Isles win funds
for parks, research

Land acquisition money at Haleakala
is among the boosts for Hawaii

By Star-Bulletin staff

Forestry, examining deep ocean mineral resources, volcano watching and additional land acquisition for Haleakala National Park are slated for a boost to the tune of $4.4 million under recent congressional conference action.

The breakdown includes $1.04 million for the U.S. Forest Service's Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry to continue its Hawaii and international research. Some of these funds also will be used to plan for new institute office and laboratory facilities here, U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye said.

"Continued research will lead to enhanced ecological protection, as well as economic returns from Hawaii's forests," he said.

House-Senate conferees also approved $1 million for the U.S. Geological Survey's Volcano Hazards Program, to help fund new seismic equipment to aid in monitoring and research at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.

An additional $1.2 million won conference approval to fund work of the Marine Minerals Research Centers, a joint undertaking of the University of Hawaii, University of Mississippi and University of Alaska.

The UH will receive $400,000 t0 examine ocean mineral beds, provide training in marine resource development, and link theoretical and practical efforts to develop underwater technology.

Another $1 million was set aside at the request of Inouye and the Clinton administration to purchase 52 acres of Maui land for park expansion. Inouye said the private coastal lands in the lower Kipahulu district are highly scenic and include significant archaeological sites.

Laurence Rockefeller has held these lands for Haleakala National Park in open space for some years and has offered them to the Park Service at half their appraised value.

Additionally, $200,000 was approved to operate and maintain 26 acres recently donated to the National Park Service by the Queen Emma Foundation for an added increment to the Puukohola Heiau National Historic Site in North Kohala, where King Kamehameha built his war temple.