Hawea Heiau in Maunalua: October 2009

The bulldozing and desecration of Hawea Heiau in Maunalua (Hawai'i Kai) is a travesty.

Mahalo. Our kupuna are calling out to us for help.

I have heard them and this blog is given them a voice in this blog site - people can see and read what's going on and help Hawea.

Just a few things:

In discussion with kupuna and cultural experts they have shared a heiau is not just the temple that is sacred - the materials; rock walls, structures etc, - but it is the land itself that is sacred. This is why you'll find one heiau built over another through history, they are building on the sacred site. Parts of Hawea have been bulldozed but they can be rebuilt on the same land because the land is sacred, the land is the link between humans and the our Hawaiian gods.

When I wrote "A copy of this agreement was supposed to have been shared with the community before any work was done per information provided by the SHPD office. "

To be completely clear, a copy of the agreement was supposed to have been given to the community by the developer before any work was done per information provided by the SHPD office.

The bulldozing and desecration of Hawea Heiau in Maunalua (Hawai'i Kai) is a travesty. Our community is both sad and angry. Where is the respect for our wahi pana (sacred places) and our kupuna? How can we all come together to save the iwi and archeological features that call to us for help?

Aloha

annmarie@hawaii.rr.com

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Bulldozer Hawea heiau

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Hawea in Maunalua (Hawai’i Kai) to beat the drums for our kupuna

Drum for our Sacred Cultural Sites throughout Hawai'i Nei Saturday, Nov.7th, 2009 at 6pm

HAWEA HEAU - 11-7-09 - It is time to let the sound of the drums unite us from Kaua’i to Hawai’i island. It is time for us to join together to make sure our sacred cultural sites are properlyprotected and respected throughout Hawai’i nei.

On Saturday, November 7th, 2009 a group will be going to Hawea in Maunalua (Hawai’i Kai) to beat the drums for our kupuna at Hawea Heiau Complex. We will drum to let our kupuna know we honor their presence there and we will drum to let them know that we are united to work as hard as we can to make sure they, and the history they represent,will not be allowed to be erased, to be bulldozed, from the land.

And we drum to let the State Historic Preservation Department hear that throughout our islands we have lost faith in their ability to properly protect and respect our precious and priceless cultural areas.

Hawea Heiau Complex is one of multiple cultural sites throughout our islands that are right now under threat of desecration and destruction. If you would like to join the drums of Hawea, we ask you to take drums to the sacred sites in your communities on Kaua’i, O’ahu, Maui, Moloka’i, Lana’i and Hawai’i. At 6pm we will start drumming at Hawea and we hope that wherever you are throughout Hawai’i nei you drum with us

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As we call to our ancestors at 6 pm we will drum until it is time for us to let our kupuna know we will be leaving. Our kupuna are with us always, in the sky, the land, the sea and in our hearts and we will fight to make sure they know we are with them and we have not forgottenhow important they are to all of us - Hawaiian and non-Hawaiian.

Aloha,
Ann Marie Kirk, Liveable Hawai’i Kai Hui
Chris Cramer, Liveable Hawai’i Kai Hui, East O’ahu Historian

Drum for our Sacred Cultural Sites throughout Hawai'i Nei Saturday, Nov.7th, 2009 at 6pm

Hawea

The drums of Hawea were silenced,

Years of neglect caused its demise.

A once prominent wahipana,

Reduced to rubble and ruin,

Scarred pohaku caused by ignorance,

Left in a pile of disgrace.

A pohaku canvas paints

The history of those long gone.

Sacred `aina used, as was pono,

To build a kauhale, heiau,

Sacred enclosures for our people,

To come and pay respect.

The essence of the spirit within Hawea

Calls out to be heard.

The vibration echoing the pulse

Of those who have made a stand.

For the sanctity of the Pahu,

The drum to unite us all.

By: Linda Kaleo-o-kalani Paik August, 2009