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Maui County Bestowed Preserve America Community Status
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| Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares and Preserve America Chairman John Nau arrive at the Kihei site Hawaiian style. |
The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation designated Maui County a Preserve America Community June 26, 2008 making Maui County the second Hawai`i community, and the first County in Hawaii, to achieve Preserve America designation.
Preserve America Chairman John L. Nau, III officially welcomed Maui County to the Preserve America ohana (family) at a special ceremony at the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary’s Kihei, Maui site in June. Nau and Maui County Mayor Charmaine Tavares arrived at the Sanctuary office by Hawaiian canoe. They were escorted to the office grounds by a Hawaiian group, who greeted the VIPs with traditional chants, a conch shell herald, and leis.
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| Cheryl Oliver, John Nau, Mayor Tavares and Allen Tom pose next to the Preserve America sign and the proclamation. |
After a blessing by NOAA Environmental Hero of the Year and sanctuary partner Kimokeo Kapåhulehua, Chairman Nau spoke about the Preserve America Initiative and bestowed the proclamation declaring Maui County a Preserve America Community. Mayor Tavares accepted the proclamation, and spoke about her own pride in this designation.
A demonstration of the advantages of the Preserve America Initiative was made when Cheryl Oliver, who heads the NOAA Preserve America Mini-Grant Program, presented a check to The Kohala Center, a Big Island non-profit science and education organization, which will use the funds to develop learning materials supporting an on-going program for Kahalu`u Bay. Cindi Punihaole, Public Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator accepted for the Center. Following the ceremony, the guests and audience were treated to a Hawaiian hukilau—a traditional group fishing method.
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Kimokeo Kapåhulehua bestows the blessing to the crowd.
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Allen Tom, Regional Director for the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries Pacific Islands Region who hosted the event, said that the Sanctuary program is proud to have been involved in the nomination process with Maui County. Preserve America communities are eligible for technical and financial support, educational and marketing opportunities and a Presidential Awards program. Preserve America helps local communities develop sustainable resource management strategies and sound business practices for the continued preservation and use of heritage assets.
For more information about Preserve America Initiative and Maui County’s designation,click here.
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John Nau presents Mayor Tavares with the Preserve America Proclamation.
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Cheryl Oliver, ONMS Preserve America representative, and Allen Tom, Pacific Islands Regional Director present Cindy Punihaole from The Kohala Center with a check representing a Preserve America grant that will be used to develop educational materials for Kahalu`u Bay on the Big Island.
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