Agency aims to protect Hawaii's environment
By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Staff Writer
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Helping maintain trails in Kaua'i's Koke'e State Park, supporting taro lo'i on O'ahu and revitalizing a beach park on Maui are just a few of the projects that the Hawai'i Tourism Authority will support this year as part of a push to help preserve the state's natural resources.
The state tourism agency, with guidance from its Natural Resources Advisory Group, selected 25 community-based projects throughout the state to receive a total of $3.1 million in funding in 2008 through its Natural Resources Program.
Supporting natural resources, preservation and the environment is a key part of the Hawai'i Tourism Strategic Plan, which aims to support cultural and natural resources while assisting the state's largest private industry, said Rex Johnson, HTA president and chief executive officer.
"Hawai'i's unique and diverse natural resources including our parks, beaches, trails, and waterfalls, are what make our islands a special place for visitors and residents alike," Johnson said.
The commitment is "to help preserve Hawai'i environment through programs that protect, maintain and improve our most valuable assets," he said.
This year, the largest amount — $100,000 — went to a beach revitalization program at Kanaha Beach Park, a 40-acre white sand beach park that lies between Kahului Bay and Spreckelsville Beach. The park hosts a variety of activities, including swimming, picnicking and canoe paddling. The park is also popular with windsurfers and is within walking distance of Kahului Airport.
The project supports a maintenance program that will include "major cleanup efforts" and beautification. Other larger amounts: statewide reef protection efforts received $75,000, and $65,000 went for miconia surveys to fight invasive species in the Ko'olau Range on O'ahu.
The natural resources objectives include exploring innovative means to repair, maintain and improve Hawai'i natural resources; raising awareness of all stakeholders about the responsible use of natural resources; increasing collaboration among government agencies, the visitor industry and the community; and reviewing and enforcing rules and developing certification programs for commercial operations in natural resource areas.
This natural resources program began in 2002, in response to a mandate from the state Legislature that the authority annually support efforts to manage, improve and protect Hawai'i's natural environment and areas popular with visitors. Through HTA's 2008 Natural Resources Program, the HTA has allocated a total of $3.1 million to:
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| Natural Resources Program Awards for 2008 The Hawai'i Tourism Authority recently awarded a total of $3.1 million to various organizations that are helping to "repair, maintain and improve" Hawai'i's natural resources. Here are the amounts they received and a list of projects. • $100,000 to Tri-isle Resource Conservation and Development Council Inc. for Kanaha Beach Park Revitalization on Maui • $75,000 to Malama Hawai'i, a Project of Community Links Hawai'i for Coordinating a Statewide 2008 Hawai'i — International Year of the Reef Campaign • $65,000 to 'Ohu 'Ohu Ko'olau Inc. on behalf of the O'ahu Invasive Species Committee for Miconia Surveys in the Ko'olau Range • $62,500 to the Hawai'i Forest Industry Association for Ho'ola Ka Makana'a-Ka'upulehu Dryland Forest Restoration • $50,000 to The Kohala Center for Saving Kahalu'u Bay • $50,000 to the National Tropical Botanical Garden for Limahuli & Lawa'i Kai Ahupua'a Initiatives on Kaua'i • $50,000 to Project S.E.A.-Link for Changing Tides: Marine Education, Outreach & Monitoring • $50,000 to The Nature Conservancy for Enhancing Community-Based Marine Conservation • $45,000 to Hui o Laka for Koke'e Trails, Trees, & Lookout Improvement Project • $40,000 to Basic Image Inc. for Maintaining Hawai'i's Shorelines through Education, Culture & Social Integration • $40,000 to Hawai'i Wildlife Fund for East Maui Ma Kai Watch Pilot Program • $40,000 to Malama Hawai'i, a Project of Community Links Hawai'i for Malama Maunalua Capacity-Building Program • $40,000 to Malama O Puna for Wai'opae Marine Life Conservation District Coral Reef Restoration Project • $32,500 to Ka 'ahahui o Ka Nahelehele for Pu'u Wa'awa'a Ahupua'a Interpretive Center Enhancements • $32,250 to Volcano Art Center for Volcano Native Rainforest Preservation & Education • $30,000 to Bishop Museum for Dry Forest & Coastal Landscaping at the Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanial Garden on the Big Island. • $30,000 to Hale'iwa Main Street which does business as the Northshore Chamber of Commerce for Laniakea Beach Honu Education Project • $30,000 to Kula Nai'a Wild Dolphin Research Foundation Inc. for Development of a Community Marine Outreach Program at Honaunau • $25,000 to Community Work Day Program for Marine Education for Hawai'i's Reefs • $25,000 to Hawai'i Division of Forestry & Wildlife, state Department of Land and Natural Resources for K21 Rainforest Trail & Interpretive Site Project • $25,000 to The Hawai'i Nature Center for Healing the Land: Lo'i Restoration Project • $21,750 to NOAA's Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary for Rescuing Hawai'i's Humpback Whales: A Community Effort • $20,000 to Malama Kai Foundation for Getting Involved in Protecting Hawai'i's Water Quality • $11,000 to Friends of the D.T. Fleming Arboretum at Pu'u Mahoe Inc. for Pahana Ho'ola: Seeds of Hope • $10,000 to Po'ipu Beach Foundation on Kaua'i for work on the Koloa Heritage Trail. |
Reach Robbie Dingeman at rdingeman@honoluluadvertiser.com.
