KAANAPALI, Maui » Gov. John A. Burns said today his plan for development of Magic Island is the product of a balance between man’s needs for recreation and preservation of natural resources.

"Despite the current confusion over this project, the State’s proposal for Magic Island is intended to improve the Hawaii environment at Ala Moana for the benefit of all our people," Burns told about 100 county officials gathered here for an environmental quality institute.

He said his administration had greatly toned down the 1961 Magic Island plan that called for five hotels and extensive commercial use of the reef reclamation area.

"Consider what this would have done to Ala Moana Park had the original intent been implemented," he said. …

The modified plan, passed by the Legislature during its closing minutes, will be "carried out in a way designed to improve the quality of our environment," Burns said.

"There are those who would hold that natural beauty should be preserved for its own sake and that man is secondary to the natural conditions in which he finds himself.

"It is a fact that a beautiful environment has its value only in relationship to man — who, by his superior nature, is called upon to be the master of his environment and to rule it, preserve it, develop it, and use it intelligently for man’s needs."

Burns said while some abuse Hawaii’s natural resources, "it is equally depressing to find emphasis put on a philosophy which places man on a lower level that the resources put at his disposal."

Burns said the best environment is one that combines man’s needs and the preservation of resources with "beauty, good taste and good order."

———

Every Sunday, “Back in the Day” looks at an article that ran on this date in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. The items are verbatim, so don’t blame us today for yesteryear’s bad grammar.