HAWAIIANS ANGERED BY BURIAL DESECRATIONS

LIHU`E, O`AHU - Representatives from several Hawaiian organizations are angered over recent US Army disturbance of ʻiwi kupuna (ancestral remains) at Schofield Barracks where a cultural complex has been disturbed by Stryker-related construction.

Once promised by the US military the area would be closed, military construction and training continue to destroy the large expanse of land sacred to native Hawaiians.

"This is Hawaiian land, we all know that the US military has no moral or legal authority over our lands or resources," said Andre Perez of Hui Pu. "Relocating the bones of our ancestors for
warfare training is unacceptable. It is the military who needs to relocate."

Lihu`e was once the ruling center of O`ahu, hosting famous rulers and infamous battles. These sites are part of a complex that laments and praises the history and culture of our ancestors.

The massive amount of cultural properties located in this
area help to paint the picture of the pre-contact land use of ancient Lihu`e.

"The significance and importance of this landscape to Kanaka Maoli is limitless," remarked Leimaile Quitevis, former cultural monitor who documented many of the sites in Lihu`e and a member of the O`ahu Island Burial Council.

Several human bone fragments have been documented throughout the project area.

To date this project has damaged numerous petroglyphs,
desecrated a minimum of two individual’s graves and breached the site protective measures.

"The Army failed to do adequate cultural site investigations and consultations before drawing up and proceeding with its Stryker brigade plans," said Summer Mullins a representative from
Kipuka, one of the three native Hawaiian groups involved in the 2004 litigation against Stryker expansion.

Contact Summer Mullins at (808) 753-4221 for more information.

Just wanted to make some corrections to this . . . "Once promised by the US military the area would be closed, military construction and training continue to destroy the large expanse of land sacred to native Hawaiians." - The area where ʻiwi kupuna were found is the only place that the Army promised to stop construction. This area is still threatened by future training that will take place in Schofield.

and, "Lihu`e was once the ruling center of O`ahu, hosting famous rulers and infamous battles. These sites are part of a complex that laments and praises the history and culture of our ancestors.

The massive amount of cultural properties located in this
area help to paint the picture of the pre-contact land use of ancient Lihu`e." is a direct quote from Leimaile Quitevis.

Mahalo.

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Summer May 30, 2010 at 9:26am

Just wanted to make some corrections to this . . . "Once promised by the US military the area would be closed, military construction and training continue to destroy the large expanse of land sacred to native Hawaiians." - The area where ʻiwi kupuna were found is the only place that the Army promised to stop construction. This area is still threatened by future training that will take place in Schofield.

and, "Lihu`e was once the ruling center of O`ahu, hosting famous rulers and infamous battles. These sites are part of a complex that laments and praises the history and culture of our ancestors.

The massive amount of cultural properties located in this
area help to paint the picture of the pre-contact land use of ancient Lihu`e." is a direct quote from Leimaile Quitevis.

Mahalo.

This reply was deleted.