44 

 Prepared Statement of Harold H. Meheula, Sr., President, Native Hawaiian 



FlSHERMENS' ASSOCIATION 



Aloha Kakahiaka Senator Daniel K. Akaka and Senator Daniel K. Inouye 



I am Harold H. Meheula, Sr., President of the Native Hawaiian Fishermens' Asso- 

 ciation. 



I believe this amendment is a step forward to help the Hawaiian people with 

 management and fishery conservation. Hawaiians have been in community fisheries 

 before 1778, as inhabitants of the most isolated archipelago in the world, the native 

 Hawaiian people relied on their ocean fishery resources for economic, social, cul- 

 tural, and spiritual sustenance. The United States should assume special respon- 

 sibility for native Hawaiian lands and resources. Furthermore, the United States 

 should recognize that the federal policy of self-determination and self governance ex- 

 tends to the native Hawaiian people. 



I am on the fishing panel as chairman of the Kane'ohe Bay and also a voting 

 member with the Regional Kane'ohe Bay Board. This year I was appointed by Gov- 

 ernor Cayetano, my term is to expire in 1998. Efforts to bring the Hawaiian and 

 commercial fishermen together in the past two months have been very difficult. The 

 organization tried for six years without success. I would like to differentiate between 

 groups by using Hawaiian Konohiki rights as an example. Primarily in reference to 

 the xaukau fishermen who have exclusive rights from the shore to one mile out, 

 then beyond the one mile boundary marker, the commercial fishermen boundaries 

 begin. 



Due to recent cutbacks in employment, the Native Hawaiian Fishermens' Associa- 

 tion would like to organize a union membership that would create opportunities for 

 the people of Hawai'i. Fishing is a competitive industry, our vessels are limited to 

 about twenty-five miles. There could be a Mother ship type of fishing by transport- 

 ing small boats (10 each) on the deck of large freighters (Mother ship) into deeper 

 waters. All heading to fishing areas and returning safely home with fish caught dur- 

 ing a venture. Other considerations would be fishing canneries on the sea by having 

 airplanes spot fishing schools and identifying locations of them with the use of ship- 

 to-shore radios. Mahalo a nui loa for this opportunity to address this with you. 



Prepared Statement of Francis I. Kuailani, Sr., Park Superintendent, 

 Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, National Park Service, De- 

 partment of the Interior 



Thank you for this opportunity to comment on the Role of Native Hawaiian and 

 Indigenous Pacific Islanders on the Conservation, Management and Development of 

 Western Pacific Fisheries Consistent with the Goals of Conservation and Manage- 

 ment of Ocean Resources in Honolulu on June 1, 1995. I appreciate the comments 

 you and Senator Daniel Akaka made to the group on dealing with concerns relating 

 to in-shore fishing and Hawaiian fishpond management. 



Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, Establish and authorized by Con- 

 gress in 1978 by Public Law 95-625 "to provide a center for the preservation, inter- 

 pretation, and perpetuation of traditional native Hawaiian activities, and culture, 

 and to demonstrate historic land use patterns as well as provide needed resources 

 for the education, enjoyment, and appreciation of such traditional native Hawaiian 

 activities and culture by local residents and visitors..." and be administered in ac- 

 cordance with "provision of the law generally applicable to the national park system, 

 including the Acts approved August 25, 1916, and August 21 1935..." These acts give 

 direction in preserving natural and cultural resources of the park. Because the park 

 has extensive archaeological and biotic features, both the National Historic Preser- 

 vation Act and management options. Nearly all of the land area in the park has 

 been designated a national historic landmark; two endangered vertebrate species 

 nest within the park. 



Congressional authorization of the national historical park was based primarily 

 on a proposal contained in the 1974 study report, Spirit oi Kaloko-Honokohau. Man- 

 dated by Congress, this study report was developed by an advisory commission of 

 native Hawaiians Kaloko-Honokohau is located on the North Kona coast of the is- 

 land of Hawai'i, approximately three miles north of the town of Kailua and three 

 miles south of the Keahole Airport. Hualalai volcano's 8,271-foot summit lies 10 

 miles east of the park. The park area consists of those lands in the ahupua'a of 

 Kaloko and Honokohau makai of the Queen Kalahumanu Highway, a coastal strip 

 extending to Wawahiwaa Point in the ahupua'a of Kohanaiki, and two small parcels 

 located in the ahupua'a of Kealakehe next to the Honokohau small boat harbor (see 

 Figure 2). The park also includes the waters of Honokohau Bay. 



