KAUA`I LANDOWNER GETS OK TO BUILD HOUSE OVER HAWAIIAN GRAVES

By Associated Press

LIHUE - A landowner on Kauai has received state permission to build his house atop 30 ancient Hawaiian graves.

The approval of Joseph Brescia's 16th draft of his burial treatment plan by the State Historic Preservation Division came this week, after it was rejected by the Kauai/Niihau Island Burial Council.

Division Administrator Pua Aiu said the 16th draft provides "adequate protection" to the burials. She cited concrete caps over a number of them and special vertical buffers for one burial that sits under the spot that will one day be the home's driveway.

The state's decision is opposed by Hawaiian cultural practitioner Puanani Rogers, who called it "outrageous."

Comments

ambermaliah March 26, 2010 at 10:21am

you must find the children on facebook and myspace, they tell each other their greatest and deepest secrets when all seems lost. they live in the world of the 'alae in iran, the americas, europe and asia, yet they keep connected. they cant see everything, nor do some care. before you apply pressure to a cut, you used to ask us with a gentle manner-" what did we (both parents and child) learn, and will we do it again?" but ask this now if we ever have an online petition, "how would you feel, that when you pass, you be forgotten? where would i look if you had the answer? and the clues where buried with your bones?." surely even a genius scientist would know- do not forget about the eastern scholars. learn to write letters to african history, biblical, mormon, hindu, okinawans, veterans, old visitors and those of the past. we should not be prideful to ask for help this time around-this is also part of their history
Puanani Rogers March 14, 2010 at 11:54am

So now the question is, "What are we going to do about this?" Anyone with legal or cultural mana`o re: this hewa, have any ideas? We are pursuing with some actions to protest this approval in any way we can and to overturn it. "Adequate protection" to us does not mean concrete caps or planters over our burials and especially not building a house on and surrounded by na iwi kupuna burials!!!
We need your kokua! We need to hui pu! We need thousands of people to show up when a kahea is made.
This is very distressing and eha to all of us! We cannot let this happen now or ever! Ku`e makou!
evamaria March 13, 2010 at 11:32am

Is there any chance against it?
Sandy March 13, 2010 at 10:54am

It is a disgrace that it is being allowed.
I only wish I could be in Hawaii to protest this
sickening act.
Kaohi March 13, 2010 at 8:44am

Not at all surprise to read the state's decision, it's there way of sticking it to us and as far as I am concern Miss Aiu is setting the rules and the state is confirming her rules. Kaohi