The House approved legislation Wednesday that would kick-start the process of designating the Hawaiian town of Lahaina as a national heritage area.
H.R. 8219, the “Lahaina National Heritage Area Study Act,” from Rep. Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii), calls for a study into the designation. Lawmakers voted 378-25 for the bill.
The region continues to recover from devastating wildfires in 2023. A heritage designation could increase federal funding for conservation and assistance.
“As we approach the 16-month anniversary of the fires, there is still so much more that needs to be done,” Tokuda said during floor debate Tuesday. “Every action that we can take to support the rebuilding of our community helps in the healing, which is why I am so grateful that we are here today.”
