My grandmother Christian religious practice was to 'mihi'. Ho'oponopono was grandma's religious practice for she had thirteen children and her first five died in infancy. My mother was suppose to be the sixth. I being the grandchild of my grandparents--grave yards was my playground. I knew how to knock on the doors of the graveyard keepers to announce our coming to care for the graves. I would put flowers on different graves. I would pick ma'ke-man-flowers from grave yards. I did not eat the tangerine oranges, but I ate the crack seeds from the Chinese graves. That was not my only memorable experiences.
As a granddaughter, their was also lots of work to bury the dead. Digging the holes was done by my uncles, and my grandparents presided over the ceremonies. When a coffin is lowered into the graves with two ropes by four people balancing was important or one side could slip out from the rope and fall in head or feet first. Sometimes my uncles would be down in the graves reaching up for the coffin. Another practice that is forgotten is the things that are thrown into the graves. Before I was born Hawaiian money was deemed worthless or treasnous. So, money was thrown into the graves. The silver dollars were the best coins to throw in because it kept the negative contained in or out. That's a bit of the past practice from ancestral worship. Before the New Testiment, I believe. What saddens me is and I know this because I use to kiss the dead bodies in the coffins was that things were put into the coffins like jewlry and other precious things.
Anthroplogist like Dr. Emory Kenneth and his colleagues were grave robbers! The dead bodies buried with ukana is a highly Christine practice (I think). The psuedo scientist knew that Hawaiians in Christian times buried their dead with precious jewelry and money. This question of ownership of the things found belongs to the science community. And the Anthropologist Department at UH Manoa supports this business endeavors.
My experience with Emory goes back to the early 70s and especially during the Bicentennial years--we used to meet at the Iolani Palace to discuss the million dollar received for historical preservation. The money went to restore the Iolani Palace and place on board the 'Haole' version of the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom and her majesty Queen Liliuokalani.
And too, I have long standing with countless discussions over the iwi without permission and under duress. My mother wanted to be buried as a Christian and that was a gift to her siblings and their children childrens. My sister placed her wedding ring in my mothers coffin. I placed pictures. Does any one remember placing valubles into a coffin of a love one? Keep in mind the anthropologist will steal the 'ukana' because that is their objectivity to get rich off of our ancestors. That's their discipline of studies, to collect information and publish and they get to put the things on the black market thereafter. We have no rules and regulations to in place here in Hawaii because of the lack of understanding as to what or why these 'sick' scientist are after. It happened to Alaskans, Native Americans and others.
George Helm was instrumental in stopping this phenomenon of putting our bones on display in the Bishop Museum. Need to familiarize oneself with this contention of George Helm and note how PKO screwed up along the way--specifically Collete Machado!
There is much to say about the past on disinturment and its crack-ka-asshole corporation OHA, union labor dispute, and grave rubbing allowed by Hale o na Alii o Hawaii., Halau o Wahiikaahuula Ahahui Poo 1918-1958. Note this organization was formed a year after Lilu had passed.
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The battles are on and one need to be cognizant in ones battles. The old guard of the Office Of Hawaiian 'Lulu Bell club was founded with the first candidates for OHA.
One needs to understand that we are wasting away at the core (heart) of our people. But, ones career is far more important than responsibility to our people. Being popular among the military is also a 'Lulu Bell Club' agenda. I never agreed with the military from the onset of their Bravo nuclear testing on Pacific Islanders. And did not agree, unlike the Lulu Bell Club of OHA to bombing in Makua just so long they don't disturb 14 areas of Makua. This is old stuff, same with the consent degree which infact, PKO voted against and Colette Machado voted for. I know cause I was there to here this coming down by both Colette in Molokai and Richard Kinney in Nanakuli the master of the 'Lulu Bell Club!
You go do it! No you do it!
Colette Machado, enough is enough
Colette Machado is known for being a bulldog when it comes to fighting for Hawaiian rights. Whether it is alongside activists halting cruise ships from visiting Molokai, or tenaciously acquiring grants and other resources for the community, Colette Machado has proven herself an effective leader.
Her seats, as trustee for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA), President of the newly formed Molokai Land Trust, and board member on the Molokai Enterprise Community (EC) demonstrate her determined spirit and commitment to leadership.
But anyone who has fought alongside, or, heaven forbid, fought against Colette Machado, knows that her style of communication can sometimes be characterized as loud, outspoken and, in many cases, rude. Colette Machado’s blunt nature, though sometimes effective in argumentative situations, can be one of her greatest weaknesses, especially when her position requires her to represent the wishes of others.
At a recent Molokai Enterprise Community (EC) meeting, she proclaimed that she “would never” change her mind about her support of the La`au Point development, and that it didn’t matter what other people said or wanted.
In that single moment, Colette Machado went from being less of a community leader to more of a tyrannical ruler.
Of the community members at the meeting, some were noticeably angered by the statement, while many others remained indignantly silent, swearing to one day get even.
That day came on January 31 when almost 1,300 Molokai citizens came out to vote at the EC election. Machado suffered a severe loss, garnering just 29% of the overall vote – that’s 10% lower than President Bush’s approval rating.
It’s notable that the EC election attracted more voters than all Molokai precincts combined on general election day in 2006.
But the story doesn’t end here. EC board member, Zhantel Dudoit resigned on the same day of the EC election; while former EC board member, Walter Ritte, had been removed from the board months earlier for non-participation. Their absences left two additional open seats on the EC board.
Like trump cards, EC administrators purposely withheld these two seats from the election process citing timing as well as the organization’s right to appoint 45% of its board members.
At last Thursday’s highly controversial EC board meeting, pro-development board members made their move. In a 5-4 vote Colette Machado was reappointed. She’s baa-ack!
While EC Executive Director Abbey Mayer can argue “continuity” for bringing Machado back, her very presence at EC board meetings incites frustration and discontent amongst the same public which voted her out.
Colette Machado should be praised for her impressive track record of empowering Molokai people, and she should continue to do so through the Molokai Land Trust and as OHA trustee. But when it comes to representing the people of Molokai through the EC, Machado should concede to EC election results and either support the community’s non-development standpoint, or graciously decline her seat on the EC board. The people have spoken – enough is enough.