Pacific Business News
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Hawaii's two members of the House of Representatives, Ed Case and Neil Abercrombie, have introduced legislation to mandate a federal study of preserving six miles of south Maui coastline through inclusion in the National Park Service system.
The study would examine possible federal acquisition of lands from and including the state Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve to Kanaloa Point.
"We must preserve this pristine coastline," Case said Friday. "It lies directly in the path of development and could be lost forever to future generations."
The study would consider if the designated area of coastline should be preserved as a National Seashore, National Recreation Area, National Monument, National Preserve, or other unit of the National Park Service.
"This area is rich in archaeological, cultural, historical, and natural resources," Case said.
"Important sites in the proposed park area contain remnants of dwellings and other ancient Native Hawaiian structures that date to 1100 A.D. This portion of the southern coast is also the home of unique native plants and animals, some of which are endangered."
An earlier survey by the National Park Service determined that the area deserved protection, but not as a National Park because most of the land was owned by the state.
Case said the state can't afford to do what needs doing.
Source: http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/2003/11/17/daily85.html
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