With President-elect Donald Trump set to take office in less than a week, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) took proactive measures on Wednesday to enhance the protection of Papah?naumoku?kea Marine National Monument.
The move to designate the waters surrounding the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands as a national marine sanctuary is seen as a safeguard in case Trump decides to revoke the monument’s protections, a possibility he indicated during his previous term.
Although NOAA made the announcement prior to Trump’s inauguration on Monday, the designation will need to undergo a 45-day review by Congress before becoming official.
This stunning 1,000-mile stretch of the archipelago consists of over 120 uninhabited islands and atolls, as well as deepwater seamounts and expansive coral reefs filled with diverse marine life. According to Eric Roberts, NOAA’s superintendent for Papah?naumoku?kea, this day marks a significant milestone in enhancing marine protections, a goal pursued for over two decades that fulfills elements outlined in previous presidential proclamations.
Within the proposed sanctuary, an impressive array of around 7,000 species exists, with more than a quarter found nowhere else on Earth.
The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve was established by President Bill Clinton in December 2000, which at the time was the largest nature preserve in the U.S. Rick Gaffney, a Big Island sport fisherman and a long-time advisor for the reserve, noted that the idea of pursuing sanctuary status has been consistently evaluated, even as monument status was established later.
In 2006, President George W. Bush designated Papah?naumoku?kea as a national monument, and a decade later, President Barack Obama nearly quadrupled its area, making it the largest protected site globally at that time.
The sanctuary designation reinforces the existing ban on commercial fishing and mining, while also introducing additional enforcement powers for NOAA. These powers allow the agency to create emergency regulations during natural or human-induced disasters and impose civil penalties for violations, potentially aiding in the funding of conservation efforts for the monument.
Randy Kosaki, a NOAA research ecologist for Papah?naumoku?kea, emphasized that sanctuary status provides “a layer of stability” in preserving the area.
“It requires congressional action to establish or dismantle a sanctuary, which adds a measure of difficulty in reversing it on a whim,” he explained.
During Trump’s first term, Papah?naumoku?kea was initially listed among monuments considered for reduction or removal. The process to create national monuments, enabled by the Antiquities Act, allows presidents the authority to declare and also repeal them. Although Trump reduced the size of Bears Ears National Monument in Utah, President Joe Biden later reinstated it.
Opponents of protections for the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, including some commercial tuna fishermen in Hawai?i, have voiced concerns, arguing that such designations complicate regulations and restrict fishing zones.
While the Trump administration ultimately left Papah?naumoku?kea intact during its last term, many conservationists and Native Hawaiians who advocated for its establishment remain apprehensive about potential future changes.
“The last administration put us in a state of tension for four years, and now we’re left wondering if the same will happen again,” Kosaki remarked.
The expansive monument covers nearly 600,000 square miles and is home to remnants from significant historical events, such as the Battle of Midway during World War II and shipwrecks from the 1800s. Ongoing research continues to yield new findings in these rich waters.
In collaboration, NOAA, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Hawai?i Department of Land and Natural Resources, and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs jointly manage Papah?naumoku?kea, a partnership expected to persist with the sanctuary.
NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad stated that the sanctuary designation will provide a stronger framework for conserving and protecting marine resources in Papah?naumoku?kea. It aims to enhance scientific research and resource monitoring while ensuring the long-term vitality of the area, recognized for its natural, cultural, and historical significance.
In early October, NOAA returned from a three-week expedition, where invasive seaweed posed a threat to parts of the reef. Scientists monitored previously studied sites to assess the spread of this invader and collected frozen samples for further examination.
The expedition also included visits to East Island, which is crucial for endangered seals and sea turtles. This island, devastated by Hurricane Walaka in 2018, showed signs of recovery and reinstatement of endemic species.
The monument also holds historical artifacts from the Polynesian navigators who first arrived in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands around 1000 A.D.
Mokumanamana, located approximately 450 miles northwest of O‘ahu, is considered significant for its spiritual relevance, standing at the intersection of the living world and the spirit realm. It is known for having a high concentration of ceremonial sites.
“The monument preserves both tangible and intangible resources,” explained Kekuewa Kikiloi, a scholar and former cultural program coordinator for Papah?naumoku?kea. “This place holds deep significance for Native Hawaiians, intertwined with our spiritual beliefs, history, and origins.”
