My heart.......sore. Got some chicken skin too. The chicken skin I got was iwi kupuna feeling the love and care in the moment of protection by those there. Maika'i, maika'i, maika'i. Such sadness yet strength I felt looking at the markers at that gravesite.DNLR has to be challenged in their burial council laws created. Leave iwi alone, a burial council statewide should just inventory a site and not do or say anything except, "Thank you for the information," and just move on. If real estate brokers/agents, attorneys, developers, etc. continue to sell unclear titles, they along with title search companies should bear the burden of cost and liability for the occupants of the sale if the buyer was not disclosed what should be a search of at least 150 years minimum. This will only stall the process, be costly or bankrupt those in greed and yet continue in the violation of our culture but hey, we have TIME. TIME is all we have on our side at the moment. TIME IS WAIT, WAIT IS ALL WE HAVE FOR THE MOMENT UNTIL EVERYTHING IS RIGHT SIDE UP.We as koko should not bear the trauma of this happening day in and day out as long as a for sale sign is put up by those who know nothing of the land. Sure Kanaka Maoli will say "forget it just get off the land and go away" but REMEMBER, it does not go away the trauma to ourselves continue day in & day out, day in & day out. How much tolerance do we have? When iwi is exposed or moved it is "NO GOOD". No good comes out of it except UNREST.Maybe I should file a claim of pain and suffering against the State of Hawaii for all they do in their laws. Maybe we should file a class action lawsuit against the State of Hawaii for putting us through "their protocols", their decisions they make on our lands concerning our rights culturally. They should not dictate our lives on where we are to live, how we are to live as long as we don't hurt ourselves and our neighbors and we do things for the good of all concerned not in harm of anything or anyone.You know, we need laws put into place in protection of workers who are koko and do construction on a site which should not be touched. This way koko can tell their employer, "I'm claiming a waiver as koko to step off this equipment and be in respect of my hawaiian values and culture." A law that under state employment rulings would protect koko from losing his/her job by compromising something that can cause them pain and suffering.Anyone ever think of this?Why should koko who need to feed his family make a bad decision to compromise his native values for you know he/she will pay the consequences for his actions. "You no fool around wit da kine stuff." is what our kupuna in Kohala would say. Those who have heard this saying know what I mean. This kind of saying also puts you in your place. Compromise is costly in the most obvious of circumstances. How long can we tolerate?!
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http://www.hi.sierraclub.org/kealakekua/newsrelease.htmI think of Hokulia and what happened there. When the project first opened up the road I was taken to this place before it was ever named and before the flood rooted the iwi. My friend took me there to get a first glimpse at the development - he was there to do a bid on the project. I didn't feel comfortable as you could feel energy of eyes on you being watched in your every movement in your body. But the eyes knew it wasn't planned for me to be there. I was on an off the beaten path, not planned but a side trip because we were passing the area off the main road and my friend decided to tell me of this bid he was asked to do on this project - my haole friend had no clue of what was there and I wasn't provided information of the land. My friend never did put in a bid for some reason and till this day I am glad he didn't and he may be retired by now.It was 2 years ago that Hokulia was heavy on my heart and by chance, at Queen K. Chevron, I met up with a DLNR officer in Kona who said he was overseeing things as they continue to orchestrate. In fact he was a cousin to my brother-in-law for they shared the same surname. I didn't know quite what he meant by overseeing - was it for DLNR or for the family?.At first I was saddened to assume they were okay with what was done there. I asked of his family ties and he said that his cousin from Maui had a hard time going down the area. I told him it was because of the blood in that area and how the Koko 'ohana originated their name from that area. He was in uniform and preoccupied and didn't grasp what I could tell him. Because it seemed in spirit he wasn't open I felt it wasn't the timing for someone responsible for the site to hear the story but I gave him my business card - maybe to be of use for his cousin one day. If this person is on Maoliworld and you are reading this or if someone tells you I am here through the coconut wireless, I am here to share the story of the Koko family and how your name originated from Hokulia.Anyway about a year ago my husband met up with someone to do business and after almost 8 months I got to meet this person face to face.. Lo and behold it was the son of the person who first took the bulldozer to the area. I was shocked to hear, as koko he was involved in it. Then he told me he built the stone wall around the area. I was frozen in my place hearing him tell of the adventure. As he was telling me of the project I realized he didn't KNOW of the place and it's sacredness. I don't judge what he did for it isn't my place and it isn't in my district nor my consequences. I was just there to listen because Hokulia was heavy on my heart.He started telling me stories about the odd things that would happen there while they were moving the earth. When they sat to have lunch large stones would fly through the air in their path from behind them. At first they thought someone was playing with them. I thought, "Oh yeah someone is and they ain't alive in the flesh". Then of a tree that was still supposedly still standing there - when you go near it you get "chicken skin" or just an ill feeling.For me, it was nice to hear that those that died in that area were trying to communicate to those alive they were not happy with what was being done. But why give them the unrest? That was the eyes I was feeling, it was warriors from the past, their iwi now uprooted from a rainout causing flood which brought a red dirt land slide and a front page picture in West HI today that was just plain horrible - picture of the uprooted iwi - I saw people first as the numerous skulls OMG numerous it made me so heavy in my heart to see it be unearthed.This kind of thing happens more that just Hokulia and other projects we hear about in the papers. We must protect 'aina and iwi.
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About a little over a week now, I received the final bill from NHLC on the PAO'O case now closed. If I can recall, I believe it was either 420 or 470 hours of legal fees; include copies, faxes, phone calls; not included but provided: expert witnesses flown from Oahu others traveled from across our island driving, mainland witnesses by phone, meals, lodging, mapping and surveying the property all for a weeks worth of testimonies, etc etc, it was exhausting yet so exhilarating.We didn't get exposure in the local paper and maybe it's because of the big guns we went up against? Media propaganda? Politics? LOL.If you hadn't heard, the owner of the property decided to get a better attorney by the time we went to our hearings - KS Trustee Dougas Ing. Of course, Mr. Ing probably didn't see the information of request from the owner when this case went through his office. If he knew I don't believe he would have taken the case. At least this is my thinking, I'm giving him the better of the doubt because PAO'O is such a sensitive land issue. So sensitive that when I was cross examined, Mr. Ing questioned the value of the property on level of spirit. You know, the ".....if in fact, this place is __________, isn't it protocol to ________?" I said, you are correct but this place is very special and unlike what is the norm, in fact I have all this information (about an inch and a half of documents) to tell you about this place so if you ask I can tell you, but only if you ask, this is why I am here today because it isn't right, NO GOOD....." Mr. Ing understood and of course he didn't want to ask before eebee jeebee chiken skin kine stuff. So, because of this line of questioning and my answer back, And because this is OLD land OLD culture OLD history and not the norm he didn't dare ask. I know he knew what I meant and this was probably an awakening to his na'au, his koko and my mana'o to share because it was to PROTECT THIS LAND AND OTHERS.I hugged Mr. Ing during this week long testimony because in my opinion, he had the hardest job. The job of not knowing the whole story about the case because he came aboard at the very end. He wasn't there in the beginning when the crooked one was in action - at least he thought he was, he mustn't have been THAT good to be replaced by Mr. Ing's Firm.Our testimonies were wicked man, so right on and I wish more koko were there to see all this unfold. Did we win? I think we did on some level. We really wanted a final ruling but because the owner withdrew without prejudice with the option to file again he was scared on some level maybe or maybe he will wait to justify his development due to new development occurring close by.In any event, the land is safe for now and we kept it safe for all this time. Maybe we will need to regroup when the owner decides to take another stab at it. Maybe he will listen to me and build elsewhere for the sake of his family and their wellbeing. Maybe they don't care I don't know. But I do know that the permit is not happening now and the owner spent BUCKS on the fight till the end. If we had the ruling, we all believed it would have been awesome at least this being our hope differed thinking.So now the next project on the agenda is MAHUKONA....whew, like we all need a vacation after this case. But MAHUKONA is next. We have to set Surety Kohala straight on their a**. We start to the point in facts with a nice but firm letters to the county planning director - we haven't found out yet if the county let the permits expireMy daughter's pa'ina to celebrate her graduaton from KS is this month for it's 1:13am...SMILE. We're celebrating with 300 guests at MAHUKONA. The pavillion can hold only 64, I couldn't reserve all the camping permits to get the entire grounds if I did then I wouldn't have a valid excuse to not invite others who I would love to be there in attendance. So hard to plan a pa'ina when you have to cut your list down yeah? For you koko out there, who like to party you know what I mean...SMILE.So I was thinking this week and I had to TELL my daughter my plans for part of the decoration. She agreed and then LOL about her party being political....LOL. I told her that it was appropriate to do this because of Ephesians 1:3 and the land itself said to belong to Princes Ruth Ke'elikolani. So, I'm providing information about Princess Ruth from what PBS portrayed, Star Bulletin wrote an article. Why trust it? Because then it wouldn't feel so political for I have friends too that can't make up their mind on soverignty issues. I'm not there to offend them, I want them to have a good time, but they should know history of what was then and what is now. I decided to provide information on:1). The clouded title issue 2). Our Princess of the past 3). What Surety Kohala is doing to the landAnd because it will be hot there I will have all this information under a folding hand fan along with other decorations, I wonder if the information will have people talking about how important MAHUKONA is, or maybe they will just sit quiet and not say anything because it's a sensitive issue? Whatever the outcome it is something I feel the need to do in respect of 'Aina.The grounds of the pa'ina will look over the harbor point where the Navigational Heiau is - the crane and dozers were there when my daughter and I went down to check out the grounds again before completing our list of to do things. It saddens me when land owners with clouded titles don't truly do the right thing. They'll pay...heard some rumors that they don't have money or they are looking for investors who thought the project to be pono but could have found out it truly isn't.So, with all the kids going back to school it's hectic around my house. I'm going to picture all 2300+ people on this list and their extended families at my pa'ina - envision we all walking to the Navigational Heiau to pay respect and see how awesome this place is - to know we care what happens down there to give our energy, feel the energy to have the land fight back in all her honor....EXHALE...I have some ideas of what I would like to see happen if my colleagues and I are not able to stop Surety Kohala and their mischeivious deeds and politics but what I see is just entertaining thoughts for now in my head. Protecting Land of Old is not easy these days but we forge ahead and try....it's the "umph" we have to all go through to have that TRIUMPHANT moment.Cherish the ground you walk on today, the same ground some of you may be sleeping on or the home that is placed on it. We wash our feet and body from what she leaves on us each day for she is with us always protecting us through the night in allowing us to lay down our heads. The way she cradles us, the way she cares for us in food and water, the greenery she projects to give us oxygen to breathe. With all that 'Aina gives to us daily, we must stand at her side to protect her for it is only the right thing to do.
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We opened up the Star-Bulletin on Sunday, and there in the Gathering Place section was long-time NWHI advocate Uncle Buzzy, calling for a renewed public commitment to a true pu`uhonua -- a 'forever sanctuary' -- in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Ho‘omaika‘i ia Uncle Buzzy!Excerpts from his editorial:In 2005, the state of Hawaii finally embraced what native Hawaiians have known for generations: the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands are a delicate, sacred ecosystem that must be respected. The state took a visionary step forward establishing the first state marine refuge in the NWHI and requiring that human activity there "do no harm" to this fragile ecosystem. In 2006, the federal government followed suit, establishing the Papahanaumokuakea National Marine Monument. These protected areas rely on permits to control the human footprint up there.But today more and more people are going to the NWHI for research, education, even sightseeing. Any time you set something off limits, people want to go there; this is the irony of our success in establishing protections for the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Already this year, permits have been granted to allow unlimited numbers of people to go to the NWHI to do any kind of dredging, discharging and taking, even recreational fishing. Researchers have violated their permits and we have seen little will for enforcement. This is wrong. We must change our attitude about this place entirely -- there should be no human footprint there.Millions of dollars have been set aside by the federal government, and with good intentions. But money is a magnet for people. They see the money and their first question is, "What can I propose to do up there?" A scientist will say to the Hawaiian fisher, "Take only what you need," but in his research practice he doesn't heed his own advice. This is not why the people of Hawaii and the world fought so hard to protect this place.The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands is a place of great hope for the future of the resources in our oceans, and it is for this reason that we set it aside. Let us honor the commitment we made to protect this fragile place as a true pu`uhonua.
Uncle Louis "Buzzy" Agard, is a founding Board Member of KAHEA and a revered kupuna (elder) who lived and fished in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) for many years. In 2001, he was honored by President Clinton at the establishment of the NWHI Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve. Today, Uncle Buzzy still serves on the citizen advisory council (RAC) for the Reserve and remains a staunch advocate for the strongest possible protections in the NWHI.You can see the full letter at: http://starbulletin.com/2008/03/02/editorial/commentary.htmlFrom KAHEA blog at http://blog.kahea.orgRead more…
