Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 2, Number 12, 1 December 1985 — Committee Seeks H-3 Survey Copies [ARTICLE]

Committee Seeks H-3 Survey Copies

Objections to release of an archaeological survey of Hawaiian agriculture terraces in the way of the proposed H 3 Freeway has drawn the ire of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs' Culture/Education Committee and the Society for Hawaiian Archaeology. The two organizations on Nov. 14 issued their own requests for copies of the survey whieh was done by the Bishop Museum on contract to the Federal Highway Administration. Neither group, however, took a stand on the eontroversial trans-Koolau freeway. Hiroshi Kusumoto, FHA Hawaii division administrator, is at the center of the controversy. He refused to release the archaeological survey. According to reports, Kusumotowas reluctant to release the survey because of a federal law protecting archaeological sites from vandalism. "We take the position that government should remain open and accountable and that the information paid for by public taxes should not be withheld in the guise of knowing what is best for native Hawaiians or any other people," the OHA committee said in a press release. "Withholding pertinent and important information from the public right to know clouds public trust in our public leadership," the committee further noted. "There are several existing studies made on the areas impacted by the proposed freeway that clearly list native Hawaiian resources seriously threatened," the committee added. In a later development on Nov. 15, U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye released the survey, saying he "saw no reason why the public should not have access to the information." The report confirms that two of 17 ancient Hawaiian taro terraces whieh are in the path of the proposed H-3 Freeway are "significant" enough to be preserved. One of the sites "constitute the most extensive early (mid12th century) wetland agricultural complex known on the island of Oahu and contains a strategraphic sequence reflecting a long period of continued use and development."