25 



Growth and breeding cycles were carefully studied and strict rules 

 adhered to in order to allow species to proliferate. By tradition, 

 these results were passed on to generations of family members and 

 weaved into the spiritual fiber of the Hawaiian people's daily exist- 

 ence. 



Every Hawaiian family had access to a large variety of food from 

 the ocean and today, we're not as lucky they were back in the old 

 days. That made we think we should start looking at ouf natural 

 resources and have some kind of protection program to many of 

 these areas we feel are very important to us because for many gen- 

 erations we've been using these areas and we see the difference 

 that came about and this has been missing in the last 10 or 15 

 years. We see all these changes coming about and it's at a point 

 where if we don't do something about it, it's going to get out of 

 hand. That is really important for us culturally. 



For the island of Molokai, our culture is really very important to 

 us because we live pretty much like people did back in the old 

 days, although we adjusted to the western ways but we still hang 

 on to the values that we feel are very important that were passed 

 on to us. We would like to continue them by establishing the sub- 

 sistence areas for our community and that we can be able to man- 

 age these areas in the way we were taught. I think it is real impor- 

 tant for everyone to look at not just the people from Molokai but 

 people from other communities as well that live pretty much the 

 same way we do. 



Talking about quotas, I think we have a problem where our 

 quota might be a little different from what the quota in Alaska. 

 Since we're talking subsistence fishing, our quota would be dif- 

 ferent and unique. 



Some of the objectives of our program include: seeking funding 

 for training and educational programs; funding for fishing and 

 management equipment; scholarship funds for careers in tradi- 

 tional fisheries and fisheries management; funding for research in 

 traditional fisheries; establishment of natural and artificial hatch- 

 eries for stock enhancement programs. 



We would like to work with and receive assistance from the Fed- 

 eral Government in our efforts as indigenous natives of Hawaii to 

 use traditional conservation methods to preserve and enhance our 

 coastal fisheries for the economic and cultural well-being of our 

 people. 



Thank you. 



[Prepared statement of Mr. Poepoe appears in appendix.] 



Senator Inouye. Thank you very much, Mr. Poepoe. 



I would like to note two things. First, when we speak of the 

 quota, this measure, that quota is over and above subsistence fish- 

 ing. It does not include subsistence fishing. 



Second, these amendments are a demonstration of what I have 

 contended and believed in throughout all of my adult life that the 

 designation Native American should be extended not only to North 

 American Indians but also to indigenous natives who occupied 

 these islands with sovereign authority and responsibility long be- 

 fore the coming of the European. 



