Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 3, Number 6, 1 June 1986 — HCC Affirms Support [ARTICLE]

HCC Affirms Support

The Oahu Council of Hawaiian Civic Clubs at its Apr. 12 meeting voted to support the preservation of the integrated agricultural community of Luluku in Kaneohe and its designation as a "contiguous historic preservation district." The eouneil also favors keeping the area as a state historic preservation site but voted to remain neutral with respect to other aspects of the issue on whether or not Interstate Highway H-3 should be built. Earlier this year the eouneil spoke out against a congressional bill currently pending in Washington whieh would exempt the highway project from the requirements of the so-called "4(f) provisions." Council President H.K. Bruss Keppeler declared that "the bill would tear down the legal barriers set up in the 4(f) provisions by Congress in the first plaee and let the bulldozers destroy Luluku." The H-3 project calls for a major interchange to be eonstructed within the Luluku complex located along Likelike Highway in the banana patches. Keppeler noted that the complex is rare for many reasons. Its ruins, he noted, are extensive, undisturbed and relatively well preserved. There is a variety of sites and the length of the archaeological record is more than ample. This type of district is not found elsewhere in Polynesia or the continental United States. The site's association with the oral literature connected with the sacred spring of Hi'ilaniwai and Kukuiokane is also an important factor. Archaeologically, the proposed H-3 interchange corridor has not been intensively surveyed. The main site at G5-85 was not located by the Bishop Museum's previous surveys simply because the contracted archaeologists were told not to disturb the banana farming area. Gard Kealoha, Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee who spoke at the meeting, said: "We wish to emphasize that we are unalterabiy opposed to any modification of of the Luluku archaeological district that may be caused by any proposed construction form of the H-3 interchange that ignores a thorough and complete study of the entire Luluku district and its immediate environs. OHA stands firm in its commitment to preserve, protect and enhanee its cultural legacies."