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tified. The use of striped mullet, actually enhances the environ- 

 ment, purely as a species characteristic. 



Within my experience as an aquaculturist, I have had the oppor- 

 tunity to develop field and classroom curricula that has contributed 

 to hands-on education processes using lokoia as a teaching resource 

 for various disciplines — Hawaiian culture, fine arts, chemistry, as- 

 tronomy, computer programming, biology, history, oceanography, 

 archaeology, environmental studies, resource management. It is 

 Hawaiian sciences at it's best. 



Compromising all Hawaiian Fishpond Revitalization efforts are 

 the existence of Federal, State and County permits and regulations 

 that put the Hawaiian fishpond at risk of never being utilized 

 again. The main issue in the restoration of the lokoia is the permit 

 process. When this problem is resolved all the other beneficial by- 

 products can be realized; that is, education, economic development, 

 cultural rehabilitation, self-sufficiency, fishery enhancement, re- 

 source renewal, et cetera. 



In 1995, House Bill 1763 was introduced and passed as a stream- 

 lined permit process to assist Hawaiian Fishpond restoration and 

 preservation activities. Although a bill was crafted, there were 

 some key compromises and the Federal Government was not in- 

 cluded intimately in the development of the bill strategy. Federal 

 cooperation would have played a major role in Hawaiian fishpond 

 exemptions, permit cost reductions, and time conditions that would 

 benefit this initiative. Permit facilitation is the next area of consid- 

 eration, what specific form the new application will take, what new 

 criteria will be issued, and the integration of all agencies into the 

 process, especially Hawaiian representation. 



I'm elated to see the first step in the Magnuson Fishery Con- 

 servation and Management Act. The amended Section, Hawaiian 

 Community Fisheries Act, will provide necessary language to gen- 

 erate the type of cooperative efforts identified and allow more im- 

 pact for Native Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. 

 It will also allow the opportunity they deserve to self-determina- 

 tion, the chance to restore customary rights and practices and most 

 importantly, a stake in the future of their resources. 



I support the understanding of traditional resource management 

 concepts in government agencies. This will also assist in the devel- 

 opment of a management plan that is sensitive to tribe or area-spe- 

 cific issues. Including Native Hawaiians and Hawaiian organiza- 

 tions in the development of resource management strategies is im- 

 perative. Also, where applicable and appropriate, I would like to 

 envision their input, knowledge, and oversight on the rehabilitation 

 and enhancement of our fishery. 



Hawaii is essentially an oasis, over 2,000 miles away from the 

 nearest continental land mass. Based on this, many open ocean 

 species migrate to the island chain to renourish themselves for con- 

 tinued migratory travel or to reproduce offspring in the nutrient- 

 rich environment the Hawaiian archipelago has to offer. The or- 

 derly fashion of developing strategy should take into account the 

 dependency of the nearshore fishery with offshore productivity. 

 Intertwined with this would be the way we view and protect the 

 nearshore environment by regulating land-generated pollution and 

 destruction of productive coastal areas. 



