“One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.” --- Shakespeare

1. THE HONORABLE BARACK OBAMA
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
Dear President Obama,
We respectfully request you create and establish Keālia Pond National
Wildlife Refuge as a National Monument.
Senator Daniel K. Akaka was instrumental in the creation and establishment
of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument. The
Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument was established by
Presidential Proclamation 8031 on June 15, 2006 under the authority of the
Antiquities Act (16 U.S.C. 431-433). After extensive research and involvement of
Native Hawaiian community the name Papahānaumokuākea selected.
Papahānaumokuākea (pronounced Pa-pa-hah-now-mo-koo-ah-keh-ah) comes from
an ancient Hawaiian tradition concerning the genealogy and formation of the
Hawaiian Islands, and a deep honoring of the dualisms of life.
Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument is the largest contiguous
fully protected conservation area under the U.S. flag, and one of the largest marine
conservation areas in the world. On June 30, 2010, Papahānaumokuākea Marine
National Monument was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The announced sale of land adjacent to Keālia Pond National Wildlife
Refuge by MVI LLC and the cessation of sugar cultivation by Alexander &
Baldwin, land including and encompassing the boundaries of Keālia Pond National
Wildlife Refuge, provide a rare and unique moment to expand the boundaries of
Keālia Pond National Wildlife Refuge.
We have engaged conversation with residents, lawmakers, conservation
groups, representatives of the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources
and the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service. Support and enthusiasm for boundary
expansion of Keālia Pond National Wildlife Refuge is universal. Designating
Keālia Pond National Wildlife Refuge as a National Monument facilitates and fast
tracks the process to preserve, protect, maintain and restore an ecosystem that
provides safe harbor for many endangered species.

2. The Honorable Barack Obama
President of the United States
July 9, 2016
Page 2 of 7
In the words of John Muir, “In every walk with nature one receives far more
than he seeks”.
The expanded Keālia Pond National Monument will be an inviolate
sanctuary, nesting and breeding ground for seabirds, shorebirds migratory birds,
communal wildlife, flora and fauna and ensure continual stream flow by the
Waikapu Stream that replenishes and restores the precious habitat.
The networking and linkage of Keālia Pond National Monument and
Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument will provide an accessible venue
for residents, visitors, researchers and scholars the world over.
An educational, research and learning center at Keālia Pond National
Monument will collaborate, enhance and enrich the work begun at the
Mokupāpapa Discovery Center on the Big Island.
In 2003, the Mokupāpapa Discovery Center (MDC) was established to
interpret the natural science, culture and history of the Northwestern
Hawaiian Islands and surrounding marine environment. Since most
people will never have the opportunity to visit these remote islands,
our facility on the bayfront in Hilo, Hawai`i serves to "bring the place
to the people" and spur greater public awareness of the region and
ocean conservation issues. [Emphasis Supplied]
http://www.papahanaumokuakea.gov/education/center.html Web accessed June 9, 2016.
All activities in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, with
limited exceptions (law enforcement, emergency response, military, and passage
without interruption), require a permit. All activities within Papahānaumokuākea
Marine National Monument are prohibited, exempted or regulated. Regulated
activities must be permitted.

3. The Honorable Barack Obama
President of the United States
July 9, 2016
Page 3 of 7
There are six categories of permitted activities: Research, Special Ocean
Use, Recreational activities within the Midway Atoll Special Management Area,
Education, Native Hawaiian Practice, and Conservation and Management.
The preservation, protection and restoration of a legacy ecosystem will be
accomplished by your proclamation creating and establishing Keālia Pond National
Monument.
Maui is important habitat for several native forest birds, including the
following Maui endemic species: `ākohekohe, Maui `alauahio
(Paroreomyza montana newtoni), po`ouli (Melamprosops
phaeosoma), and Maui parrotbill. Maui is also home to the third
largest population of nēnē (Branta sandvicensis [Hawaiian goose]) in
the state. Other federally listed [endangered] species include the `alae
ke`oke`o (Fulica alai [Hawaiian coot]), ae`o (Himantopus mexicanus
knudseni [Hawaiian stilt]), koloa maoli (Anas wyvilliana [Hawaiian
duck]), `ua`u (Pterodroma sandwichensis [Hawaiian petrel]), `a`o
(Puffinus newelli [Newell’s shearwater]), `ōpe`ape`a, Hawaiian monk
seal (Monachus schauinslandi), hōnu `ea (Eretmochelys imbricate
[hawksbill turtle]), and hōnu (Chelonia mydas [green sea turtle]). For
invertebrates, in general, Maui is characterized by high levels of
endemism and diversity representing many orders.
[Clarification Supplied]
Source: Hawaii State Wildlife Action Plan, October 1, 2015, p. 6-60.
http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/wildlife/files/2015/09/SWAP-2015-Board_Sept2015.pdf Web accessed June 9, 2016.

4. The Honorable Barack Obama
President of the United States
July 9, 2016
Page 4 of 7
Expanding the boundaries of Keālia Pond National Wildlife Refuge, creating
and establishing Keālia Pond National Monument comports with the Hawaii State
Wildlife Action Plan,
Island Strategies
1. Increase active management in, and acquisition of, extremely rare
habitats on Maui;
2. Protect remaining intact native forest, wetland habitat, and coastal
areas from development through a combination of acquisition,
conservation easements, or cooperative agreements with
landowners;
3. Decrease the number of stream diversions and channelized
streams;
4. Work with Commission on Water Resource Management to ensure
net increase in the number of streams that meet biological integrity
and Instream Flow Standards.
Source: Hawaii State Wildlife Action Plan, October 1, 2015, p. 6-61.
http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/wildlife/files/2015/09/SWAP-2015-Board_Sept2015.pdf Web accessed June 9, 2016.
In remarks at the National Geographic Society on April 19, 2016 Secretary
of the Interior Sally Jewell presented a vision for actions our Nation to build upon
America’s rich conservation legacy to create and pass forward healthy, vibrant
public lands and waters to our future generations.

5. The Honorable Barack Obama
President of the United States
July 9, 2016
Page 5 of 7
Secretary Jewell called for a “course correction” for conservation to inspire
and empower every American to connect with public lands; implement planning
for healthy, sustainable ecosystems and development; and greater investment in
national parks and public lands for the next century of conservation.
Your Presidential Proclamation designating Mojave Trails as a National
Monument contains foundational elements for Keālia Pond National Monument.
In specific,
The protection of the Mojave Trails area will preserve its cultural,
prehistoric, and historic legacy and maintain its diverse array of
natural and scientific resources, ensuring that the prehistoric, historic,
and scientific values of this area remain for the benefit of all
Americans.
WHEREAS, section 320301 of title 54, United States Code (known as
the "Antiquities Act"), authorizes the President, in his discretion, to
declare by public proclamation historic landmarks, historic and
prehistoric structures, and other objects of historic or scientific interest
that are situated upon the lands owned or controlled by the Federal
Government to be national monuments, and to reserve as a part
thereof parcels of land, the limits of which in all cases shall be
confined to the smallest area compatible with the proper care and
management of the objects to be protected;

6. The Honorable Barack Obama
President of the United States
July 9, 2016
Page 6 of 7
WHEREAS, it is in the public interest to preserve the objects of
scientific and historic interest on the Mojave Trails lands;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United
States of America, by the authority vested in me by section 320301 of
title 54, United States Code, hereby proclaim the objects identified
above that are situated upon lands and interests in lands owned or
controlled by the Federal Government to be the Mojave Trails
National Monument (monument).
The establishment of the monument is subject to valid existing rights.
If the Federal Government acquires any lands or interests in lands not
owned or controlled by the Federal Government within the boundaries
described on the accompanying map, such lands and interests in lands
shall be reserved as a part of the monument, and objects identified
above that are situated upon those lands and interests in lands shall be
part of the monument, upon acquisition of ownership or control by the
Federal Government.
Nothing in this proclamation shall be deemed to enlarge or diminish
the jurisdiction of the State of California, including its jurisdiction and
authority with respect to fish and wildlife management.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twelfth
day of February, in the year of our Lord two thousand sixteen, and of
the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred
and fortieth.
BARACK OBAMA

7. The Honorable Barack Obama
President of the United States
July 9, 2016
Page 7 of 7
The establishment of the Mojave Trails Monument is subject to valid
existing rights. Provisioning for the Federal Government acquisition of lands or
interests in lands not owned or controlled by the Federal Government parallels
your directive for “greater investment in national parks and public lands for the
next century of conservation”.
We respectfully request your consideration that your Proclamation of Keālia
Pond National Monument be appropriately resourced to expand its present
boundaries and fulfill its purposes,
1. To be an inviolate sanctuary, nesting and breeding ground for sea birds,
shore birds, migratory birds, endangered wildlife, flora and fauna,
2. To be a center for education, scientific research and scholarly study,
3. To strengthen, enhance and share Hawaii’s native wildlife resources,
4. To engage and facilitate participation and development of partnerships
for continued wildlife conservation and habitat protection,
5. To continue and purpose forward the momentum fostered by the
Department of Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Hawaii
Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) to implement
improved environmental and conservation strategies.
We thank you very much.
With fondest and deepest Aloha from our hearts to yours …