News from the Conservation Council for Hawai`i Special Issue! Volume 66, Issue 4 - Fall 2016 Volume 67, Issue 1 & 2 - Winter & Spring 2017 Sheila Sarhangi View of the western pali (cliff) of Nihoa from Hikianalia. Photo by Brad Ka‘aleleo Leatherback turtles the size of a Obama expanded the boundaries of was established by President George W. Volkswagen Beetle. Laysan ducks, once Papahānaumokuākea to 200 nautical Bush in 2006. For example, 24 species of widespread around the Hawaiian miles around the existing monument, whales and dolphins occur outside of the Archipelago. Black coral 4000 years old, with the exception of the southeast original protection area. Three of these the world’s oldest organism. These are boundary, for a total of 583,000 square species are listed under the Endangered just some of the 7,000 remarkable species miles, an area more than twice the size Species Act as threatened or endangered: found in Papahānaumokuākea Marine of Texas. sperm whales, fin whales, and sei whales. National Monument. Why was additional protection needed? Moreover, the expanded monument In August 2016, in response to a Recent scientific studies show that now safeguards more than 75 seamounts, movement led by Hawai‘i stakeholders species found within Papahānaumokuākea known as underwater volcanoes or – from kūpuna to conservationists, local have geographic ranges that go beyond mountains. These features form biological fishers, and scientists – then-President the 50 nautical-mile protection, which hotspots that provide habitat for a wide continued on page 4 U.S. Hosts IUCN World Conservation Congress for the First Time! Lorraine Garnier The International Union for and successful international gathering was Conservation of Nature (IUCN) held based at the beautiful Hawai‘i Convention its first-ever World Conservation Center in Honolulu 10 days last September, Sylvia Earle and Lorraine Garnier. Photo Congress in the United States, and and featured formal voting sessions for courtesy of Lorraine Garnier Hawai‘i was the chosen location to IUCN members, presentations, art, bring together several thousand leaders music, culture, food, workshops, field Sylvia Earle; Senior Vice-President for and decision-makers from government, trips, informal cafes and discussions, Oceans at Conservation International citizen organizations, indigenous peoples, Aulani Wilhelm; and businesses, and academia. The goal of Polynesian Voyaging Society the congress was to combine efforts to Master Navigator Nainoa conserve the environment and harness Thompson – to discuss the solutions nature offers to global climate, fisheries, by-catch, challenges. ocean acidification, and other Conservation Council for Hawai‘i and critical issues affecting all island many others worked for over 5 years to nations. Sylvia Earle said, “The bring the congress to Hawai‘i. The inspiring expanded Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument is a place where even the fish are Matt Rand and Senator Brian Schatz. Photo by safe. What a concept!” Jonee Peters The second half of the congress was receptions, and educational booths. spent at the IUCN Members Assembly, I exuberantly attended to help man in which Marjorie Ziegler, Julie Leialoha, the colorful CCH and National Wildlife and I participated as CCH’s official voting Federation shared booth in the Exhibition, delegation. We discussed, and voted on which gave me a window into all the work motions, IUCN programs, IUCN that CCH does. More than 20 CCH staff commission chairs, and the annual and volunteers kept the popular booth open budget. Topics such as High Seas for the duration of the congress. Protections; Adoption, Education and On the evening of the opening Integration of Women and Children in reception, then-President Obama Conservation; Protections of Primary stopped in Honolulu on his way to Forests; and Closure of Domestic Markets Midway Atoll to announce his decision for Elephant Ivory were among dozens of to expand the boundary of issues for discussion and action. Papahānaumokuākea Marine National One motion dear to my heart was Monument to 200 nautical miles around Increasing Marine Protected Area most of the existing monument – a goal Coverage for Effective Marine Biodiversity many of us had been working toward for Protections calling for the protection of many months last year. Celebration was approximately 30% of the oceans by in the air! 2030. This motion was adopted by the I had the pleasure to attend IUCN voting members, although many educational sessions, including “Actions countries agreed during discussions that for a Sustainable Ocean,” a high-level it was probably not enough protection for Calley O’Neill and her Rama Exhibition. event with distinguished individuals – our oceans to withstand climate change. Photo by Marjorie Ziegler such as world-renown ocean scientist Kōlea • 2 Denise Antolini and Calley O’Neill’s Rama Exhibition. Photo by Marjorie Ziegler Jonee Peters and Debra Evans at the CCH-NWF booth. Photo by Kathleen King Marjorie attended a negotiation floor, IUCN members rejected several session to try and reach consensus on motions to regulate the sale of elephant elephant ivory – should sales be banned ivory, and voted instead to close domestic altogether or should sales be regulated? markets to elephant ivory. CCH and others No consensus was reached, and on the passed a state law banning wildlife trafficking in Hawai‘i in 2016, and this IUCN motion was especially meaningful. CCH also introduced a successful emergency motion at the congress, calling for Klaus and Yoshiko Radtke. Photo by immediate action to save Hawai‘i’s native Marjorie Ziegler forest birds. On the last day of the congress, I realized the immense privilege to have had the opportunity to not only represent CCH and Hawai’i – but to actually sit alongside the immensity of our world’s people who came here from over 200 countries with the collective hope of protecting our natural resources. These individuals represented millions of people working hard everyday, risking their lives in some cases, to maintain the diversity, ecology, and beauty of our planet. CCH and NWF staff front row left to right: Marjorie Ziegler, Jonee Peters; back row: Bruce Stein, Simon Hall, Les Welsh, David Katrena Kennedy and Les Welsh. Photo by Burns, and Barbara Bramble. Photo Marjorie Ziegler courtesy of NWF Kōlea • 3 Galapagos sharks at Maro Reef. Photo courtesy of NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries range of plant and animal communities. including Conservation Council for and expanded by former presidents, Recent expeditions to these deep-sea Hawai‘i, are now back in the trenches to such as Giant Sequoia National ecosystems have yielded new species on defend the monument. In April, President Monument in California. nearly every survey, including the world’s Trump ordered a review of recent marine In response, advocates have been hard largest sponge found at 7,000 feet and the monument designations and expansions at work to defend Papahānaumokuākea. size of a mini-van. created since 1996 under the Antiquities To date, more than 10,000 Hawai‘i Obama’s designation also elevated Act, including Papahānaumokuākea. residents, and thousands of additional the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to a Trump has tasked the Secretary of supporters across the world, have Monument Co-Trustee position, rightfully Interior and the Secretary of Commerce submitted petitions to the Trump placing the Native Hawaiian voice at the to review the need for these vital administration with a strong message to highest level of decision-making in the protections. The review is part of a leave Papahānaumokuākea’s protections governance of Papahānaumokuākea. larger effort that could lead to the in place, with the justification that the Despite this success, many in the reduction of more than two-dozen science backed the need for more Expand Papahānaumokuākea Coalition, monuments and sanctuaries designated protection, the expansion was widely supported by Hawai‘i stakeholders, and the Obama administration sufficiently consulted stakeholders for their input on the boundaries. What’s yet to be determined is if President Trump has the legal authority to rescind monuments established under the 1906 Antiquities Act. Some say he does not have that kind of power and this will likely be tested in court. At press time, the coalition is awaiting the administration’s decision. Expand Papahānaumokuākea Coalition members front row left to right: Narrissa Spies, Sheila Sarhangi, William Ailā, Sol Kaho‘ohalahala, Isaac “Paka” Harp; back row: Coti-Lynne Haia, Dr. Bob Richmond, Matt Rand, Seth Horstmeyer, Kawika Riley, Hoku Cody, and Ekolu Lindsey. Photo courtesy of Sheila Sarhangi Kōlea • 4 Fun at the 2016 Annual Awards and Membership Meeting Wayne Tanaka Photos by Christopher McDonough On October 22, 2016, members and approval) our new board members Anne off dinner with an assortment of decadent supporters of the Conservation Council Walton, Rachel Sprague, and Les Welsh. artisanal chocolate truffles, fruits, and nuts for Hawai‘i joined special guests from handmade by award-winning Choco the National Wildlife Federation and le‘a, a repeat supporterof CCH. the office of Senator Brian Schatz for As conversation and laughter filled an evening of delicious food, music, and the room, Kevin Chang and members thought-provoking presentations at the of the locally beloved band Kupa‘āina Japanese Cultural Center in Honolulu. (check them out!) closed out the night The CCH 2016 Annual Awards and by serenading us with their nolstagic Membership Meeting capped off a year of renditions of familiar local hits. particularly historic events, including the Although last year’s meeting will be convening of the International Union for hard to beat, we are already hard at work Conservation of Nature World planning this year’s meeting. Please mark Conservation Congress at the your calendars and join us as we reflect Hawai‘i Convention Center, and Senator Brian Schatz, recipient of CCH’s on the challenges and accomplishments of 2016 Honu Award. Photo courtesy of Brian then-President Obama’s expansion of Schatz 2017 and recognize conservation leaders.