Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 6, Number 2, 1 February 1989 — OHA Board Business [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OHA Board Business

By Ed Miehelman Public Information Officer

The January business meeting of the OHA Board of Trustees took plaee January 6, 1989 at the Honolulu office board room. Chairman Kaulukukui, Vice Chairman Burgess and Trustees Akaka, Ching, DeSoto, Hao, Kahaiali'i and Mahoe were present. Trustee Keale was excused.

The main agenda item was a proposal urging reconsideration and amendment to OHA's Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) as well as the Shoreline Management Area (SMA) permit at Kapalua, Honokahua, Maui. The resolution was adopted unanimously. In August of 1987, OHA, along with Hui Alanui O Makena and the State Historic Preservation Office, signed a MOA providing for respectful and dignified treatment of bones unearthed during construction of the proposed Ritz Carlton Hotel at Honokahua. The January 6, 1989 resolution pointed out that the disturbance of those burials was "made inevitable by State and County decisions regarding land use designations, disinterment permit authority, and Shoreline Management Area (SMA) permit approvals."

The resolution states that reconsideration of the terms of both the Memorandum of Agreement and the SMA permit approval are necessary to ease the profound pain and grief felt by the entire Hawaiian community caused by the disturbance of a major traditional burial area whieh has existed for more than a thousand years. The resolution adopted by OHA Board calls for: • An end to further disinterment of burials at the Honokahua Sand Dune. • Reburial of all human remains, already disinterred, in their original resting places.

• Protection of the burial grounds in perpetuity by deeding the site to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. • Consultation with the community group, Hui Alanui O Makena and those with known cultural and family attachments to the burial grounds. • Recognition that the 2.3 acre parcel adjoining the site be recognized as culturally sensitive and a likely continuation of the Honokahua burial grounds.

• The establishment of an Historic Preservation Task Force whieh would recommend and assist in the development of legislation to address known weaknesses in state laws and county ordinances affecting historic preservation decisions. The task force, chaired by Lydia Namahana Maioho, curator of Mauna 'Ala, already has held several meetings. Other committee members include: June Cleghorn, archaeologist, Bishop Museum; Dr. Ben Finney, chairman, Department of Anthropology, University of Hawaii at Manoa; Mahealani lng, executive director, Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation; Pualani Kanahele, kumu

hula and educator; Moses K. Keale, Sr., OHA Trustee; Thalia Lani Ma'a, author and attorney; Susan Miller, Natural Resources Defense Counsel; William Richardson, Bishop Estate Trustee; the Reverend Leon Sterling; and Tom Yagi, Retired Division Director, International Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union; Copies of the OHA Board's resolution were transmitted to the Governor, State Legislature, Mayor of Maui County, Maui County Planning Commission, Kapalua Land Company, the Hui Alanui O Makena and the news media.

Historic Preservation Task Force meets to consider Honokahua situation. Shown are: (eloekwise around the table from left) Wiiliam Richardson, Pualani Kanahele, Moses Keale, Earl Neller, Ben Finney, Lydia Maioho (chair), Lani Maa, Mahealani lng, Susan Miller, Tom Yagi. OHA Trustee Clarence Ching is at left.