Mahalo no e Ke Akua. Mahalo no e na kupuna...

Aloha,

We write with deep gratitude, hearts filled with aloha for all of you and the continuing awe inspiring and humbling reality of the mana, the power and strength, of our kupuna and our never ending connection to them and they to us.

A kahea came from Hawea Heiau asking all for the sound of the drums to unite us from Kaua’i to Hawai’i island on Nov, 7th, 2009 and to join together to make sure our sacred cultural sites are properly protected and respected throughout Hawai’i nei. The drumming was to let our kupuna know we honor their presence there and 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 the kahea was to drum to let the State Historic Preservation Division hear that throughout our islands we have lost faith in their ability to properly protect and respect our precious and priceless cultural areas.

Those who supported our efforts used the pahu, their ipu, ohe pu or whatever instrument they needed to join us and this included the simple tapping gently over their heart, but most importantly they came with the beat of their hearts, the beat that unites us all as Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians.

This simple kahea touched people all over Hawai'i and the world who participated at numerous sites so proper care and protection will be given to our sacred cultural places. We were overwhelmed with the positive response we received which truly spoke to the power of our kupuna who guide us.

On Nov. 7th, at 6pm at Hawea Heiau Complex, the drumming began, and at that moment we knew we were connected with people throughout Hawai’i nei and the world including: Lana’i, New York City, Waianae, Mexico, Ualaka’a, Arizona, Ulupo, Spain, Pahua, Australia, Kaneilio, New Zealand, Puakea, San Francisco, Naue, Boston, Kukaniloko, Oregon, Pu’u O Mahuka, Tahiti, Kona, Colorado, Puakea, Los Angeles, Ahu'ena, Guatemala and numerous other sites worldwide. We acknowledge all of you throughout Hawai’i and the world and give you all our deepest mahalo.

As the cool light at the end of the day slowly turned into the warm darkness of night which wrapped around us at Hawea Heiau, the sound of the drums and ohe pu reverberated throughout this sacred site.

In the darkness, and with the sound of the drums and ohe pu, we felt comfort and knew our kupuna were there and present with us.

Hawea Heiau is currently under great danger of destruction to make way for the development of a gated condominium project. As we drummed and prayed, a representative of the land owner, in coordination with his assistants, stood on the heiau platform and called the police to remove us from Hawea Heiau Complex where we were engaged in our cultural practice. So great was the mana from the prayers and drumming at Hawea that all were powerless to stop our drumming for our sacred sites throughout Hawai'i nei.

Our kupuna were with us and ensured that no harm befell anyone. The Honolulu Police Department, unaware of the PASH Law, and our right to conduct cultural practices, joined the men and asked that we leave the area. We were peaceful, non-violent, and let it be known it is our right by law to be at Hawea. We stayed at Hawea Heiau until 7pm and when we completed our prayers and drumming we were escorted off Hawea Heiau by the police.

Hawea Heiau has opened up another door of opportunity for us to educate others, not only about our sacred cultural sites and the need for their proper care and protection, but our right, by law, to conduct our cultural practices as free people.

As we left Hawea Heiau the screech of a pueo, an owl, was heard, When those in our group looked up, an owl flew over our group. This ho’ailona, this symbol, we later learned occurred at other sites where drumming was taking place. Please read excerpts below from emails we received from people sharing their experiences and their photos from the Nov. 7th, 2009.

Please know we have planned two kahea; the first kahea was called for on Nov. 7th, 2009 and the second kahea will take place in the Spring of 2010 when the Hawai’i State Legislature is in session. We are currently working on legislation for the 2010 legislative session to ensure our sacred historic and cultural sites are properly protected.

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 forgotten how important they are to all of us - Hawaiian and non-Hawaiian.

Mahalo,

Ann Marie Kirk, Liveable Hawai’i Kai Hui member

Chris Cramer, Liveable Hawai’i Kai Hui member, East O’ahu Historian

Kaleo Paik, Cultural Keeper

Hawea Heiau

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From California

Ava Aha,

The songs were sung throughout the Los Angeles area. We are very thankful to have been a part of such a powerful call to the four directions and the grandmothers to request prayers for the Hawaiian people and all people who struggle to keep sacred sites from further desecration.

We also see the owl as one who can bring a message from the other side in its soft hoot.

Thank you all for sharing so many beautiful words in this very spiritual action. This should be done more often. It was a very moving and powerful time for these songs and prayers.

Neschun Achama

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From Kukaniloko, O’ahu

Pule Kakou...mahalo piha to all those who were at wahi kapu O Kukaniloko last night to become an intricate part of the spiritual ho`okani ka pahu, ipu, and the drums of our First Nation brothers and sisters...and mahalo to all those who joined in rhythm by the tapping of your hearts wherever you were...with unified intention of honoring our wahi kapu, wahi pana and kupunama here in our pae `aina and globally and with

respect to all nations and our cultural traditions, our hearts now beat as one...the cry of the pueo o Kukaniloko and her circle overhead on her return to her punana was a truly beautiful ho`ailona that those in Spirit acknowledge our aloha and malama for them....

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From Pu’u o Mahuka, O’ahu

In Pupukea at 6pm I blew the pu for our ancestors while my friend beat the drum. The feeling was of despair. I could feel kupuna all around me.

Thoughts returned to my beloved Naue and my heart, though heavy, was glad to know that our ohana were there while I was here. All over the world our kupuna are being acknowledged and honored... the wind blew gently and I knew they are with me so far away from home.

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From New York City, New York

At 10:30 p.m (5:30pm Hawai'i time) . On Saturday, Nov 7, about 40 New Yorkers and a few visitors from Hawai'i gathered at Union Square, Manhattan to honor the cultural legacy of Hawea Heiau complex and to show solidarity for the efforts in Hawai'i to protect sacred sites. Organized with the help of Na 'Oiwi NYC, a student led group out of New York University, the gathering began with chants.

Various hula groups from the New York area showed up and our activities ended with several hula in honor of our ali'i and some good kanikapila and hula. It was very uplifting to see the response here in New York when the call was made to come out to show support for this cause. We felt honored to be apart of a much larger movement that was happening thoughout the world. Mahalo.

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From Mexico

We drummed for five hours and sang many prayer songs, we gathered around the EARTHDANCE tambor (drum). Women, men and children praying for LOVE, PEACE, RESPECT and UNITY and guess what? The OWL is the sacred totem for our elders in this part of México (Baja California) and of course very sacred for our DANZA DE LA MADRE TIERRA (Earthdance). Are we all connected in synchronicity or what?

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From Lana’i

Mahalo nui i ka ho’okipa ana mai maka po nei, ua ‘ola ka ‘aina. Thank you for gathering together last evening, the land has life.

Mahalo ke Akua!

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From Aotearoa (New Zealand)

Nga mihinui, Nga mihi aroha to all,

Aloha to our dear family in Hawaii...

We are entering the time of renewal, a time of remembering the sacred truths . . . .

Blessing to all, who sat and honored this time of sharing in the Wairua/ spiritual realms, uniting one to the other, one from the other...so that the energy of walking Universal oneness is made stronger.. It was a beautiful and strong ceremony, thank you for inviting us to share in this time with you all.

Our totem for our tribal area here in Aotearoa, is Owl... known as Ruru... the night eagle...

Kia tau te Rangimarie

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From Los Angeles, California

. . . just wanted to share that we were in ceremony all night from sunset to sunrise

Our prayers were with you and everyone as we layed by the fire and opened with the drumming and songs amidst the urban skyline.

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From Naue, Kaua'i

(written by a kupuna in Kaua'i in anticipation of the drumming at 6pm on Nov. 7th)

Aloha,

Mahalo for the kahea! All day my spirit was being tickled like when we were children and the adults would gently tickle us . . .

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From Australia

We had a very quiet sacred time . . . . We used our clap-sticks and voice to send energy . . . .

The Owl is very important to us, I also walk with owl. For us it carries the mystery of magic, it helps us "see" in the dark. . . . So when we carry owl, anyone with hidden agenda's gets exposed to our owl sight. This really helps during this very difficult times where the darkness is trying so hard to reign supreme.

Owl is powerful medicine!

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From O’ahu

. . . As the sun lowered into the horizon my personal thoughts were on Naue and the women and children in the ground at the shoreline lele . . .

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From O’ahu

The mana of the event world -wide is awesome and is bonding the native peoples of the world. It is like the nalu of Hawai`i is touching the many shores of the lands of this world uniting everyone in spirit, brotherhood and love. What awesome mana.

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From Waianae, O'ahu

We support your good work and call for unity, we will beat our drums and ipu at six with you guys, kapoʻe o kapiko o ka aina, aloha aina! Iʻo lako aloha and mahalo piha my ohana, e ala e Kaulana Na Pua.

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From Ualaka’a, O'ahu

Tonight at 6:00 p.m., (we) . . . joined in a kukulu kumuhana to kahea, or call, our ancestors, to help us protect and preserve their landscape. Their legacy left for the mo'opuna, the future children. Participants were asked to pound their drums, blow their pu, unite in prayer and spirit to the ancestors and Creator. Originating at Hawea Heiau on O'ahu, it expanded throughout all the islands as well as Tahiti, Aotearoa, Australia, Guatemala, Mexico, Union Square in New York City, California, Oregon, New Mexico, Colorado and other places including members of the Shumash and Anisnebe Tribes. (We) chose Tantalus above Manoa Valley and overlooking Leahi, or Diamond Head and Waikiki...

We brought our pahu and conch shells...

It was a little blustery and the rain moved in. We sounded the shells which echoed throughout Manoa Valley bouncing off of the walls. There was a strong gust of wind then the rain immediately stopped and it was quiet and still. A rainbow appeared. Very awesome...

Right before we started to pound the pahu at 6:00, a second rainbow appeared. Very vivid...

It landed somewhere in the direction of Hawea Heiau which was many miles away on the other side of the ridge. Hawea was a legendary pahu, or drum, brought from Kahiki and which heralded the births of high ranking ali'i at Holoholoku at sacred Wailuanuiahoano on Kaua'i and later with the companion drum, Opuku, at Ho'olonopahu at Kukaniloko Royal Birthing site on O'ahu...

When the rainbow disappeared, a massive kupuna took its place in the sky above sacred Wa'ahila Ridge in Manoa. It had a large mahiole, or crested helmet on too. It was a sign of the sacred ali'i. The kupuna to let us know that they are omnipresent. Watching. Encouraging. Strengthening us their mo'opuna. To protect all things sacred. The source of Aloha. Love. Forgiveness. Humility. Healing. For a world in desperate need. Mahalo no e Ke Akua. Mahalo no e na kupuna...