Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 11, Number 4, 1 April 1994 — Kāʻai belong home in Waipiʻo Valley [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Kāʻai belong home in Waipiʻo Valley

by Moanike'ala Akaka Trustee, Hawai'i Like you, I have pondered the recent disappearance of the kā'ai of Līloa and Lonoikamakahiki

from the Bishop Museum. Līloa, a just and kind chief, lived in Waipi'o Valley, Hāmākua, Hawai'i, 600 years or 21 generations ago; Lonoikamakahiki was his great-grandson. Today, many Hawaiians descend from these two high ali'i, including my own 'ohana. For over five years I have

beseeched my fellow trustees that both kā'ai should be returned to Waipi'o. Yet plans continued to build a repository at Mauna 'Ala on O'ahu. Among those Hawaiians asking that both kā'ai be taken home to Waipi'o was Reynolds Kamakawiwo'ole, Honoka'a polieeman and president of Hāmākua Hawaiian Civic Club, who recently visited the Native Hawaiian Historic Preservation Council (advisors to OHA) with this request. These requests were ignored. When the museum discovered the disappearance of the kā'ai Feb. 24 following an anonymous telephone eall stating that "Chief Līloa is home," many Hawaiians expressed mixed thoughts and emotions about this. Some feel that if the descendants of Līloa took the kā'ai to bury them at Waipi'o, it is their right. Others

eall for the retuxn of the kā'ai to Bishop Museum. I feel the kā'ai should receive a proper burial in a safe location in Waipi'o. Kupuna Loke

KamakahikiRice, who lives above Waipi'o, and Papa Henry Auwae, a H a w a i ' i island member of the committee designated to deal with this

issues, agree. Many people of this island feel the theft really occurred in 1858 when Kamehameha IV, Alexander Liholiho, ordered the kā'ai removed from Hawai'i to the mausoleum at Pohukaina (grounds of 'Iolani Palaee). Liholiho's own father Kekūanaoa warned it was a wrong move. Since 1858, conditions have worsened for the Hawaiian people and nation. Bishop Museum took these caskets on a "temporary" basis, now over 70 years. In 1957 scientists X-rayed the kā'ai and removed some contents through a hole in the bottom of one. What right did Bishop Museum have to separate the casket's contents? How dare the museum disturb the mana and spirituality of this sacred object and allow its contents to remain separated from the iwi all these years! It is the museum that was

sacrilegious and kāpulu in its actions. Abigail Kekaulike Kawananakoa now claims the kā'ai belong to her and not the Hawaiian people, according to her attorneys. Ironically she uses the legal system of the country that overthrew our Hawaiian nation to assert her elaim, instead of working it out among Hawaiians. These sacred pieces belong to all Hawaiians, not any one person or 'ohana; however, I feel the kā'ai should be taken into consideration. May they properly rest in

peaee at home in Waipi'o. If those responsible for the disappearance had good intentions, there should be no prosecution. Some feel, no prosecution only if the kā'ai are returned to the Bishop Museum; yet others feel if the kā'ai were taken by descendants of Līloa and buried pono, all is well. However, if not taken by descendants and/or handled improperly, it is "hewa," a wrong — and will bring harm to participants and 'ohana. We Hawaiians must work this out — our ancestors want nothing less!

I wish the fervor and eoneem shown for our sacred kā'ai could also be focused toward uniting and resolving the pilikia of Hawaiians living today. The return of Līloa and Lonoikamakahiki to Waipi'o may spiritually heal and unite a fragmented nation that has been in turmoil and upheaval since the kā'ai left the island in 1858. We must do what is pono. Mālama pono. Ua mau ke ea o ka 'āina i ka pono.