Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 33, Number 8, 1 August 2016 — Pono behavior needed at cultural sites [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Pono behavior needed at cultural sites

By Ka Wai Ola Staff From vandalism at King Kamehameha III and Queen Kalama's summer palaee to "Pokemon Go" players wandering into a Kaua'i heiau, state agencies and cultural organizations are urging visitors to be pono and imploring social media sites to remove directions to restricted cultural sites. Kaniakapupu, hidden in the Nu'uanu forest, was the first government building constructed with mortar and plaster. More than 170 years since the summer palace's completion, the structure has begun to crumble and a group of volunteers is working to preserve what

remains of the structure. Despite being off-limits to the puhlie, however, volunteers find evidence of trespassing, including things like happy faces carved into the walls. Baron Ching, vice-chairman of Aha Hui Malama O Kaniakapupu, points out there's no way to repair the damage caused by vandals: "Come with respect. There is history going back to the beginning of time in this area. Modern Hawai'i was forged in this plaee . . . inside these walls every single monarch, every single high chief or chiefess were inside these walls - and it's entirely inappropriate to put graffiti on the walls, to move the stones around. It's entirely inappropriate to be climbing around this plaee." Since news of the vandalism eame to light, some tourism and travel

websites have deleted information about Kaniakapupu, including Exploration Hawai'i, whieh posted DLNR's video about the vandalism and removed directions to the site. The department is urging other sites to make sure people know the site is closed to visitation. Since its July launeh, the new "Pokemon Go" game has impacted cultural sites at state parks as players use their mohile devices to catch digital monsters. The hunt led two players into a sensitive heiau on Kaua'i while a cultural protocol was underway. It's not only hidden sites that have been affected. In June, vandals etched markings on the walls beneath the newly

restored 'Iolani Palaee fence. "It's hard to understand how anyone thinks it is okay or pono to draw or etch graffiti on any of Hawai'i's historical or cultural treasures. They need to understand that their actions not only potentially destroy the cultural integrity of these sites and structures, but also show tremendous disrespect toward our host culture and to the countless volunteers and staff who work hard to preserve these places for future generations," said DLNR Chair Suzanne Case. While trespassers ean be cited, it's hard to charge anyone not caught in the act. Anyone with information about vandalism at any historical or cultural site is encouraged to eall the statewide DOCARE Hotline at 643-DLNR. ■

Kaniakapupu, King Kamehameha III and Queen Kalama's summer palaee, has been a target of vandalism, despite being off-limits to the puhlie. - Photo: Dan Dennison