40 square miles for Hawaii and Reparations too!

I have nothing against 48 species. I do have something against making part of Hawaii  a new country. All part of the deal:

Bill Allowing Native Hawaiians to Establish Own Gov’t Poised to Pass Two Congressional Committees

The legislation had been expected to easily win the committees’ approval, but Hawaii’s governor and attorney general voiced objections late Tuesday to some of the changes that sponsors plan to propose. In light of the objections, Republican lawmakers have asked for a delay. Democrats, however, sensing they have the votes to prevail, are determined to proceed.

The legislation, known as the Akaka bill after its lead sponsor, Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, has a long history. The bill would provide a road map to gradually establish a Native Hawaiian government.http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/58620
 
Once established, the Native Hawaiian government would negotiate with the state and the federal government over which assets it would own. Currently, the state administers 1.2 million acres of former monarchy land. Some of that land, which is quite valuable, could eventually revert to the new government

See our earlier post: http://bunkerville.wordpress.com/2009/12/16/hawaiian-and-native-americans-on-the-road-to-victory/

Back now to the Birds:

Wildlife officials lauded Washington’s “holistic approach” to conservation in Hawaii after the Obama administration declared 48 species as endangered and announced plans to set aside more than 40 square miles on Kauai as critical habitat to allow the plants and animals to flourish.
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said the government would also be declaring more than 40 square miles on Kauai as critical habitat, a move that would help the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service adopt a new approach to protecting imperiled species by restoring health to the broad ecosystems they inhabit.