Press Releases

(Washington, DC) – Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) announced today that the U.S. House of Representatives has passed his bill, co-introduced by Congressman Kaiali’i Kahele (HI-02) to advance possible designation of Ka‘ena Point on Oahu’s westernmost tip as Hawaii’s first Natural Heritage Area (NHA).

NHAs are designated to recognize and protect our nation’s unique conservation, recreation, historic, cultural, education and preservation areas.

NHAs can receive federal funds to help local communities preserve and manage such resources under federal-state-community partnerships. There are currently 55 designated NHAs in 34 states, but none in Hawai’i.

“Kaʻena Point, largely state-owned, is the perfect candidate for a National Heritage Area in Hawaiʻi given its truly unique cultural, historic and environmental heritage and qualities,” said Case.

“Our bill directs the U.S. Department of the Interior to evaluate whether Ka‘ena Point, a treasured wilderness area on otherwise densely-populated O‘ahu, should be designated as an NHA. The three-year study would confirm whether Ka‘ena Point holds valuable resources that reflect our country’s heritage and are worthy of conservation and recognition. I am certain it will, with a future designation for Ka‘ena Point offering critical support to the local community in Hawai‘i to conserve the area for present and future use.”

“The State of Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) has already created a management plan for the Ka‘ena Point Stewardship Area to protect one of the last few remaining and easily accessible wilderness areas on O‘ahu. With a NHA designation, we can unlock federal funds to support existing local plans for Ka‘ena Point,” said Case.

Case’s measure focuses on the undeveloped area of Kaʻena Point on the west end of Oʻahu from Mākua to Waialua. It is the site of the last intact sand dune ecosystem in Hawaiʻi and is said to be named after a sibling of the Hawaiian goddess Pele. Kaʻena Point also includes a leina ka ‘uhane, an important recognized cultural site that, according to Hawaiian tradition, is where the souls of the deceased leapt into the next plane of existence. Ka‘ena is also home to various protected species including the Hawaiian monk seal, laysan albatross, and ohai flower.

NHAs offer federal assistance of joint efforts to manage NHAs for specific protections and uses appropriate approaches unique to each site. Case emphasized that any studies for Kaʻena Point would fully involve all engaged communities in charting the overall plan for protection and use of these unique parts of the rich heritage of our country. The study would include the approximately 1,500 acres of both the State of Hawaii’s natural area reserve and the state park already in place at Ka‘ena Point.

The text of the bill is available here

Video of Case speaking on the bill in the full House is here.

Attachments: pictures of Ka‘ena Point courtesy Lindsay Young

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