KALAHEO — U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka visited the National Tropical Botanical Garden in Kalaheo Wednesday, just weeks after President Barack Obama signed into law a provision sponsored by Hawai‘i’s junior senator authorizing $5 million for NTBG operation and maintenance over
KALAHEO — U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka visited the National Tropical Botanical Garden in Kalaheo Wednesday, just weeks after President Barack Obama signed into law a provision sponsored by Hawai‘i’s junior senator authorizing $5 million for NTBG operation and maintenance over the next 10 years.
“Conservation is critical as tropical plant species continue to become extinct at a disturbing rate,” Akaka said when the Senate passed the Omnibus Public Land Management Act on Jan. 15. “Hawai‘i is home to 1,300 indigenous plant species that evolved over millions of years, a significant resource in biodiversity to the United States. Each time we lose a species to extinction we lose an irreplaceable reservoir of unique genes and eliminate their possible benefit to humankind.”
Obama signed the bill into law on March 30.
“It was an honor to see President Obama sign this legislation containing several environmental and cultural preservation measures that will benefit Hawai‘i into law,” Akaka said in a written statement. “This is the beginning of an important national effort to protect and preserve our resources, including Hawai‘i’s unique cultural heritage and biodiversity, for future generations.”
There are just four NTBG sites nationwide; one in Kalaheo, one in Limahuli on Kaua‘i’s North Shore, one on Maui and another in Florida.
For more information on the National Tropical Botanical Gardens, visit
ntbg.org/gardens
