Speeches & Testimony

"Chairman Grijalva,

Thank you very much for your efforts to host this important forum to recognize the contributions of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities to environmental protection and the preservation of historic and cultural sites throughout our country.

As the representative for Hawaii’s First Congressional District, which has the highest percentage of Asian American, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander of any district in our country, I am proud to be part of a committee that celebrates the numerous contributions of our AANHPI community to the environmental and historic preservation movement.

One of the largest environmental challenges facing AANHPI communities has been and will continue to be climate change. In Hawai‘i and the Indo-Pacific more generally, climate change has been slowly eating away at our islands. Reef islands are already disappearing, and we are starting to see our first climate change refugees from Oceania. We must shed light on, bring awareness of and take action for these communities before its too late.

As our committee looks for solutions, I believe we can build upon the important work of indigenous communities, including Native Hawaiians, in environmental preservation. A recent UN report on biodiversity noted that the troubling trends of environmental degradation have been less severe or outright avoided in areas held or managed by indigenous and local communities. I believe this reflects the very close relationship between our indigenous cultures and their natural worlds, and so we should empower these communities to play an active day-to-day role in environmental protection.

I also want to briefly touch on the important conservation work the Natural Resources Committee has done and can do to protect America’s AANHPI heritage areas. Hawai‘i has already taken steps to protect important landmarks that tell the rich story of the AANHPI experience in the United States.

As one example, with the help of this Committee, we are taking steps to protect Honouliuli in Kunia, Hawai‘i. The Honouliuli National Historic Site was the largest and longest-operating World War II Japanese American confinement site in Hawai‘i. The former internment camp is situated in a deep gulch on the west side of the island of O‘ahu. Shortly after the outbreak of the war, the Territory of Hawai‘i was placed under martial law. With that order came the internment of some 400 civilians, most of whom were American citizens of Japanese ancestry who were sent to the camp simply because they were suspected of being disloyal because of their race. These initial internees were joined by more throughout the war, and by some 4,000 prisoners of War.

With this committee’s help, the 440-acre Honouliuli site has been elevated within the National Park Service, which is undertaking a review and development process that will eventually allow visitors to access the site to see and feel its lessons. Preserving and enhancing AANHPI heritage areas like Honouliuli needs to remain a priority of our nation. I look forwarding to continue to work with you on these important conservation efforts. 

Mr. Chairman, the work of our Committee spans a wide set of issues that involve environmental protection, indigenous peoples, public lands and cultural heritage sites, so I thank you again for convening this important and appropriate discussion.  I look forward to continuing to work with you and our Committee to ensure all AANHPI communities are heard and included and can continue to offer the important lessons to us all.

Mahalo!"