Hirono Leads Resolution Commemorating 50th Anniversary of Hanalei and Pearl Harbor National Wildlife Refuges
WASHINGTON, D.C. –Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, introduced a resolution recognizing the 50th anniversaries of the establishment of Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge on Kauai and Pearl Harbor National Wildlife Refuge on Oahu. The resolution, cosponsored by Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI), celebrates the two refuges while acknowledging the wonders of Hawaii’s eight other national wildlife refuges. The resolution also encourages people in Hawaii and across the country to learn about, support, and appreciate these refuges.
“Each of Hawaii’s ten national wildlife refuges play an important role in protecting threatened and endangered species,” said Senator Hirono. “As we mark the 50th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor and Hanalei National Wildlife Refuges, I am glad to lead this resolution recognizing and celebrating these sites and the progress we’ve made in protecting Hawaii’s fish, wildlife, and plants. I’ll continue working to support conservation efforts in Hawaii and across our country.”
Established more than 100 years ago, the National Wildlife Refuge System aims to protect and conserve local wildlife and native species. Across the U.S., there are more than 560 National Wildlife Refuges, including ten in Hawaii, managed and administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The Pearl Harbor National Wildlife Refuge was established on October 17, 1972 to mitigate the environmental impacts of the construction of the Honolulu International Airport Reef Runway. It protects some of the last remaining wetlands on Oahu and is home to threatened and endangered wildlife and plants, such as the Hawaiian stilt and the akoko. The Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge on Kauai was established on November 30, 1972 to aid in the recovery of threatened and endangered species, such as the nene (Hawaiian goose). It consists of 917 acres in Hanalei Valley, and provides an important habitat for a wide array of fish, wildlife, and plants.
The full text of the resolution can be found here.
As a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee, Senator Hirono has championed legislation to protect Hawaii’s environment, fish, wildlife, and plants. Last week, she introduced legislation authorizing $55 million in federal funding over the next eleven years to support ongoing efforts to help combat Rapid Ohia Death in Hawaii. At a recent ENR subcommittee hearing, Senator Hirono delivered remarks emphasizing the importance of the Kaena Point National Heritage Area Act, legislation she introduced earlier this year to study the feasibility of designating Kaena Point as a National Heritage Area.
This past March, Senator Hirono introduced a bipartisan resolution designating April 2022 as “National Native Plant Month,” recognizing the importance of native plants to environmental conservation and restoration, as well as in supporting a diversity of wildlife. In April 2021, she also announced that the Kona Soil and Water Conservation District was one of the projects to receive federal funding to boost biodiversity and support wildlife habitats. Earlier that year, Senator Hirono joined the other members of the Hawaii delegation in introducing legislation to assess the potential for Hawaii lands to be declared a national forest.
###
