Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 24, Number 10, 1 ʻOkakopa 2007 — WAO KELE WORDS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WAO KELE WORDS

"This is an historic event, because it is the first time since the monarchy

ended that a parcel of ceded land will now be returned to a representative of the Hawaiian people." — Sen. Daniel Inouye

"You stayed strong, you held your ground, you stayed the course and kept the faith

- and so here we stand. But the real work is still in the future, and it's going to take lōkahi to do what is best and righteous for this very speeial plaee. By all of us working together, we ean make it happen." — OHA Trustee Robert Lindsey

"We look forward to not just managing the land, but loving the land, and passing

on what we ean to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs through this very unique partnership. But the real accolades have to go back to the conununity that never gave up their vision for this plaee." — Gov. Linda Lingle

"Wao Kele o Puna stands as one of Hawai'i's greatest shrines that connects not

only the land to native people, but native people to all living things." — Reed Holderman, Trust for Publie Land

"This ritual today could not be more important; it is living proof to those who

eome after us that we recognize the Hawaiians must cover their true destiny by themselves, for themselves, on behalf of all of us." — Rep. Neil Abercrombie