28 



As a result of the leadership of Senators Akaka and Inouye, the 

 U.S. Congress and President Clinton recognized the justice of the 

 Native Hawaiian claim in November 1993 when the apology resolu- 

 tion was signed. 



The Hawaiian Community Fisheries Act is designed to amend 

 the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act to make 

 funds available to "not less than three and not more than five Na- 

 tive Hawaiian community-based fishery demonstration projects." 

 These funds will be allocated to appropriate organizations. 



This proposed Act is an innovative and creative approach that 

 recognizes the justified claims of Native Hawaiians to these ocean 

 resources. Other Native Americans have made great strides in re- 

 gaining their fishery resources. The Indians in the State of Wash- 

 ington have rights to a substantial percentage of the salmon in the 

 Columbia River and its tributaries and the Indians in the Puget 

 Sound area have just received a 50-percent right to all the shellfish 

 in that productive area. Similarly, the Maori have been given own- 

 ership of the major commercial fishery operations in recognition of 

 their justified claims. 



The Native Hawaiians deserve no less and this bill is at least a 

 step in the right direction. Thank you. 



[Prepared statement of Ms. Broder on behalf of Mr. Hee appears 

 in appendix.] 



Senator INOUYE. Thank you very much, Ms. Broder. 



Mr. Bowman. 



STATEMENT OF SCOTTY BOWMAN, GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS 

 OFFICER, OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS 



Mr. Bowman. Thank you for this opportunity to present testi- 

 mony on behalf of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. 



Although OHA does not believe fishing rights should be sepa- 

 rated from customary and traditional practices or segregated into 

 designated areas of allowed use, we recognize it is very difficult 

 today to describe fishing rights in the traditional way because 

 coastline development in Hawaii has displaced ahupuaa tenants 

 and disrupted Native Hawaiian fishing rights which were com- 

 monly practiced for centuries. 



During meetings with community groups on each island, OHA 

 representatives have been saddened by numerous stories relating 

 to drastic reduction, or total depletion, of marine resources. The ex- 

 amples, too numerous to list, include Lahaina on Maui, Mo'omomi 

 on Molokai, Miloli'i on the island of Hawaii and Laie on Oahu. 



In its effort to find options for protecting Hawaiian fishing rights, 

 OHA has learned that numerous factors negatively impact tradi- 

 tional fishing practices. These include the interaction of deep water 

 fishing practices, an endless list of environmental impacts and 

 international fishing covenants. 



In view of this knowledge, OHA supported legislation introduced 

 into the 1994 State Legislature which authorized the Division of 

 Aquatic Resources of the State Department of Land and Natural 

 Resources to establish a Subsistence Fishing Pilot Demonstration 

 Project at Kawaaloa and Mo'omomi Bays on the island of Molokai. 



We believe this pilot project will serve as an important step to- 

 ward expanding our knowledge of the State's fishing resources in 



