Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is welcoming House passage by a vote of 378-25 of the bipartisan Lahaina National Heritage Area Act, H.R. 8219, of which she is one of seven cosponsors.

The bill directs the National Park Service (NPS) to assess the feasibility and suitability of designating Lahaina as the Lahaina National Heritage Area, under the National Heritage Areas Act. Lahaina is a historic whaling village that was a beautiful, thriving tourist and recreation destination before the massive, rapid, devastating wildfire in August 2023.

“In August 2023, I toured Lahaina with a bipartisan congressional delegation, and saw the heartbreaking total destruction firsthand,” said Congresswoman Amata. “As Lahaina rebuilds and remembers, this bill would allow the National Park Service to be an ally in emphasizing Lahaina’s heritage and providing long term support as the people of Maui continue taking on the immense challenges of restoring a flourishing community.”

A look from the air, at Lahaina, Maui as a U.S. Congressional Delegation landed before passing a bipartisan bill intended to create a Lahaina National Heritage Area. “As Lahaina rebuilds and remembers, this bill would allow the National Park Service to be an ally in emphasizing Lahaina’s heritage and providing long term support as the people of Maui continue taking on the immense challenges of restoring a flourishing community,” Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata said. [courtesy photo]

The bill does not create a National Park or take federal ownership. Instead, a National Heritage Area is a large lived-in community that includes private property, where historic, cultural and natural resources form nationally valued landscapes. To date, 62 National Heritage Areas have been designated in the United States, but Lahaina would be the first in Hawaii.

In 1984, President Ronald Reagan signed the law creating the first one, which combined heritage conservation with economic development under community leadership. The NPS provides assistance and funding to support historic preservation, conservation, recreation, heritage tourism, education, and foster local pride and stewardship.

This bipartisan bill currently has seven cosponsors, including Congresswoman Amata of American Samoa. Led by Rep. Jill Tokuda (D-HI) with Rep. Ed Case (D-HI); Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), the incoming chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus; Rep. Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (D-CNMI), Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA), and Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA.)