2.2.1 The NWHI are rich in underwater cultural
heritage. The numerous wrecks found in the area are time capsules
which capture specific elements of our seagoing past. Documents indicate
that over 120 vessels and aircraft have been lost in the waters of
the proposed area. These remains are representative of distinct phases
of Pacific history and include Japanese junks, Hawaiian sampans, 19th
century whalers, United States Navy side wheel steamers, French sailing
ships, and fighter aircraft lost during the World War II Battle of
Midway. Only a handful of these sites have been located and assessed
so far, but these surveys reveal resources unique to the North-western
Hawaiian Islands. The wrecks of the whaling ships Pearl and Hermes, both of which ran aground in 1822, are the only archaeological
remains of the South Seas whaling industry, and the oldest shipwrecks
found thus far in Hawaii. The scattered remains of the USS Saginaw,
lost in 1870, capture the United States Civil War-era technology of
the “old steam navy.” The wreck site of the Dunnottar
Castle, an iron hulled sailing ship lost in 1886, offers a
rare glimpse of the days of the Tall Ships. These and many other sites
are rare, representative of broad themes of maritime history, and
a testimony to the uniqueness of Pacific seafaring history. Unwarranted
damage or removal of submerged archaeological sites is prohibited
by state and federal preservation laws, and United States Monument
management agencies seek to protect these heritage resources as windows
into the past.