Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 1, Number 2, 1 September 1981 — Archaeologists Under Fire [ARTICLE]

Archaeologists Under Fire

^ By Trustee Walter Ritte

IX controversial condominium project proposed by Kalua Koi Corporation, a subdivision of Louisiana Land Company, and the work done by the Archaeological Research Center Hawaii (ARCH) for Kalua Koi has angered Moloka'i residents. Dr. H. Hammett of ARCH, was contracted to perform excavation of the Kawākui Nui area. The quality of his work has eome under fire by Paul Cleghorn, Dr. P. Kirch and Dr. Rob Hommon of the Society for Hawaiian Archaeology (SHA). SHA concluded the following after they performed an independent study of the area: "Based upon our detailed review of the ARCH archaeological reports, combined with two on-site field inspections, we ean only conclude: 1. that the archaeological survey performed by ARCH was incomplete, and therefore inadequate, a) since at least 5 sites were missed, including a midden deposit with excavation potential, and at least one human burial site, and b) since no subsurface testing was done to locate buried sites; 2. that the ARCH excavations were lacking in professional quality and rigor, as evidenced from example by the errors in site plans and sections, in the discard of lithic artifacts and hammer-stones, and in the laek of an overt research design and rationale." The work done at Kawākui Nui was not the first time ARCH has created eoneem in the archaeological community. Archaeologist Patricia Beggerly questioned two projects done earlier: one on

August 20, 1980 at the Keāhole Agriculture Park and the other on May 2, 1980 at Komohana Kai Subdivision. In addition, ARCH's project at Kalaeloa (Barber's Point) eame under fire by Dr. Bertell, UH Department of Anthropology; Dr. Paul Rosendahl,Chief Engineering Division, Department of the Army; Dr. P.V. Kirch, Bishop Museum Anthropology Department; Dr. Rob Hommon, SHA; Susumo Ono, DLNR, State of Hawaii; and Garland S. Gordon, U.S. Department of Interior. These projects have caused serious eoneem at OHA in the treatment of our historic sites by these "contract archaeologists." The Culture Committee has thus written a letter to Susumo Ono, Chairman of the DLNR Board and Ralston Nagata of the State Historic Preservation Office recommending the following: • Certification of the professional qualifications of private archaeological firms that do business in Hawaii. • Standards whieh would regulate the quality of excavation and restoration of archaeological sites. • Procedures by whieh complaints concerning the work of such private firms may be processed from investigation to resolution. The Committee will also be proposing legislative action to ensure the protection of our vulnerable, cultural and historical resources. We need to take extreme care in not losing these non-renewable resources, because onee they're lost, they're lost forever.