Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 16, Number 7, 1 July 1999 — "Waiho i Kaea ka iwi o kamahele" [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

"Waiho i Kaea ka iwi o kamahele"

"Waiho i Kaea ka iwi o kamahele" Left in Kaea the bones ofthe traveler." Said of one who dies awayfrom his homeland. — 'ōieio No'eau#2906

WHEN LOOKING for genealogical or geographical references in 'OIelo No 'eau, one may also learn of particular subject references. Uttered as a lament by Kapakuiali'i upon the death of Kihalaninui's daughter away from home, this old saying refers to travel among the islands and treatment of "ka iwi o kamahele." The 'ōlelo above called to mind a recent summit held at Kalihi Kai on O'ahu. On May 27, the burial councils ffom across the pae 'āina Hawai'i nei gathered to exchange experiences, identify the strengths and weaknesses of their respective councils and to meet collectively with people ffom the Office of the Attorney General and the

Department of Land and Natural Resources. The Offīce of Hawaiian Affairs served as host and recorder of this meeting to discuss nā iwi kupuna. Proper treatment of nā iwi kupuna is provided for according to a bill passed by the 1990 state Legislature and signed by the governor, known as Act 360, whieh amended Chapter 6E of the Hawai'i Revised Statutes by providing for procedures for determining the proper treatment of Hawaiian burials; Island Burial Councils whieh decide upon proper treatment of identified burials and inventory of unmarked Hawaiian burial sites; and penalties for violation of the burial law. Strengths identified during the course of the summit included

the personal and collective fortitude that the Island Burial Councils maintain and the cultural rigor of their efforts. Clearly

expressed also was the aloha shared across the pae 'āina 'o Hawai'i nei among those engaged in this work. The Island Burial Councils' interest in raising the standard of their work was expressed in the manner in whieh difficult issues were identified and solutions sought. Some issues identified included those intemal to the councils such as getting quorum. Other issues included interagency relationships and support, such as those between the councils and the Burial Program established within the State Historic Preservation Division of the Department of Land and Natural Resources and those between the councils and the Office the Attomey General. An area of critical eoneem is

the funding and staffing for the DLNR Burials Program. Though mandated by law, the program seems in constant jeopardy given state budget eonstraints. In recent years, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs has kōkua with the state to meet the minimum requirements of this mandate, but a clearly identified and consistent funding source is required to provide confidence and comfort for both the Burials Program staff and the Island Burial Councils members. We began the day noting that, while we cannot legislate morality, our legislation is a reflection of our morality. Act 360, the State Burial Program and Island Burial Councils are just such and are inclusive of ku'u ewe, ku'u piko, ku'u koko a me ku'u iwi. ■

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