Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 18, Number 8, 1 August 2001 — Hōkūliʻa [ARTICLE]

Hōkūliʻa

If I took a bulldozer, or even a piek and shovel, went to John F. Kennedy's grave site, and tried to dig him up, would the haoles get upset? If people complained and I didn't listen, would they try to stop me? If I did it anyway, would they physically stop me? Then if I accomplished the task, took his bones home, wrapped them and put them in my closet, would this offend or appall them? I would be sent to jail, probably be beaten in the process, and if I were out of control, shot! What's the difference when people dig up my kupuna, ali'i and their artifacts? Why aren't these people stopped, jailed, beaten or shot at? What makes digging up a haole immoral and sickening, but a Hawaiian just another day at work, so some company ean make millions off the pain and suffering already suffocating Hawaiians? Greed and power. Both have a blinding effect on rational issues, and some people ean be bought. Our ancestors held the bones of the ali'i and kupuna as most sacred. Those who desecrated those graves were killed. So what's our excuse for sitting back and letting this immoral, horrendous act to continue? Kaleilani Caceres Kailua, Kona

. . Ka Leo Kaiaiiīi