What can be done?

What can we do?
Send e-mails, the list is on the site.
Tell your friends.

Aloha everyone,

Mahalo for your all your phone call and E-Mails yesterday. Here are a couple important points regarding the desecration occurring in East Honolulu:

1) Has everything been destroyed? No ,there is a very old rock well described by McAllister in the 1930s along with numerous other archaeological features such as circular stone circle, upright stones, petroglyphs etc. . A natural spring spring and wetland run alongside. A very old coconut grove which may contain burials is still intact.

2) What damage has occurred?

Desecration of Native Hawaiians Lands that are used for religious and cultural practices

-several petroglyphs have been destroyed

-a unique ancient wall surrounding a petroglyph platform has been buried under tons of debris

-large amounts of debris have been pushed into the wetland

-a clearcut path has been bulldozed a few feet from the stone circle, well and petroglyph

-aquatic life such as the endangered alae'ula, and the protected 'auku'u waterbird are directly threatened

-bulldozer cutting into the stone ridge which holds petroglyphs

3) Is this permitted?

No permits appear to be issued to bulldoze the wetland area and adjoining archaeological sites.

4) Did the SHPD notify the community or neighborhood board?

No - the SHPD did not did not inform the community what was occurring despite numerous phone calls, letters, neighborhood board meetings and emails which contained photos of some of the affected sites. The SHPD said previously that the site was undergoing archaeological monitoring coupled with a preservation plan and buffer zone.

5) Why is this site important?

The site is still used by Native Hawaiians for religious and cultural practices. It is of significant ecological and historical importance to our understanding and appreciation of the region.

6) What can be done?

No future permits should be given to destroy the archaeological site and wetland. The area between the wetlands and petroglyph platform should be preserved and not destroyed.

7) What is the current problem? Only a tiny unbuildable platform is taped off with everything else in the archaeological area unprotected from bulldozing. It appears that there is no onsite archaeological monitor despite the recommendation by surveying archaeologists in 1985.The SHPD appears to have not done due diligence on known sites such as those mentioned by McAllister, and later surveys in 1985 which detail archaeological material in the area.

No wetland destruction or endangered species mitigation plan is in place.

Chris Cramer

East Honolulu Historian