The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1919-03-14
Congress Committee
Hears OF Haleakala
Plans Made For Advertising Island
Attractions By GOvernment-Dr.
Mather And B. G. R~ivenburgh Tell
Congressman About Hawaii

That Secretary Lane and Director
of National Parks DR.. stephen T.
Mather. of the same department, are
doing all that they can for Hawaii in
an effort to develop our national park,
is evidenced by the following taken
from a report of the meeting of the
House committee on territories on a
hearing on Hawaii's park held on
February 10. DR.. Mather, who has
never been to Hawaii, but who hopes
to be able to visit here soon. showed
a very good knowledge of the situa-
ton here, which he must have gained
through considerable study. Among
other things he said:
Hawaii Parks To Be Featured
Secretary Lane, before the Commit
tee on the Public Lands, speaking In
regard to the creation of the Roose-
welt National Park in California, said
hat we have a great circle OF parks
on the mainland, aed if we had this
additional park in Hawaii 1t would be
a wonderful side trip for tourists to
take. While we are trying to develop
our own scenic areas in this country,
let us nave II III SHAPE 10 CpOh 90 w
can, so that we can be able to put
the scenery we have to offer in III
show windows under the best cond1-
tons possible.
You may be interested TO know,
gentlemen, at last, after a years
work, the Railroad Administration is
going to get out a series Of booklets
on the parks of the country, and that
is going to be done in a large way,
and among others they are going to
get out a book on the Hawaiian Ma
tional Parks. With that done we
ought to be ready as o as possible
10 really take proper care of these
newly created parks and to admins
ter them as we do other parks in this
country.
Haleakala Available
After the difficulties of acquiring
title from the Bishop Estate for the
lands needed for the Kilauea park,
the matter of Haleakala came up. B.
G.. Rivenburgh, late land commission
er Of Hawaii, who happened to be in
Washington at the time, and who was
present, was called upon. The follow.
ing is from the record:
The Chairman (Hon. VIM. c. Hous-
toni. That tract on the island of
Maui has not been acquired, as / I'M
derstand 1t?
Mr.. R~ivenburgh. No, the private in
terests in that tract have not been
acquired, but we have assurance that
the large owners within the Haleaka-
la area. the Baldwin interests, will
very gladly turn over whatever may
be necessary to the Government for
park purposes if they are assured by
Mr.. Mather, or whoever is in charge.
that the goats breeding within the
crater are killed off or kept down the
same as predatory animals, and not
allowed to get v e the rim of the
crater and destroy the crops.
The Chairman. In reference to the
Baldwins, l want to say that any rep
reservations that Frank or Harry A.
Baldwin make will be carried out in
perfectly good faith.
Mr.. Rivenburgh. The reason Mr..
Mather, representing the National
Park Service, should go to the islands
is to know exactly what we want. In
reference to the H~aleakala section, !
feel that when Mr.. Mather reaches
Haleakala and goes over the ground
he will see that it will not be neces-
sary to acquire title to that immense
crater, some 7 miles across and 20
miles around, if we can acquire, as
the bill provides, permanent rights OF
way for trails and roads and sites for
any buildings. l think you went
through this, Mr.. Chairman.
The Chairman. Yes.
Mr.. R~ivenburgh. The most feasible
way to go through the crater is
through the Kaupo Gap. II you &C
quire title to a trail taking that in,
and perhaps some side trips, It will
be sufficient. | did not feel that, rep
resenting Mr.. Mather's office in the
Islands, / could do much with the Ha
leakala proposition until somebody
wal there who could settle the ques
ton as to whether or not they want
ed all OF that area, or a portion of it
and with the assurance Mr.. Baldwin
gave me | thought hat was sufficient
TO close it n way or the other when
we saw fit. The active crater is the
Kilauea Crater, and that is where We
need action, and that is what this bill
was primarily drawn to accomplish.
Mr., Hamlin. | move, Mr.. Chair
man, that the bill be amended by in
sorting after the words authorized
in line four, the words Subject to the
approval of the Secretary of the In
terror"
(The motion was carried)
Mr., Hamlin. | also move that the
bill be amended by inserting after
the word otherwise" in the same line
the words except by purchase"
CThe motion was carried.)
Mr.. Hamlin. | move the chairman
be instructed to report the bill to thC
House.
(The motion was carried)
(Thereupon the committee adjourn
ed