Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 29, Number 6, 1 June 2012 — Queen Kaʻahumanu Highway Widening Phase 2 [ARTICLE]

Queen Kaʻahumanu Highway Widening Phase 2

NOTICE TO INTERESTED PARTIES IS HEREBY GIVEN that one historic property (SIHP 50-10-27-29275) containing one burial was discovered by Cultural Surveys Hawai'i, Ine. in the course of a supplemental archaeological survey related to the Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway Widening Phase 2 Project. The burial site is located in the

ahupua'a of 'O'oma 2nd, District of North Kona, Island of Hawai'i, TMK [3] 7-3-09:022. The burial, whieh consists of a single set of human skeletal remains, is located within a cavelike natural feature consisting of tilted and uplifted pāhoehoe slabs situated approximately 65 feet (20 meters) west of the present Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway right-of-way, on private land owned by North Kona Village. Based on a physical inspection of the burial site, the burial site appears to be greater than 50 years old (years before present). However, the precise age (years before present) and ethnicity of the burial is indeterminate. There are no artifacts or grave items placed with the burial that would help indicate its precise age. The project proponent is the Hawai'i Department of Transportation (HDOT) [contact: Mr. Henry Kennedy (808) 345-2708, Henry. Kennedy@hawaii.gov or Mr. Robert Taira (808) 345-2103]. Background research indicates that in the Mahele, 'O'oma 2nd was awarded to an ali'i (ehieU named Kekaha, who returned this award to the government to pay the eommutation fee for lands he decided to keep. Thus, 'O'oma 2nd was classified as Government Land. One maka'āinana (commoner) claimed a kuleana award in 'O'oma 2nd — Claim9162 by Kahelekahi — but this elaim was not awarded. Board of Education tax records from 1849 indicate three other families resided in 'O'oma 2: Kalua, Kamaka, andMamali. Under Royal Patent 1600, Kaakau received 58.5 acres in 'O'oma 2nd, and Kameheu was granted 101.33 acres under Royal Patent 2027; both of these Land Grants are located near the present Māmalahoa Highway. Following the procedures of Hawai'i Revised Statutes (HRS) Chapter 6E-43, and Hawai'i Administrative Rules (HAR) Chapter 13-300, the burial is believed to be over 50 years old. The project

proponent would prefer to preserve the burial in plaee; however, the decision to preserve in plaee or relocate this previously identified burial shall be made by the Hawai'i Island Burial Council and the State Historic Preservation Division (SHPD) in consultation with any recognized lineal and/or cultural descendants, per the requirements of HAR Chapter 13-300-33. Proper treatment of the burial shall occur in accordance with HAR Chapter 13-300-38 or 13-300-39. SHPD is requesting persons having any knowledge of the identity or history of this burial to immediately contact Ms. Pua Aiu at SHPD, located at Kakuhihewa Building, 601 Kamokila Blvd., Suite 555, Kapolei, Hawai'i, 96707 [Tel: (808) 692-8015 / Fax (808) 692-8020 /E-mail Pua.Aiu® hawaii.gov], to provide information regarding appropriate treatment of the unmarked burial. All interested parties should respond to this notice by filing descendancy elaim forms with SHPD and/or by providing information to SHPD adequately demonstrating lineal descent from this specific burial or cultural descent from ancestors buried in the vicinity of the survey area.