental Assessment was needed to analyze the plan, which includes fencing of areas to protect native species from feral pigs and other ungulates.
     The local circuit court sided with the DLNR and issued a summary judgment. However, Pele Defense Fund took the case to the Hawai'i Supreme Court.
     According to Big Island Video News, which reviewed tapes of arguments before the Supreme Court earlier this month, the Pele Defense Fund attorney argued against eliminating feral pigs from portions of the forest reserve. "You're eradicating a Native Hawaiian religious symbol. You're eradicating a religious ceremonial object. The eradication of pigs in Ka'u is to eradicate Article 2 Section 7. It's analogous, as a matter of fact, to desecrating Christian sacraments," said Pele Defense Fund attorney.
       Hunters testified at several meetings in Ka'u, when the plan was being developed, that they worried they would be restricted from hunting pigs to feed their families. There was also testimony regarding native gathering rights in the forest.
     The DLNR has contended that there are plenty of pigs and hunting grounds outside the areas to be fenced to protect endangered species. Pigs, goats, sheep and wild cattle damage the forest and increase the habitat of mosquitoes which carry a malaria that kills native birds.

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REGISTER KEIKI, grades K-8, until August 29, to make a beaded key chain on Wednesday, August 30, from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Pahala Community Center. Call 928-3102 for more.

CELEBRATE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE’S 101ST ANNIVERSARY Friday, August 25, and enter Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park fee-free.

PREGNANT WOMEN, YOUNG FAMILIES, THOSE CONSIDERING PREGNANCY AND SUPPORTING ‘OHANA are welcomed by members of Hui Malama Ola Na ‘Oiwi to attend their first annual kids health festival for kids in Ka‘u this weekend, formally Malama Na Keiki Festival. The event will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, August 26, at the Na'alehu Community Center and baseball field. The festival offers a wide variety of maternity & new family mini-educational classes; clinical health screening for expectant mothers, keiki, & ‘ohana; keiki fun activities; keiki performances; live music; & healthy local-sourced food.
     The festival is free and made possible through support of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. "Hui Malama strives to help participants develop a strong network of prenatal and postnatal support, and learn best practices to prevent potential health problems, raise healthy happy children, strengthen family, and fulfill OHA and Hui Malama's shared goal of a strong and healthy Hawaiian nation," says a statement from the organization. For more about the event visit hmono.org.