Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 22, Number 10, 1 October 2005 — Honoring ancestors and āina at Kūkaniloko [ARTICLE]

Honoring ancestors and āina at Kūkaniloko

by Manu būyd Public lnfūrmatiūn Directūr In an unprecedented convoy to Kūkaniloko in solidarity with efforts to protect eultural sites, more than 200 supporters of Hawaiian rights gathered at the central O'ahu wahi pana (storied plaee) on Sept. 4 to honor ancestors and 'āina. Under the banner of "Kū i ka Pono" (stand up for justice), the 'īlio'ulaokalani Coalition and numerous organizations and individuals bore the heat of "kau ka lā i ka lolo" (when the sun is directly overhead) and descended from 'Ukaniko'o Park in Wahiawā to the sacred birthing spot of our royal ancestors for the presentation of ho 'okupu - tributes of oli, hula and lei. According to the event's organizer, 'īlio 'ulaokalani Coalition President Vicky HoltTakamine, the focus of this year's event was to express opposition to the Stryker Brigade

and continued military expansion in Hawai'i. "We've had our marches in Waiklkī already. So this year, we wanted to go to a plaee that was and is important to Hawaiians, not in a big puhlie display, but on a more spiritual level," said Takamine. "For some, Kūkaniloko is a tourist attraction, a novelty. But for Hawaiians, it is a profound reminder of the mana of our ancestors." As the crowd entered the Kūkaniloko eomplex, an 'awa ceremony was conducted in whieh coimnunity leaders and kumu sat with the kahu (caretakers) of Kūkaniloko making introductions and sharing genealogies. When the 'awa was complete, oli and hula were perfonned as ho 'okupu to what is considered to be the piko, or spiritual center, of O'ahu. As a backdrop to the ceremony, though miles off in the distance at the base of Mount Ka'ala, stands Llhu'e, a prominent pu'u (hill)

in Hawaiian lore. Completely stripped of its onee lush foliage, Līhu'e glows red with scarred earth due to destructive military operations at Schofield. "Seeing the hewa (offensive act) at Līhu'e from a distance because of military bombing and shelling was painful - a painful reality of what is happening to our 'āina and our cultural sites," Takamine said. "Just because we don't go to these sites often doesn't make them any less significant and sacred. We need to constantly educate our community and make a stand because Hawaiians are a small percentage of Hawai'i's broader population, with a growing number of settlers who don't have a elue or any connection whatsoever to our kulāiwi (ancient homeland)." Onee home to an ancient line of O'ahu ali'i called "Lō," the plaee name "Līhu'e," as with the district on Kaua'i, means "chilly." "I thought this year's Kū i ka Pono event went well in bringing awareness that the Stryker Brigade will severely impact important Hawaiian cultural sites. The military controls 25 percent of the island of O'ahu, and while the military does help to protect some areas, it desecrates others," Takamine said. "This is all about preserving Hawai'i, our kulāiwi." E3

Airport Lands Case 1 996 - U.S Department of Transportation's lnspector General finds that about $30 million in ceded land payments to OHA from airport revenues does not comply with federal law. 1997 - federal "Forgiveness Act" is passed, exempting state from having to repay to federal government $28 million in airport funds it had transferred to OHA. But the act also affirms that OHA ean no longer receive airport funds. Sen. Dan lnouye says while urging passage of the act: "The airports continue to sit on ceded lands. The state's obligation to compensate OHA for use of the land ... should also continue. The only difference would now be the source the state will draw upon to satisfy its obligation." 2001 - Hawai'i Supreme Court invalidates a 1 990 law, Act 304, whieh defined what public land trust revenues OHA was entitled to. As a result, Gov. Ben Cayetano stops all payments to OHA. Gov. Linda Lingle subsequently restores payments in 2003, and OHA now receives an average of $9.5 million per year in land trust revenues. 2002 - present - OHA repeatedly introduces ceded lands bills in the state Legislature, but lawmakers fail to act. July 2003 - OHA files suit to recover an estimated $150 million to $300 million from the state, whieh the agency said it had missed out on because the state did not do enough to prevent the 1 997 Forgiveness Act or challenge the 1 996 federal memo barring airport payments to OHA December 2003 - Circuit Court Judge Gary Chan dismisses OHA's suit, saying "there is no question that the Supreme Court (has) made a determination that the dispute should go back to the legislature for redefinition of what constitutes revenues .... So we still eome back to the political arena as being the arena in whieh this debate should take plaee." September 2005 - Hawai'i Supreme Court affirms dismissal of the case and the lower court's conclusion that the Legislature must resolve ceded lands issues.

MĀLAMA 'ĀINA • CARING FDR ĪHE LANŪ