Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 34, Number 9, 1 September 2017 — Voices Of Our People [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Voices Of Our People

Aīoha e Hawai I have imited Kalei.koa Kaeo and Kahele Dukeīow to express their views and experiences with regard

to Haīeakaīā and the night ofprotest on August 2. The following are their thoughts and opi.ni.ons. KŪPA'A MA HOPE O KA ĀINA - "We stand firmly behi.nd the 'āi.na." Kāko'o Haleakalā reaffirms our commitment to the defense of Haleakalā as part of our National lands and is encouraged by the

successful aloha 'āina protective action held on the early morning of August 2, 2017. Though we did not stop the convoy, we honor our fellow kia'i in our clear demonstration of resistance and opposition to the continued desecration and occupation of Haleakalā by the National Science Foundation (NSF), Institute for Astronomy (IFA), the University of Hawai'i (UH) and the United States Military. We condemn settlerism. We protest against these institutions whieh persist in refusing to recognize the humanity of our lāhui kanaka. Why do they willfully ignore that Native Hawaiians are a real people and that we possess a true history, culture, language, and spirituality? As such, we are compelled to resist our dehumanization and instead we rise to restore and manifest our own humanity. In order for us to thrive as the aboriginal people of this archipelago, we are forced to struggle in regaining control of our sacred lands as a means to reignite and to maintain our cultural integrity. The summit of Haleakalā is one of the most significant wahi kapu for our lāhui. Therefore the protection of its sanctity and sacredness is crucial for our people's identity. It is undeniahle that these alien industrialists do not have a lawful, legitimate, or moral authority to control the summit of Haleakalā. Like Mauna Kea and Kaho'olawe, the summit of Haleakalā is a wahi kapu and still belongs to our lāhui. How dare these foreigners

rudely impose themselves and squat upon our wahi kapu! They do not own or have legal title to elaim ownership of

Pu'ukolekole, Haleakalā. For more than ten years, our community has adamantly voiced our opposition to the building of the DKIST and the further industrialization and militarization of Haleakalā. This opposition has been clearly articulated in the scoping and consultation process, by the four Supreme Court cases filed by Kilakila 'o Haleakalā and numerous protests and eommunity actions. Our lāhui kānaka,

people, have never given eonsent to any construction on Pu'u Kolekole, Haleakalā. We understand that the poliee force is being used by NSF, IFA and UH to stand against us and clearly see those organizations and their representatives as the real perpetrators. We also acknowledge the Maui Poliee Department's efforts to improve their approach and interactions with aloha 'āina protectors and eommunity in situations of protective actions and demonstrations. However, we are seriously concerned with the excessive force applied by certain member(s) of the MPD against Kai Prais. At no time did Kai conduct himself in a violent or threatening manner. As a result of the excessive poliee force, Kai was rendered unconscious. What is equally concerning is the way that this medical emergency was handled by MPD. Kai was left on the ground, unattended, handcuffed and unconscious for more than ten minutes until the amhulanee arrived. Our protests and direct action, that are always held in nonviolence, are our commitment to protect Haleakalā and our assertion of our human right to protect our places of sanctity. We will forever protest the desecration and occupation of Haleakalā and will continue to work towards the removal of all telescopes from Pu'ukolekole, Haleakalā. Aloha 'Āina 'Oia'i'o! ■

V LEO 'ELELE v > TRUSTEE MESSSAGES f

Carmen "Hulu" Lindsey Trustee, Maui