Volcanoes Park
expansion would save
valuable landThe issue: The sale of Damon Estate
property presents a rare opportunity to
enlarge Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
With the Bush administration uninterested in expansion of national park lands, adding 117,000 acres to one on the Big Island may prove to be a monumental task. This should not deter Hawaii's congressional delegation from pushing hard to acquire the land because opportunities to preserve such a large parcel do not often arise.The Kahuku Ranch property, put up for sale by the Damon Estate, would extend the 229,000-acre Hawaii Volcanoes National Park along the slopes of Mauna Loa to the southwest portion of the island. The acquisition would preserve archaeological sites, such as walled caves, koa forests and habitats for several endangered bird species and such rare plants as the Kau silversword. Without park protection, the land could be intrusively developed for housing, although lack of power and water services and proximity to the volcanoes would be prohibitive. Enlarging the park also would boost its attraction in an area with few economic resources.
Public hearings have turned up little opposition to the acquisition. A few hunters have complained that park regulations would leave them out, but their access to the land already has been limited by the estate.
Community objection is a key element in government's decisions about national parks. On Molokai, public resistance has put on hold plans to establish parks along the island's northeast coast, according to U.S. Rep. Patsy Mink.
The National Park Service had studied extending Kalaupapa National Historical Park and setting Halawa Valley as a possible park site, but, in meetings with residents, found that many preferred to keep the lands in local control. Despite the economic opportunities that such parks could bring, residents feared being overrun by tourists and development. The feeling is understandable. National parks, while bringing in money, can create huge problems for surrounding communities, especially in rural locations like Molokai.
On Hawaii, the new lands would enhance the established park, but the community should guard against commercial over-development outside its boundaries. Such projects would bring urban problems that plague many national parks.
As the Park Service celebrates its 85th anniversary today, it faces a $5 billion maintenance backlog of its facilities across the country. President Bush places low priority on funding for parks even as visitor numbers continue to increase. His newly appointed Park Service director, Fran Mainella, who was touring the Big Island park earlier this week, appeared lukewarm about the acquisition, saying it would need further study.
Senator Akaka already has taken promising steps to buy the land with an initial funding bill of $1.5 million and the Nature Conservancy, a land preservation group, also is hoping to acquire the property for the park. But with a price tag in excess of $30 million, preserving the land will require vigorous efforts.
Published by Oahu Publications Inc., a subsidiary of Black Press.Don Kendall, President
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