Posted by Donna Burns on October 19, 2009 at 6:19pm
To: EditorFrom: Moana Roy KumaSubject: Denied AccessIn reference to an articicle in the October 16th issue of the West Hawaii Today, I was very concerened to read that beach access has been denied to the area of Kailua now referred to as Kona Bay Estates, even if it is during only "certain" hours. To those of us who are from Kona we call this area and the area surrounding it Kukailimoku Pt., Maka'eo Bay, Lua'ehu Pt., Na puka a Ehu , and closer to the south Kamakahonu , all sacred sites to say the least.For centuries this area has been a healthy gathering site for local hawaiian foods such as A'ama, Opihi, Kupe'e, etc. Restricting or denying access to coastal area is that "inch" at the beginning of eventually taking the proverbial "mile". The need to access the coast is being eliminated by Macdonalds, Taco Bell, L& L, etc. People like to get their food quickly and with "no hassle" so they no longer practice ways of the past. Now to have to request entry to obtain these local delicacies, I find it a travesty. If the residents of Kona Bay Estates have an issue with party goers and unlawful activity taking place as your article suggests, then they need to call the police to handle this. Not to be able to "restrict" the comings and "goings" of local residents exercising their gathering rights.Of course meetings are held when we are busy working and providing an income for our famlies, as it is important to note that the majority of the residents owning homes at Kona Bay are non residents.How could this effect them? So there is a price to being wealthy, so pay it residents of Kailua Bay Estates, do not suggest that we and the future generations pay for it.Mahalo,Moana Kuma
What happened to Kona's CDP? Did you contact ;your council person? Our CDP clearly states that we have a say on developments that want to impede upon or compromise our cultural and gathering rights. Irregardless of any meetings the Kona CDP should have addressed issues like this even if not specific. So sad when this happens.
Kaohi,
I was just talking to someone today about the timing of "the Barbarian Princess" which misrepresnts our true history, the continue digging up and removal of our 'iwi, the "take over" by the Feds/DLNR of our sacred/cultural/historic sites, cutting us off every which way...and then telling us we don't have enough Hawaiian blood to challenge the so-called Ceded Lands case (Jon Osorio). If there is a testiment to our strength as a people it is that we are still here, we are still fighting, we are of this 'aina...and willing to take 'em on. I'd like to see any other people deal with this...every day/all day, year after year.
They PUT us in a box (a no-win situation) and then judge us for being in the box. Sick, sick people.
aloha Donna, thanks for this reading, I will reread again. Not surprise that the gathering rights issues are surfacing again, I believe we need a gathering of some sorts to understand why it's important to raise our own food. Kaohi
Comments
I was just talking to someone today about the timing of "the Barbarian Princess" which misrepresnts our true history, the continue digging up and removal of our 'iwi, the "take over" by the Feds/DLNR of our sacred/cultural/historic sites, cutting us off every which way...and then telling us we don't have enough Hawaiian blood to challenge the so-called Ceded Lands case (Jon Osorio). If there is a testiment to our strength as a people it is that we are still here, we are still fighting, we are of this 'aina...and willing to take 'em on. I'd like to see any other people deal with this...every day/all day, year after year.
They PUT us in a box (a no-win situation) and then judge us for being in the box. Sick, sick people.
Donna