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Human activities, coral
health considered in plan
for Northwestern isles

By Harold Morse
Star-Bulletin

The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, a chain of small isles, atolls, submerged banks and reefs that span more than a thousand miles northwest of the main Hawaiian Islands, captivated some 200 people last night at Kalihi Kai Elementary School.

They sought to answer questions about the future of the coral reef ecosystem. President Clinton wants a plan to manage Hawaii's reefs by Aug. 25.

Human activity should be prohibited altogether to preserve the ecosystem in pristine perpetuity, some said. Others said controlled, low-impact human activity would be acceptable. Participants' perception of existing preservation plans ranged from OK to disastrous.

The Hawaiian archipelago includes more than 80 percent of all coral reefs under U.S. jurisdiction, said Kem Lowry, a University of Hawaii urban planning professor acting as a facilitator .

Before the meeting, environmental groups held a news conference to oppose any fishing or recreational activities in these islands except for Hawaiian cultural practices.

Written comments on the plan may be mailed to the U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution, Attn: Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, 110 South Church Ave., Suite 3350, Tucson, AZ 85701.

Comments also may be faxed to (520) 676-5530 or submitted to a Web site, www.ecr.gov/nwhi. The deadline for comments is Aug. 2.