On Fri, Mar 25, 2011 at 9:19 AM, Kimberly Kalama <fourhoofing@gmail.com> wrote:
March 24, 2011
To All Interested Parties,
I agree that everyone should know the facts; The Congregation, the Hawaiian Community, and the Community at large. A brief history, when Likeke Hall was built, a total of 117 burials were removed and relocated. However this relocation was not at Kawaiaha’o. The removed burials were moved to Kamoili’ili cemetery. Then in 1968, Kawaiaha’o Church leased the land from under Kamoili’ili cemetery to Rainbow Plaza Development Inc., where they built a 37 story condominium building called the Contessa. The 117 burials along with many others against the full approval of all parties who could be reached were then again dug up. This time, under the direction of hired hand, Albert Bingham of Kawaiaha’o Church, who told family members who were not in favor of removal that if they didn’t sign consent forms, the church would dig them up anyway and move them. In 1971 a lawsuit was filed against Kawaiaha’o church where Judge Allen R. Hawkins, settled and entitled each heir to monetary funds for special damages for pain and suffering as well as punitive damages. Furthermore, Judge Hawkins found that “Under the principles of Common Law, when an area of land is once dedicated as a cemetery, it is perpetually devoted,” to that purpose. The 117 burials as well as many more were then reinterred in a common concrete vault were they were burnt to ash. The names of those, whose families came forward to give the name of their loved ones, were put up on a plaque. The many others who never got mentioned did not receive the honor and dignity they deserve. They are all placed together under what is called, The Bell Memorial.
At present, what the church called culturally appropriate guidelines and protocols, appropriate is the least thing done in the recent 69 burials. The bodies were removed from coffins and just their bones were taken and all their other personal possessions as well as caskets were thrown in dumpsters. If this is not called desecration, then I am confused. The church says these are not Hawaiian burials, they are Christian. Then why are they treating them the way of a native Hawaiian burial. They put the bones in a lauhala basket, but they forgot the mo’e pu (funerary objects) associated with them. SHAME!
Kekuna, are you saying we are all silly and our bodies mean nothing when we are dead. Then explain to me, why do we have funerals?! Why are we wasting our money on burial plots, caskets, opening and closings, prayers, flowers, and much more? Why do we have cemeteries? Why don’t we just do away with cemeteries and utilize the land better, by building more MPC projects. Why do we have Memorial Day? Why are bone fragments from a U.S. war veteran given the highest honors with a U.S. flag draped over a coffin? Are you saying the US and military are all silly? Explain to me, how you can justify your actions as a pastor to be so heartless and insensitive and to twist the words of King Kamehameha the third to read what you want into his deed. I read the same deed. I did not read where he says it is alright to dig up the people from their final resting place on these sacred grounds. Kekuna, the point is, the body returned to the earth “dust to dust.” Body, meaning God, gave his only son Jesus in the likes of man, to rise again to be seated with him through all eternity. Body, meaning the persons bones after the flesh is gone. Body, is at its final resting place until it becomes “dust to dust.” GOT IT?! That is what my interpretation of what King Kamehameha the third said. So that the people would have a safe haven, a place of refuge to be honored with respect and dignity. It is sad that those 117 burials went through years of torment in a foreign resting place, and then to be burned to ashes, and then finally brought back to Kawaiaha’o and only given a plaque with not all their names on it, In a common concrete vault. Maybe these people did not want to be burnt to ash, but rather until their bones were turned to dust. This was their last rights and wishes. Shame Kawaiaha’o! I should only pray that the 69 burials fate does not end up like the first 117 burials, and that how many more burials may be unearthed and faced with the same fate. Kekuna, if this is your way of showing respect and dignity of a Christian pastor, I no longer want to be your kind of Christian. I will pray for you and pray the Congregation gets this information to save these sacred grounds and the burials where they belong, and how they should be respected. The Congregation has the authority to make this wrong, right. Please give justice to those who were violated. Please have your voices heard, make the difference. I believe in God. I believe in justice, and as a Hawaiian I live aloha.
Mahalo Ke Akua, Kimberly Kalama
Replies
There are probable many stories like the ones I am having. One needs to stop, think and listen for these stories to connect. Much Aloha
A letter I wrote to Andrea and her response,
Aloha Kimberly and Andrea,
aloha Andrea,
I just checked the little pamphlet and there is a Cecelia Pomroy, Eva Pomroy and Violet Pomroy. There is a picture of Cecelia and Violet however, none for Eva. Will copy and save it for the next time that I see you. They are members of the Hale O Na Alii. The picture taken was on April 13, 1958. This is what is written:
BRIEF HISTORY OF HALE O NA ALII CONVENTIONS
The Iku Lani Hoano, Princess Kawananakoa, had forseen the need for exchanges of information and discussions of mutual problems by the members and had provided in the By-laws, "that a Convention of the Hale O Na Alii, Ahahui Poo and Subordinate Lodges may be held annually at a time and place to be designated by the regent or her representative."
Hawaii was the only island that kept its Halau intact from the time it was organized until the present date. During the administration of Iku Hai Eddie Namohala (Daniel Nathaniel was Kiku One and now Iku Hai), several attempts were made to hold conventions, however, no annual gatherings were held until 1947 when the Halau O Kalakaua sponsored a convention in Hilo. The following year, the convention was held on Maui at the same time that the Halau O Liliuokalani was reactivated. Other business sessions were held on Molokai in May 1949 and Kauai in November of the same year. The practice of holding an annual convention complete with business sessions, a song contest and other social activities were started by Oahu in 1950.
Much progress has resulted from the holding of conventions on a different island each year. It gives the membership the opportunity of meeting other people and exchanging ideas and it has gone a long way to creating bonds of friendship that has lasted many years. It also provided the incentive to visit the other islands and to view the grandeur of their mountains, waterfalls, rivers and scenic beaches.
Important strides were made during the business session to iron out administrative problems. during the Hilo convention (1951), the convention went on record to have the regent appoint a top officer from the Ahuhui Poo with authority to supervise the operations of the Halaus and to coordinate the keeping of records and the submission of reports. Shortly afterwards, the Regent appointed a territorial Secretary, who has had charge of the work since that time. Several years later, a Territorial Executive Council was organized to assist the Territorial Secretary (whose office has now been changed to Territorial Executive Chairman) and the Board of Directors of the Halaus.
The Convention for the year 1958 will be held on Molokai with Kaunakakai Mayor, Albert Kahinu as host. During past years, he proved that the name, Friendly Island given to Molokai, is true.
DID YOU KNOW THAT...
Walter L. Ordenstein has laid more Hale O Na Alii members to rest than any other man we know.
"that if you wanted a song dedicated to you, first, get acquainted with a song writer, and secondly, get a musician who plays a Kamaka ukulele."
THE VISTING SICK COMMITTEE
The following were ANGELS OF MERCY during the past years: Esther Ainoa, Odilea Ordenstein, Louise Bayne, Elizabeth Ewaliko, Madeline Ohta and Maria Ah Yat.
...
FOR YOUR HOUR OF MEDITATION
Teach me to be much more concerned with how well than with how long I live.
Remind me constantly to see the good in all men and to build on that.
Let me see the wisdom of helping myself by helping others.
Teach me to recognize that I have obligations as well as privileges where the good of all is concerned.
Grant me the grace always to see the good in others and the faults in myself.
Make me realize that only I can make use of the talents given to me.
Teach me always to think, talk and act with the dignity of an individual.
Inspire me to look for opportunities to help others.
Remind me often that I have responsibilities as well as rights.
Assist me in the realization that I do have time to help others.
Coming from "Gospel of Salvation" this behavior was in my early life and because my mom was the oldest child, I had to accompany my grandmother on visiting the sick and often times the burial. Ordenstein was a good friend of my grandparents and lots of my tutu's would work for funeral palors at that time too!
I hope you find this information helpful as far as staying the course with your ohana work. When the protest is over the nights lonely, and one needs to wake up the next day--the shoulders bear a lot of tension. Just note that your Ohana is speaking to you. But, ofcourse I do not need to say this because you already hear, speak and stand on the principles your Ohana gave to you on 1918 to 1958 and onto 2011. ... Liliu past a year before which is why (I think) this organization was formed.
Andrea's Response:
aloha mai e luwella,
mahalo nui for the information. so maika'i! cecilia pomroy and eva pomroy are children's great grandmother and great grand aunt on their father's side. i think violet may have been one of aunty eva's sisters. i would love to see that photograph and make a copy for my children, they were very close to their tutu. aunty eva was with the outrigger canoe club for many years. i remember her fondly. her mother, lilian laielohelohe kapukui pomroy is buried at kawaiahao church on the queen street side of the cemetery. my daughter would take her grandma, dudee pomroy ahuna to decorate the graves on sundays and this tutu was one of the graves they would always visit. i still go there whenever i go to take care of my tutu's graves. i'll let my ex-husband know, he was very close to his grandma and his mama and i know he would appreciate seeing this picture too.
i knew the ordenstein family too. they lived right above us on st. louis heights when we were small kids. they moved away and continued on with their mortuary business. haven't seen any of them in a really long time.
e hoomau kakou me ka pono a me ke aloha no na hulu kupuna.
mahalo a nui loa. e malama pono. a hui hou aku no.
me ke aloha,
kamu kala'i