By ERIN MILLER
By ERIN MILLER
Stephens Media
Congresswoman Mazie Hirono introduced, last month, a measure for the third time asking to add parts of Hawaii’s coast to the National Park System.
“It takes awhile,” Hirono said Tuesday, when asked whether the request would have success this Congressional session. “It’s not as though that area’s going to be developed any time soon.”
The measure, House Resolution 3908, asks the Secretary of the Interior to study the feasibility of designating the coast from Kapaoo Point to Kahuku Point as a part of the National Park System.
This is the third time Hirono has introduced such a measure, as well as one to designate a portion of the North Maui coastline to the National Park system.
Hirono was in West Hawaii Tuesday, first speaking to the Mauka Rotary Club, which convenes at Teshima’s in Honalo, then heading to the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority. She promoted a measure she said would increase ways for Chinese tourists to visit the United States.
The bill would allow Chinese tourists to conduct video, rather than in-person, interviews and allow those visas to last five years, instead of expiring after one. Right now, all Chinese tourists must travel to one of just five U.S. consulates in China to conduct the interview, Hirono said.
Hirono answered questions about her Congressional record.
In her six years as representative, Hirono has introduced 54 bills, none of which have been enacted as law.
Hirono touted her success at garnering earmarks, a way representatives and senators set aside money for their home districts for years.
Congress members ended the practice last year. Hirono was in the top 10 of representatives in getting those earmarks, she said.