Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 25, Number 8, 1 August 2008 — Haʻikū Valley [ARTICLE]

Haʻikū Valley

A bill that would have established a cultural preserve in Ha'ikū Valley under consolidated management failed last month with Gov. Linda Lingle's veto. But several conununity groups, whieh provided the impetus for OHA to introduce the bill in this year's Legislature, say they have received assurances from the governor's office that Ha'ikū Valley will receive state protection without the bill. "We feel confident we ean work together to address our many eoncerns, such as access for cultural practitioners in the valley and reducing the number of trespassers that have troubled neighboring residents," said Mahealani Cypher, president of the Ko'olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club, one of several groups that contributed to the

Ha'iku Valley Master Plan, a basis for HB 2704. The bill had called for a state connnission to manage Ha'ikū Valley land, including its several heiau and burial grounds. Since most of the land already belongs to the state and county, Lingle has said that existing laws will protect the area. The bill would have also begun a campaign to raise money for converting the abandoned OMEGA navigational station into a cultural center. This may still happen, said Cypher, adding that it will depend on a strong and eontinued collaboration by the state and conununity groups.