Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 34, Number 4, 1 April 2017 — Descendants of Hewahewa celebrate ʻiwi protection [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Descendants of Hewahewa celebrate ʻiwi protection

The late Rudolph Earl Leikaimana Mitchell, Sr. (1927-2008) loved Waimea Valley. Unele Rudy, as he is best known, was an advocate for the preservation of the burial, reli-

gious and cultural sites throughout the valley. As a historian, archaeologist and author, he changed the protocol of the area. For his 1984 book "From God to God," Unele Rudy spent years researching and compiling the life of Hewahewa, including the relationship between the King and Hewahewa, his most trusted advisor. Unele Rudy expanded his research back to Tahiti in his supplemental books, "Bora Bora" and "Pa'ao." He gifted his books to us, the Descendants, inspiring us to look further into our mo'okuauhau, our genealogy, to research further, eompile, understand and appreciate our rich lineage. Afforded the privilege of status on every island, we understand that there are thousands of Hewahewa descendants in Hawai'i and throughout the world. Unele Rudy's eoneem was always the 'iwi of Hewahewa, buried in the valley on privately-owned land. The mana that culminates in the valley is very strong although times have

changed and people don't practice pagan rituals today. Unele Rudy worried about the fate of the 'iwi from

exploitation, desecration or at worst, development driven by money and progress. With the older generations dying away, would the future care? In the book, an account is noted of the where the bones lay. And there they remain today undisturbed. In negotiations with the City &

State government, the hnal parcel of privately owned land in Waimea Valley, called Pu'ukua, will be transferred and owned by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and managed by Hi'ipaka, LLC, a non-profit subsidiary of OHA. Waimea Valley will mālama andprotect the 'āina. On Sunday, May 7, we the descendants will celebrate the protection of the 'iwi of Hewahewa forever. Beginning at 5:30 a.m., you are invited to gather with your 'ohana for the pikai ceremony, processional and the kahea aloha to the main building parking lot for the ceremony. Gathering will begin at the Waimea gate entrance 5:30 a.m. To honor your kupuna, tutu, parents and 'ohana, living or dead, you may bring with you a ho'okupu, mele aloha, or whatever you may want to bring. Time is limited, so please have your representative take that into consideration. Come prepared for a weather change. When all have had a ehanee to visit the site, the area will closed to all. There will be no puhlie access. Everyone is weleome to stay and gather inside the park. For more information, email Na'mi Kama at the.descendants. namikama@gmail.com, eall 808-927-8072 or find Orrin Kupahu

and Maile Kaipo on Facebook. — Na 'mi Kama

Kamehameha Scholars is the first community education program recognized as an ASCA model. - Photo: Courtesy ofKamehameha Schools