Just some followup on the Hawaiian religious structure that is slated
to be buried in the path of a Federal Highway:
I pulled out the names (except mine and the government's) to protect
other people who's names I have no permission to use.
=====================================
Subj: H3 and Halawa Valley
Sorry, just read your email. Saw the action on news. Was outraged.
Don't have that much time to go out and support. Am a Bishop Museum
member. Am concerned about preservation... and want to keep the PIGS
out of the money troughs.
I've read a bit about what is going on. There was a fairly objective
article in Hawaii Magazine. The amounts of money spent on this H3 are
absolutely staggering. It probably will be the most expensive HWY ever
constructed in Hawaii-- maybe even the US... And it is mostly the
effort of our political congressman that has made this horrendous thing
happen.
And the cost of it so far... could have feed all the needy in the state
for many many months. Forget the figure but I think it was between
$900M - $6B. No wonder our taxes keep going up and we see nothing in
return.
The dismissial of Barry I believe was pressured from our elected
politicians. Donald was probably told to get rid of him or...
This is just a larger piece of the big currupt situation going on. Wish
the people would wake up and VOTE these life long politicians out of
office.
The Hawaiians are hurting today... We'll all be hurting tomorrow when
there is no more water, no place to dump sewage, and the rest of the big
open fields of sugar, pineapple, plants, etc... get covered with concrete.
And our beaches are polluted.
Good email
=======================================================
Subj: Malama 'aina...aloha 'aina...
Care for the land...love of the land...
If you have any interest in preserving the Hawaiian culture and artifacts
of this land, please read on. Otherwise....press "d."
I'm writing this note Friday, 4/3 at 7:30 pm HNL time. Two hours ago,
Donald Duckworth, Dir. of the Bishop Museum, fired Barry Nakamura, a
historian of the museum, who recently announced the finding of the Lua Kini
and Hale Papa he'iau (two Hawaiian temples) in the Halawa Valley. Since
both he'iau are in the path of the H3 freeway, they are slated for "passive
preservation" (ie, to be covered completely with gravel in preparation for
the H3 paving).
These he'iau are the most significant findings in Hawaii in years. Hale
Papa (women's he'iau) is the ONLY women's he'iau discovered to date-- and
is believed to be the home of Papa, the goddess mother of all Hawai'i. The
he'iau also has significant agricultural significance--it aligns with the
Makalii (Pleiades) to mark the beginning of the planting season in this
valley.
Those of you who follow "Hawaiian issues" may recall that the largest
he'iau in Kaneohe, Kukui'okane, was destroyed in 1990 when it was paved
over in the early history of the H3. Even though the families that still
cared for and worshipped at the he'iau protested, it was destroyed. And now
Lua Kini and Hale Papa are slated for this same type of "passive
preservation." When does it end?
My mother called this evening to share the news with me--and ask for
support. Hui Malama'aina is organizing a march at the Bishop Museum this
Sunday, 4/5 (10:00 am 'til noon) to protest the illegal firing of Barry and
the senseless destruction of Hawaii's historical sites. If you can come to
support them, do. But if you can't, please call the Bishop Museum...and
OHA...and the Dept. of Transportation...and your State Rep.--and let them
know you've had enough...
me kealoha pumehana--
==================================
Subj: The next step...
Hi all--just want to drop a quick note to thank you for your OVERWHELMING
response, support & offers to help preserve the Luakini and Hale o Papa
heiau in Halawa valley. Your caring REALLY does make a difference!!
Many of you have asked me what you can do to help....what's the next
step...Well, there are several things you can do--
1. We are pulling together a defense fund to help pay for Barry's lawyer
(as he fights Bishop Museum to get his job back). If you'd like to
contribute, you can--I'd be happy to get the funds to the right people.
2. If you'd like to go into the valley, please do--and take water--the group
there could ALWAYS use more water! To get up to the heiau site:
* Take the Halawa Valley exit, turn up Iwaiwa, then take the first
right onto Iwaena.
* Take Iwaena all the way up 'til it ends (in front of the board
of water supply).
* Go through the board of water supply gardens, then you'll see
a "path" (brown grass/trail) leading off toward the left. The
trail is marked with red and blue ribbons, and runs parallel
to the riverbed. Stick to the trail 'til you pass the security
guard station (try not to get caught). Once you pass this station,
you can get on the main road.
* Walk along the main road for about 15 mins. (or catch a ride with
one of the construction workers!!)--and you'll see the heiau off
to the right side of the road (look for the blue tarps).
* Just go up to the site--tell my mom who you are--you'd be most
welcome.
3. This Sunday will be the re-dedication ceremony of both the Luakini and
Hale o Papa heiau. If you'd like to attend the ceremony, be at the end of
Iwaena st. (in front of the board of water supply) at 8:30 am--there will
be people there to organize the procession into the valley. I understand
there are several kahuna flying in from the outer islands to assist with
the re-dedication. The ceremony will involve some re-inactment of the
religious practices (ie, the women will go to their Hale O Papa heiau while
the men go to the Luakini; then they will come back together for the
"integration" or reunion ceremony). I think many of you would enjoy the
cultural/spiritual experience. (My body will be in SFO--but my spirit will
definitely be in Halawa!!)
4. Just continue to send your positive thoughts and mana to the group--it
really does make a difference!
aloha--
=====================
Subj: Need some help....
Hey Ed--was wondering if you could help with something...Hawaii Laie'ikawai
(my mom sits on their Board of Directors) and other Hawaiian groups will be
sending faxes to me (HNL office) with info that they want carried into Halawa
valley. They are sending a press relese this morning--I've arranged for my
sisters to pick it up and take it up to Halawa. Was wondering if you could
take a "pulse" of anyone in the HNL office that might want to help run faxes
into the valley. Would sure help a LOT--my sisters have to drive from Laie;
and my girlfriend (Donna) who's also helping has to drive from Pearl City--
then backtrack to Halawa. (She also hurt her knee yesterday on the hike in--
and is feeling a little stiff!)
I need someone to help us out in HNL--was hoping you could help. I know C
and R also expressed some interest in helping--I'll forward this email to
the two of them, and see if between the 3 of you we could come up with just
a few names of people willing to hike up to the heiau.
Let me know if you can help--
mahalo,
===========================
If it were a Christian Church, there would be no question of
saving it. Are our places of worship less valid? sounds like
freedom of religion is going down the tubes.
Ed.
Ka`onohi`ulaokahokumiomio`ehiku
===========================
Subj: Read if you care about H-3 and the Heiau - otherwise: 'd'
Several of us met in the lunchroom today and discussed the plight of
the heiau in Halawa valley.
People have asked, "Where do I write to save the heiau?"
Here are addresses and phone numbers of appropriate people:
So you can write or call or both, as your time and interest dictates.
You can print out this email and glue the addresses to envelopes.
Address: Phone:
Governor John Waihe`e 586-0034
State Capitol Office Tower
235 S. Beretania
Honolulu, HI 96817
Mayor Frank Fasi 523-4141
530 S. King Street
Honolulu, HI 96817
Office of Hawaiian Affairs 586-3777
Suite 500
711 Kapiolani Blvd.
Honolulu, HI 96813
Office of the Inspector General 541-2806
Department of Transportation 541-2700
Federal Highway Administration
Room 3316A
300 Ala Moana Blvd.
Honolulu, HI 96813
Senator Daniel Akaka 541-2534
Room 3104
Prince Kuhio Federal Building
300 Ala Moana Blvd.
Honolulu, HI 96813
Senator Daniel Inouye 541-2542
Room 7325
Prince Kuhio Federal Building
300 Ala Moana Blvd.
Honolulu, HI 96813
Congressman Neil Abercrombie 541-2570
Room 4101
Prince Kuhio Federal Building
300 Ala Moana Blvd.
Honolulu, HI 96813
Congresswoman Pasty Mink 541-1986
Room 5104
Prince Kuhio Federal Building
300 Ala Moana Blvd.
Honolulu, HI 96813
Please state to them your own issues about the proposed destruction of
the only surviving Hale `o Papa (Woman's heiau) on `Oahu.
Tell them if you want H-3 stopped or diverted, and remind them that you vote
every election year.
If you wish, you may remind them that highways are not put over sacred places
like Memorial Parks or Churches, and that we have an obligation to past
and future generations to preserve our archeological treasures in a manner
where they can be accessible for further study, and this does NOT mean
putting a highway over them.
"Passive Preservation" = Destruction
Thank you.
==========================
Subj: Update on heiau & H3 issues...
Hi all--there has been a TREMENDOUS amount of support from you and hundreds
of other people to preserve this heiau...and I thank you most sincerely. I
am also EXTREMELY pleased to be able to come home for the rededication
ceremony scheduled for this Sunday.
If you are planning to attend the re-dedication ceremony, please note that
there is a new meeting place (at the guard house/entry to the main road up
to the site--the state is being generous & allowing people to come in, so
we don't have to hike up the riverbed!!). Meeting time is still set for
8:30 am--so drive up and park as close to the gate as possible. (Newspapers
will be running a map of the meeting site.) I will be sleeping over at the
heiau Sat. night--so I will see you there.
RE: article in yesterday's paper where I was quoted as saying "The Bishop
Trustees should fire Duckworth..." then "lashed out at Waihe'e..." --I
didn't exactly "lash" out at anyone--I pretty much was just my usual sarcastic
self...and you all know how I feel about Waihe'e!!
BTW--The Star Bulletin is running an opinion poll--they are asking:
"Do you think the Bishop Museum should have fired Barry Nakamura
for speaking out about the heiau?"
To vote NO, call 545-5867. (Don't know what the number is for yes!!)
My warmest aloha again to ALL of you--you've been GREAT!!!
=================================
My letter: (as an example)
Dear Elected Representative:
I am writing because I am concerned about the fate of the heiau in the
path of H-3.
Although I know very well that O`ahu has a growing traffic problem, and
that H-3 is necessary, funded, a benefit to the State economy and all that,
I protest:
A heiau is like a church. It's sacred to those who practice the
Hawaiian religion. We wouldn't pave over Kawaihao Church, or Valley of the
Temples, or St. Andrews to build a highway, we'd make plans to divert it.
We can do that in this instance, too. H-3 has already claimed at least one
heiau, let's try to save these two in Halawa Valley.
I know that you need no reminding that this is a conundrum that touches
on several volatile issues, including:
Hawaiian rights
Religious freedom
Women's equality
Governmental honesty
Archeological preservation
Freedom of speech.
I am sure that you are committed to all of these principles, and will
support this, because it is the "right thing to do." I and many others will
be watching for you to take a stand in our behalf.
In addition, Barry Nakamura is suffering because he spoke the truth in
the face of an apparent cover-up attempt. Please give him your support, too,
and show Hawaii's and America's citizens that they will not be deserted for
being honest and truthful.
Sincerely,
Edwin L'Esperance
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|| Ed L'Esperance - P.O. Box 4635, Kane`ohe, Hawai`i 96744 U.S.A. Earth ||
|| Anthropologist, Writer, Editor -*- IN%"Ed_L1@VeriFone.Com" ||
|| Opinions Copyright (c) 1992 Ed L'Esperance. All Rights Reserved ||
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