NH efforts to preserve indigenous culture

May 6, 2007 at 8:45 am | In breaking news, hawaii |

A couple of stories I’d like to share from the past week of efforts by Native Hawaiian activists asserting their cultural rights.

The first addresses what is actually quite a common occurrence — construction projects unearth previously undiscovered remains or artifacts, and when people ask for construction to halt to assess whether or not the location is a cultural site, the developers get cranky and/or flat-out refuse to stop the show. (This was part of the argument against Sea Mountain V’s development at Punalu`u — their so-called environmental impact assessment did not even accurately reflect the location of known cultural sites, let alone possibly unknown remains.)

In this case, the story has an extra kick of irony, as the store that will have its home at the new Ward Village Shops development in Honolulu is one often praised for its progressive values: Whole Foods. So far 47 sets of Native Hawaiian remains have been identified, and protestors gathered at the site last Wednesday to publicize the issue.

Paulette Ka’anohi Kaleikini, one of the cultural descendants and plaintiff in a suit against General Growth filed by the Native Hawaiian Legal Corp., was angry over the new finds.
Kaleikini said she had requested a site visit, but never got a response from the state.

“This revelation changes everything and erodes the very foundation of the prior archaeological work on which the OIBC relied,” she said. “My ancestors have been completely disrespected by this flawed process.”

She said state law requires disclosure of the additional sets to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and burial council members, but that has not been done.

“Here we go again,” said Eddie Halealoha Ayau, also a protester. “I feel like I’m at Wal-Mart all over again.”

Ayau, leader of Hui Malama I Na Kupuna, is a cultural descendant of the iwi found at the Keeaumoku Wal-Mart, most of which are tied up in legal proceedings.

According to the article, construction will continue until ’somebody important tells us to stop’. Okay, I’m paraphrasing.

The second article illustrates that these kinds of protests are not just symbolic exercises in futility. Meet Leimomi Lum, kahuna nui (high priestess) of the Mo`okini Heaiu on the Big Island and my new hero. A recent bill passed by state legislature, and over Governor Lingle’s veto, requires her approval of any state-recommended changes (read: commerical ventures) at the temple.

The requirement for consultation with the kahuna nui already exists in the deed by which the state acquired the site from Oceanic Properties and Bishop Estate, Lum said. But the state has made repeated attempts to ignore or erode the mandate, she said.

As often as once a year, state officials seek permission to do archaeological excavations inside the 30-foot-high walls of the heiau, despite the fact that the deed bans excavations, said Lum’s husband, Alexis, a retired general who formerly headed the state National Guard.

Years ago, Lum found a state archaeologist digging in the heiau. A former Honolulu police officer, Lum told the woman to get out or Lum would carry her out.

Badass!

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I was one of the privileged few to have seen the inside of the Mo`okini Heaiu when the kahuna nui lifted the kapu briefly. The site was then dedicated to the children as a pleace to learn about their past.

I don’t admit to knowing much about the legal aspects, but as I understand it, the location is private property. There is a wikipedia entry (Moʻokini) that explains more.

The kahuna nui is a force to be reconed with though!

Comment by Mark — May 6, 2007 #
I would like to address your untrue statement regarding Sea Mountain Five’s EIS. You say it did not even accurately reflect the location of known cultural sites, let alone possibly unknown remains. You are wrong and spreading inaccurate information in a public forum to support your argument. This is reckless and irresponsible behavior.

Sea Mountain Five’s EIS identified all known remaining sites listed in the State Historic Division Files. There are sites in the State Historic register of sites that existed previously but have been subsequently destroyed (during C-Brewer’s original construction of the site) that no longer exist on the property. The EIS did not map those sites.

In comment letters writers often talk about important sites outside the Sea Mountain Five property on adjacent lands. These sites ARE important but we have not mapped them because THEY ARE NOT PART OF THE SEA MOUNTAIN FIVE PROPERTY. Therefore, your argument holds no water.

Comment by Jennifer Pang — May 7, 2007 #
Mark and Jennifer, thank you for your comments.
Mark, I will admit I’m very jealous you’ve visited the heiau, but not enough to face the wrath of the kahuna nui!
Jennifer: There has been expert testimony that directly contradicts your statements. According to Dr. Peter Mills’ officially submitted testimony to the County of Hawaii on the DEIS:

The problem lies with the ability of the inventory, as scoped, to identify the full range of historic properties and burial sites within the project footprint prior to the initiation of the massive development project. HAR Title 13, Chapter 276-2 defines an archaeological inventory survey as “the process of identifying and documenting the archaeological historic properties and burial sites in a delineated area, gathering sufficient information to evaluate significance of the historic properties and burial sites, and compiling the information into a written report for review and acceptance by the department [SHPD].” Further information regarding the process of the field survey states, “The presence or absence of subsurface sites shall be evaluated for areas which have no visible historic properties. This evaluation shall include findings of test excavations, if deemed necessary, or a conclusion, with supportive documentation, that historic properties are not anticipated to be present” (emphasis added, HAR 13-276-4[b]).
Instead of following 13-276-4(b), the DEIS states in multiple contexts that other historic properties and burials are expected to be encountered in the construction phase of the project. This is an implicit acknowledgement that buried sites exist that have not been identified by the initial inventory survey, and in fact could not have been located given the survey methodology employed. CSH conducted a surface pedestrian survey and “limited subsurface testing” in known archaeological sites, but the methodology did not incorporate any subsurface investigations or remote-sensing studies to identify other buried archaeological sites and human burials. This strategy follows in the ignominious path of the early phases of the Hokuli`a project in Kona. If we are to learn from the history of large development projects in rural areas of the state, one lesson should be that it is in everyone’s best interest to intensify the scope of the archaeological inventory survey before any potential development begins. Geomorphological issues in the Punalu`u area include historical era tsunamis and the construction of golf-course greens (and other large scale earth-moving events), that most likely buried many significant sites within the 430-acre project area. The scope of the inventory survey seems to leave these sites and burials to be identified during the construction phase, when preservation in place becomes a less viable option.

My objection to the Sea Mountain V development also includes the question of the ecological and economic impact on the current inhabitants of Punalu`u and Ka`u community. More letters from experts and community leaders on those subjects can be found here.

Comment by petitpoussin — May 7, 2007 #
Studying Hawaiian history and culture, I came across an article about Mo okini Luakini, and the Kahuna Nui. She is now MY hero! She alone controls the land, and all must ask permission for any ideas regarding this scared place. She was the first woman in the Honolulu Police Dept., has authored a book for children, and heals as well as teaches. Please support the non profit organization she started so her dream of a cultural center at the heiau can come true.

Comment by chris lovett — January 30, 2008 #