Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 25, Number 6, 1 June 2008 — Wal-Mart debade [ARTICLE]

Wal-Mart debade

It's been several years now since the Wal-Mart store at Ke'eaumoku Street opened for business. When this project frrst started, 61 iwi kūpuna (ancestral Hawaiian bones) were discovered, disturbed, removed, studied and have still NOT been reburied. Currently, the state of Hawai'i, the archaeological contractor hired for the project and their physical anthropologists are locked in a legal battle over allegations of mistreatment and violations of state law in the handling of the iwi kūpuna. We requested the attomeys in the dispute to allow the iwi to be ieburied now, but citing them as "evidence," our request was denied. Let us not forget that WalMart spokesperson Cynthia Lin repeatedly stated that the company was being "culturally sensitive." Yet, for the past few years the iwi have been kept in a container under an access ramp that vehicles drive over on a daily basis. We say shame on Wal-Mart, shame on their consultants and shame on the state for allowing the project an exemption for inventory survey of the makai portion of the property where the iwi were originally buried. As recognized cultural descendants, we offer our prayers and apologies to our ancestors for this eonhnual indignant treatment. Edward Halealoha Ayau, Townsend 'Ohana Paulette Ka'anohi Kaleikini, Keaweamahi 'Ohana Hilo, Hawai'i lsland