Documents and Resources
Archive of documents and resources on the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.
- Lobster fishery remains battered, Fishing debate not over in NW Isles By Jan TenBruggencate (120K PDF) Honolulu Advertiser
- Green Sea Turtle Fact Sheet (1.8MB PDF)
- NOAA rejects Wespac's Fishing Regulations (Letter from NOAA to Wespac)
- As part of the sanctuary designation process, fishery councils are allowed to propose regulations for continued commercial fishing in the sanctuary. In the case of the NWHI, the Western Pacific Fishery Council (Wespac) submitted regulations to expand fishing in the proposed NWHI sanctuary. NOAA reviewed this proposal and in an unprecedented move rejected Wespac's regulations because they did not abide by the goals and objectives of the proposed sanctuary that were developed by the community-based Reserve Advisory Council (RAC) and adopted by NOAA. Under sanctuary regulations, NOAA is now empowered to draft those regulations if fishing is ultimately allowed in a NWHI sanctuary. In a last ditch effort to maintain its grip on the NWHI, Wespac is calling for NOAA to withdraw its rejection. Read the letter NOAA sent to Wespac rejecting the regulations.
- Finding on the Recommendation of the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council Regarding the Management of Fisheries within the Proposed Northwestern Hawaiian Islands National Marine Sanctuary
- NOAA's full report explaining why Wespac's fishing regulations are detrimental to the NWHI.
- Threats to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Ecosystem and Culturally Important Sites
- Learn more about the wide range of serious and long-term threats facing the NWHI's fragile ecosystem.
- Far-Reaching Effects of the Hawaiian Islands on the Pacific Ocean–Atmosphere System (589k PDF)
- Evidence of ecosystem connections between Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and the Main Hawaiian Islands. By Shang-Ping Xie, W. Timothy Liu, Qinyu Liu and Masami Nonaka
- SUMMARY OF DATA FROM NOAA WORKSHOP ON THE NORTHWESTERN HAWAIIAN ISLANDS: INFORMATION NEEDS FOR CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT (417K PDF)
- 100 scientists identify the threats to the NWHI ecosystem, key management initiatives for conservation efforts, and areas of scientific uncertainty
- Graphic Representation of Hawai`i State NWHI Bottomfish Data: Impacts of the NWHI Reserve on the Bottomfish Fishery (1.5MB PDF)
- Analysis of official state data on the detrimental impact of commercial bottomfishing on the NWHI.
- Coral Reef Ecosystems of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (2.5MB PDF)
- A report on the multi-agency expedition to the NWHI to map the habitat of the world’s largest coral reef ecosystem as well as conduct rapid ecological assessments.
- Visit the NWHI through the centuries in this Cultural Timeline (285k PDF)
- 1822 visit to NWHI (100k PDF)
- An account of the famous 1822 visit to the first two islands in the NWHI chain by Queen Ka'ahumanu and her royal family.
- Kepa Maly’s testimony to WESPAC
- Kumu Pono Associates (http://www.kumupono.com/) the direction of Cultural Historian and Resource Specialist, Kepa Maly, details the cultural significance of the NWHI in official testimony to WESPAC
- The State Refuge for the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (110k PDF)
- Documents and Resources
- Archive of documents and resources on the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI).
- Hawai‘i Administrative Rules for the NWHI Refuge, September 2005
- HAR Chapter 60.5: without maps
- Hawai‘i Administrative Rules for the NWHI Refuge, September 2005
- HAR Chapter 60.5: with maps
- State of Hawai’i DLNR Northwestern Hawaiian Islands State Marine Refuge Permit Application Form (36k PDF)
- To access the state waters of the NWHI
- STATE OF HAWAI’I DEPARTMENT OF LAND & NATURAL RESOURCES GUIDELINES FOR SUBMITTING PERMIT APPLICATIONS FOR ACCESS TO THE NORTHWESTERN HAWAIIAN ISLANDS STATE MARINE REFUGE (68k PDF)
- Permit guidelines to the state application
- LOG OF PERMITS TO ACCESS THE STATE OF HAWAI‘I NWHI MARINE REFUGE PERMITS SUBMITTED AS OF MAY 10 (44k PDF)
- Updated summary of approved permits to access the state waters of the NWHI.
- Narrative of the rules creating the State Refuge in the NWHI (89k PDF)
- This document, produced by the State Department of Land and Natural Resources in August 2002, reflects the dramatic improvement in the state's refuge plan after hearing consistent public demands for the strongest possible protections in the NWHI. Extensive public hearings were held through May 2005. The Governor signed these rules in September 2005.
- Proclamation by the President: Establishment of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument (124K PDF)
- Monument Regulations
- Released by the Departments of Interior (USFW) and Commerce (NOAA). The regulations reflect the terms of the proclamation and emphasize that management of the NWHI Monument is with all co-trustees.
- Monument Proclamation in the Federal Register (954 KB PDF)
- Federal Register Notice
- Five Years of Public Participation in NWHI Protections (100K PDF)
- Updated October 2005. A summary of the constant public oversight and influence that served as the basis for creating the NWHI monument.
- Preliminary Analysis of Presidential Proclamation on the Establishment of the NWHI Marine National Monument (208K PDF)
- Overview of Monument status by Stephanie Fried, Ph.D.
- Remarks by G.W. Bush on the Establishment of the NWHI National Monument (88K PDF)
- OFFICIAL STATEMENT
- Governor Linda Lingle’s statement AFTER the signing (184K PDF)
- Fact Sheet: the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument: a Commitment to Good Stewardship of Our Natural Resources (88k PDF)
- Northwestern Hawaiian Island Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve Questions and Answers
- Compiled by KAHEA and Environmental Defense, these provide answers to many of the commonly asked questions and commonly held myths about the NWHI and the Executive Order that governs it.
- NORTHWESTERN HAWAIIAN ISLANDS FACT SHEET
- This factsheet was issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
- Text of the Executive Order protecting the NWHI
- Text of the National NWHI Marine Refuge Act (H.R. 2376) (129k PDF)
- Summary of the NWHI Marine Refuge Act (104k PDF)
- Federal Notice Announcing Consideration of Sanctuary for the NWHI (213k PDF)
- The Federal Register issued by the Departments of Commerce and Interior on July 12, 2000 regarding the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.
- First lady reveal name of monument (136 PDF) Honolulu Advertiser.
- End of bottom fishing unlikely to hurt economy, study says (72k PDF)
- Buyouts offer boost to marine preserve (76 PDF) Honolulu Advertiser
- WESPAC supports commercial fishing in the Northwestern monument (96k PDF) Honolulu Advertiser
- Funding Approval Just A Start For NWHI Preservation (96K PDF) Honolulu Star-Bulletin
- NW Isles reserve could get $6.1M (76k PDF) Honolulu Star-Bulletin
- A monumental victory for NWHI protection (76K PDF) Honolulu Star-Bulletin Commentary
- Fishing debate not over in NW Isles (204K PDF) Honolulu Advertiser Commentary
- Sanctuary a victory long in the making (204k PDF) Honolulu Advertiser Commentary
- Bush plan calls halt to all fishing (184K PDF) Honolulu Advertiser Commentary
- Monument status a splendid milestone for precious islands (136K PDF) Honolulu Star-Bulletin
- Bush to create huge isle monument (184K PDF) Honolulu Advertiser Commentary
- Northwestern Islands to become monument (360K PDF) Honolulu Advertiser
- A Struggle to Preserve a Hawaiian Archipelago and Its Varied Wildlife (296k PDF) New York Times
- **KAHEA is mentioned in the New York Times!!**
- National Public Radio (NPR) reports on the NWHI monument (WAV Audio File)
- http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5488812
- Bush creates world’s biggest ocean preserve (88K PDF) MSNBC
- Bush Plans Vast Protected Sea Area in Hawaii (80K PDF) New York Times
- Vast Hawaii Sea Area Becomes National Monument (127K PDF) National Public Radio
- Hawaiian Marine Reserve To Be World's Largest (120K PDF) Washington Post June 15, 2006
- Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Honored as “Papahanaumokuakea Marine Monument” But Risks to the Cultural and Natural Wonder on the Rise. (232k PDF) KAHEA Press Release
- The NWHI Monument honored with the new name "Papahanaumokuakea," as groups question the government's commitment to protecting this sacred place.
- Midway Atoll: NWHI Hui's comments on USFWS's Midway visitor plan. (324K PDF)
- `Ilio`ulaokalani Coalition, Environmental Defense, KAHEA: The Environmental-Hawaiian Alliance, Sierra Club
- A narrative time-line of five years of consistent public input calling for the strongest possible protections of the NWHI: Overview of the History of Public Involvement in Protecting the NWHI (180K PDF)
