So what's in a name? In the case of the newly minted Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument, plenty.

The monument Friday was given a Hawaiian name: Papa-hanaumokuakea. It underscores the stunning archipelago's deep cultural, historical and spiritual importance.

The name is derived from the ancient Hawaiian tradition relating to the "birth" or formation of the Hawaiian islands, personified in the earth. It's the result of a collaborative effort between state and local agencies and the Native Hawaiian Cultural Working Group, whose members have a longstanding interest in the region's preservation.

President Bush in June of last year declared the area a national monument, ensuring its protection and preservation for generations to come.

Laura Bush also made an appearance at the renaming ceremony, after visiting the monument. She highlighted the need to properly care for our nation's environmental and cultural jewels through personal responsibility, referring to the debris she saw washing up on the shore.

Indeed, it truly is a treasure.

At 140,000 square miles, it is the largest single conservation area in our nation's history— and the largest protected marine area in the world. It's home to more than 7,000 marine species, many of which are found nowhere else on the planet. In that sense alone, it serves as a rich "classroom" for our keiki.

Yesterday marked a rebirth of sorts for this treasured archipelago. Let's hope its name lives in our minds and hearts — and in those for generations to come.