It’s been two years since then-President Barack Obama designated the Honouliuli National Monument, commemorating the Honouliuli Internment Camp, Hawaii’s largest and longest-operating Japanese-American internment camp and prisoner of war camp during WWII. Use of the Antiquities Act to create national monuments such as Honouliuli not only ensures the preservation of nationally significant sites, it provides future generations the opportunity to learn from the past and reflect upon our nation’s history.
Through the Antiquities Act, President Obama has strung together a record number of monuments during his two terms in office, proclaiming five new national monuments on Jan. 12, including the recent Freedom Riders and the Birmingham Civil Rights National monuments in Alabama, sites that brought national awareness to racial injustice and inequality and sparked a national civil rights movement.
Without the Antiquities Act, we would not have been able to protect historic and cultural sites that celebrate the contributions of the people and recognize the communities that have shaped the America we know today.
To ensure that this important work continues, Obama signed a Presidential Memorandum for the heads of executive departments and agencies, directing that they work together so all Americans have the opportunity to enjoy our public lands and waters and engage in decisions about how our public lands and waters are managed. We welcome the opportunity to remain engaged in the efforts to protect and manage our cultural sites and monuments.
Obama’s legacy of bringing diversity and inclusion into our public lands and national park system is a great gift to future generations and will help to build a more engaged and united America. We must not let this legacy be dismantled, and more than that, we must build on this legacy and continue to tell the diverse story that is America.
U.S. Secretary of the Interior nominee Rep. Ryan Zinke, if confirmed, will become our chief environmental steward.
At his congressional nomination hearing on Jan. 17, Zinke alluded that he would be open to overturning national monuments. This cannot happen. The conservation of Native American lands, of historic sites like Honouliuli that reflect our shared American history — are also places our communities look to increase the number of local jobs, support local economies and provide education opportunities for children.
Rep. Zinke must commit to supporting the new national monuments designated by President Obama and to other parks and public lands that have been protected by the Antiquities Act.
The Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii’s mission — to honor our heritage, embrace our diversity and share our future — is much the same as Obama’s intention when he used the Antiquities Act.
Recognizing and celebrating the nation’s rich history of diversity is what makes America unique and great.
Founding Father Patrick Henry understood this when in 1799 he said: “United we stand, divided we fall.” May these words be heeded by Zinke and our new team of leaders as they take the reins and may we continue to celebrate the diversity of our nation.
Carole Hayashino is president and executive director of the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii.
