Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 19, Number 7, 1 Iulai 2002 — Cultural accesses open Mākua Valley to public [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]
Cultural accesses open Mākua Valley to public
By Naomi Sodetani For centuries, ancient Hawaiians thrived in Mākua Valley and cultivated kalo lo'i complexes watered by a flowing Mākua Stream, Before World War II, Mākua residents continued to raise cattle and various crops here, But since 1943, the valley whose name means parent has been used exclusively by the U,S, Army to conduct live~fire training exercises, The public now has the historic opportunity to go beyond the gates of the Mākua Military Reservation to explore the rarely accessible val~ ley and experience the majestic natural beauty and cultural treasures attesting to human habitation in the three valleys known as Mākua (Kahanahaiki, Mākua and Ko'iahi) tracing back 800 years, Two times eaeh month during daytime cultural access outings, participants ean now trek through the valley that many Hawaiians consider sacred, The valley is also opened to the public for overnight access gatherings for cultural purposes at least twice annually, Because the valley has been locked to the public since the late '30s, people often have the mistak~ en impression that Mākua is barren
and desolate, But nothing is further from the truth, says Wai'anae physician Fred Dodge, a member of two Wai'anae coast community groups coordinating the access out~ ings, Mālama Mākua and Hui Mālama 'O Mākua, to increase publie awareness of the valley's deep cultural significance and natural splendor, "As with the Kaho'olawe access-
es, we hope that when people walk this 'aina, they'll experience for themselves how very special this valley is," Dodge says, "Onee they've experienced the spirit of
this incredible plaee, and see how mueh it suffers, people will under~ stand why the Army's training exer~ cises must stop," Ringed by the stately green and golden Ko'iahi and 'Ōhikilolo
ridges, the valley has inspired many who have entered it for the first time to witness the bullet-scarred pōhaku, sand-bagged petroglyphs, fire~ravaged trees and grasses, spent munitions casings — and, on occasion, unexploded ordnance, The community's right to access the valley was affirmed in an agree~ ment reached last October between the community group Mālama Mākua and the U,S, Army to settle
a 1998 lawsuit brought by the group of Wai'anae coast residents seeking to eompel the ,Army to complete an Environmental īmpact Statement, The court decreed the EĪS must
be completed by October 2004, īn April, the Army conducted "scop~ ing meetings" to obtain public eomment to guide its efforts to complete an Environmental īmpact Study, The Army recently issued a draft plan outlining the possible impacts of military training whieh it will study and analyze in the EIS, including alternative training sites that may be considered, During the first overnight access held on Dec, 14 and 15, a stone ahu dedicated to Lono in honor of the Makahiki season was built near the entrance to the valley by a group of Native Hawaiians and nonHawaiians, Prospective access-goers must be mindful that Mākua is an actively used live~fire training area, The agreement stipulates that Army clear unexploded ordnance 1000 feet mauka of Farrington Highway, encountering them is a real possi~ bility, so all participants are required to sign a full liability waiver, July and August cultural accesses will take plaee on July 14, July 27, Aug. 10 andAug. 25. Start time is 8 a.m, at the main gate of Mākua Valley, Come prepared for hours of full sun exposure hiking slightly uphill terrain, Bring sunscreen, sunglasses, hat, close~ toed footwear, and lots of water, The ,Army asks that they receive 48 hours notice of all participants, so please eall 696-4677, 696-9921, or 696-2823 at least three days before the access, ■
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Honoring Mōkua — 22 Ncitive Hciwciiicins einel non-Hciwciiicins who hikeel into Mōkuei June 8 stcincl by ein eihu built cluring the first culturcil ciccess lcist Decernber, The ciccess celebrcitecl the Meikeihiki secison with trciclitioncil cerernonies einel gcirnes helel in the vcilley for the first tirne in centuries.