Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 7, Number 12, 1 December 1990 — The lava victims of Kalapana need your kokua [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The lava victims of Kalapana need your kokua

by Moanikeala Akaka Trustee, Hawai'i

Pele for the last almost eight years has been showing her presence in Puna. We have watched her travels in awe; she has given birth to new 'aina and beaches and has destroyed all in her path, including many homes

and our mueh beloved Kalapana and Kaimu. Pele in her primal dualism now meanders up the coastline towards Opihikao. Homes of many people in the Kalapana area have been destroyed and our profound sympathies go to all those families who were forced to flee the area. Last spring Governor Waihe'e set up a Kalapana Task Force to deal withthe relocation of these displaced families, including more than 50 native Hawaiian families from the Kalapana area.

The Iask rorce has recommended the residents from this area be moved to Keoni Poko Nui near Kahakai Boulevard several miles on the other side of Pahoa. However, the Kalapana Hawaiians have told Gov. Waihe'e they want to remain near Kalapana (at Kikala-Keokea ceded lands a few miles above Kaimu), near the area where their family roots go back for generations and generations. These 'ohana want to maintain their special subsistence

gathering and fishing rights at Volcano National Park whieh were granted because many of their 'ohana were moved to make way for the park. They will not be able to maintain these rights from where the task force is planning to relocate them. It is understandable these families feel the necessity to be as close as possible to their 'aina pulapula. It is like their piko (umhilieal cord), the aka — their connection to ancestors and home 'aina. 1 intend, in every conceivable way, to help these families relocate as close to home as possible.

These natives are requesting an acre of land for eaeh of the dispossessed families at Kikala-Keokea and do not want the Governor's Task Force to decide where they will move. They feel as Hawaiians they should be getting kokua from Hawaiian agencies like OHA, and I agree. Last June at our OHA Board meeting in Hilo, I pointed out the necessity of our office and this trustee getting involved to help our constituents. Our admini-

strator Kichard Paghnawan referred to the task force (whieh OHA was not a part of), saying our office would be contacted when necessary. Robert Keli'iho'omalu, spokesperson for the Hawaiian lava refugees, has inquired why this OHA Trustee for Hawai'i island was not named to the task force what with so many of our constituents affected. The Kalapana natives would also like kokua with self-help housing at Kikala-Keokea as this is already going to be provided by the Task Force for

the other lava victims. According to Keli'iho'omalu, his people want the state and OHA to work together on this relocation effort. At our budget hearing held in Hilo on Oct 24, he presented our chairman Kaulukukui with their request and was applauded by the more than 50 Hawaiians in attendance. Their plight was a!so mentioned by the community at budget hearings held in Kona and Maui. This could possibly be a part of the Native Entitlements package we trustees have been negotiating with the state these past few years.

These ohana, I ve been told, are so determined to be relocated in this area that they will, if necessary, move onto and occupy that 'aina if the state does not give them a positive response to their relocation request. They will risk arrest if necessary! Why must we natives be put in that position in order to point out our plight. Shameful! When the governor met with Kalapana Hawaiian residents before the election, Waihe'e told Keli'iho'omalu he could understand these po'e wanting to be close to their home 'aina.

Now that he has been re-elected we hope our Hawaiian governor will help make this relocation for the Kalapana Hawaiians a reality soon. The newspapers have referred to him as the activist governor. Well these Hawaiians from Kalapana need action now! Please contact OHA offices and the governor's office and lend support to our Kalapana Hawaiians in need of your kokua. Malama pono, Ua mau ke ea o ka 'aina i ka pono.