Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge Expansion Act of 2004

KILAUEA POINT NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE EXPANSION ACT OF 2004 -- (House of Representatives - July 19, 2004)

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Mr. CASE, Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2619, my Ki 8lauea Point National Wildlife Expansion Act. This bill authorizes the addition of 234 invaluable acres to the Refuge, a national treasure, currently home to a variety of endangered and threatened seabirds as well as Hawai'i's endangered state bird, the ne 8ne 8 (Hawaiian Goose).

This bill is a vital component of one of my principal goals in Congress: to ensure that federal and/or state or private protection is extended to as many of Hawai'i's threatened and irreplaceable areas as possible, both to ensure the survival and recovery of Hawai'i's unique endangered and threatened species and to preserve the dwindling unspoiled resources of our beautiful islands for future generations.

The Ki 8lauea National Wildlife Refuge, located at the northernmost tip of Kaua'i, was established in 1985. The initial acreage of 31 acres was increased to 203 acres through additional acquisitions in 1993 and 1994. The refuge provides invaluable habitat for many native seabirds, including the Laysan Albatross, the Red-footed Booby, and the Wedge-tailed Shearwater, as well as for the endangered ne 8ne 8. Endangered native plants have also been reintroduced to the area. The Refuge and its historic lighthouse have become one of Hawai'i's world-class tourist destinations, visited by some 300,000 visitors each year. It is one of the most heavily visited refuges in the United States.

The proposed expansion area comprises five parcels of some 234 acres adjoining the boundary of the Refuge on both the east and west sides. The Ki 8lauea River runs through a portion of the land, which also includes an extensive lo'i (irrigated terrace for traditional cultivation of taro, the staple crop of Native Hawaiians) which could be restored to support endangered Hawaiian water birds, including the Hawaiian duck (Ko 8loa), Hawaiian coot ('Alae 'ke'oke'o), Hawaiian stilt (Ae'o), and Hawaiian moorhen ('Alae 'ula). There is also a high quality estuarine ecosystem at the lower reaches of the river, which includes habitat for endangered birds as well as native stream life, such as the hihiwai (an endemic snail), o'opu (native goby), the native sleeper fish, flagtail, mullet, prawn, shrimp, invertebrates and juveniles of several important recreational and commercial marine fish species. The proposed addition also provides excellent additional habitat for the ne 8ne 8, which was only recently saved from extinction. The beach is also sometimes used by endangered Hawaiian monk seals, and threatened and endangered sea turtles nest in the area.

The upper end of the proposed expansion area contains one of the largest waterfalls (Ki 8lauea Falls) in the state of Hawai'i.

One of the parcels, 5 acres of valuable beachfront property, was donated after introduction of the bill by a private owner to the Kauai Public Land Trust for eventual transfer to the Fish & Wildlife Service. The owner of another 15-acre parcel has expressed his desire to donate it to the Refuge. The other parcels are on the market, although their owners are amenable to acquisition by the Refuge.

The Ki 8lauea community strongly supports the Refuge. In fact, the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge is a model for management of other federal refuges nationwide. The operations of the Refuge are supported by community volunteers, who give daily tours of the Refuge and help in the preservation and propagation of native plant species. The principal volunteer group, Ki 8lauea Point Natural History Association, even has a small store in the Visitor Center, the proceeds of which support environmental education programs throughout Kaua'i.

H.R. 2619 is supported by Kaua'i's Mayor Bryan Baptiste, State Senator Gary L. Hooser, State Representatives Hermina M. Morita and Ezra Kanoho, the Kaua'i County Council, the State Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Ki 8lauea Neighborhood Association, the Kaua'i Public Land Trust, the Ki 8lauea Point Natural History Association, and the Hawai'i Chapter of the Sierra Club. I want to take a moment to thank some of the individuals in Kaua'i whose dedication and commitment to the Refuge and the endangered species it protects inspired development of this bill: Gary Smith, Gary and Beryl Blaich, Susan Boynton, Janis Lyon, and Katie Pickett.

I also want to take this opportunity to thank Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Oceans and Wildlife Chair WAYNE GILCHREST and Ranking Member FRANK PALLONE for moving this bill through their subcommittee, as well as Committee Chair RICHARD POMBO and Ranking NICK RAHALL for helping to bring the bill to the floor today. I would also like to recognize the work of Committee and Subcommittee staff, in particular Dave Jansen and Jim Zoia on the minority staff and Harry Burroughs, Dave Whaley, Mike Correia, and Steve Ding on the majority staff.

I respectfully ask my colleagues to support H.R. 2619 and invite you to come to the Island of Kaua'i to visit our Refuge. I know that if you did so, you would be as convinced as I am of the importance of protecting these previous lands.

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