Protect Kaho`olawe `Ohana

The  ‘Ohana is celebrating the continued sovereign status of Kanaloa Kaho‘olawe today, as a bill proposing to fold the management of the island into the DLNR failed in committee yesterday afternoon.

Senate Bill 3056 proposed to change Chapter 6K, the law that sets policy for the status and management of Kaho‘olawe, by having the Department of Land & Natural Resources provide oversight over the Kaho‘olawe Island Reserve Commission, KIRC.  A last-minute amendment offered to make the KIRC and DLNR co-partners.

The KIRC is a special commission set up in 1993 to assure that the island was separate from the DLNR inventory, that it belonged to the Hawaiian nation. The ‘Ohana has pointed out that the KIRC is already administratively attached to the DLNR, by virtue of its seat on the 7-member commission.

The ‘Ohana believes Chapter 6K is structurally sound, even hailed as model legislation around the U.S. and around the world.  It went through a rigorous and inclusive process between 1990 and 1993 before even becoming law.

With the failure of SB 3056 in committee, the special status is preserved.  The ‘Ohana will continue its care of, and for, Kanaloa Kaho‘olawe until we can pass her into the arms of a sovereign Hawaiian nation.

Mahalo to all–those who submitted testimony in advance and in person; to all the senators who care enough to want to improve the management, hear testimony and register a vote; to the 2012 legislative team who did a lot of homework this year; and to the kupuna who compel us to stay the course, and all who offered blessings and aloha throughout.

Imua na pua, lanakila, Kaho‘olawe !

MEDIA ALERT February 13, 2012   [ PDF:  PKO news release 2012-0214 PKO opposes SB3056]

Contact: Noa Emmett Aluli, M.D. 808-553-5353

Protect Kaho‘olawe ‘Ohana opposes bill that erodes sovereign status of island (Honolulu, O‘ahu). The Protect Kaho‘olawe ‘Ohana (‘Ohana) will testify tomorrow in strong opposition to Senate Bill 3056, a bill before the Hawai‘i State Senate Committee on Water, Land and Housing. SB 3056 proposes the transfer of management of the Kaho‘olawe Island Reserve from the Kaho‘olawe Island Reserve Commission (KIRC) to the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR).

The Kaho‘olawe Island Reserve was intentionally “not placed back into the DLNR inventory, it was set aside with a special commission to say that it actually belonged to the Hawaiian Nation. You can talk about it coming back to the state of Hawai‘i, but it was specifically set aside by the people of this state, by their elected representatives, as the first piece of sovereign soil.” Governor John Waihe‘e III reminded state senators on February 11, 2011.

The KIRC was set up in 1993, after years of study, islandswide community input, and deliberation as to the future of Kaho‘olawe. The Reserve is managed as sovereign soil. The KIRC is purposefully composed of those who have greatest investment to develop policy and oversight: Office of Hawaiian Affairs, County of Maui, DLNR, Hawaiian organizations and the Protect Kaho‘olawe ‘Ohana.

SB 3056 proposes removing the special sovereign status of Kaho‘olawe at the same time Act 195 establishes the Native Hawaiian Roll Call Commission that will lead to a sovereign Native Hawaiian governing entity.

Mr. Joshua Ka‘akua will present the testimony of the Protect Kaho‘olawe ‘Ohana at the hearing tomorrow at 1:45 PM at the State Capitol before the Senate Committee on Water, Land and Housing. Dr. Noa Emmett Aluli can also be reached at (808) 553-5353 or naluli(at)aloha.net.

# PAU #

The Protect Kaho’olawe ‘Ohana is in earnest need of your kokua.

SB 3056 has a hearing on Tuesday February 14, 2012 @ 1:45pm at the Capitol in Room 225. Yes! Valentine’s Day! It will transfer control and management of the Kaho’olawe Island Reserve from the KIRC to the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Kaho’olawe will be managed by DLNR like other state lands. There will be no special management of the island as a cultural trust for the Hawaiian Nation. Please protect Kanaloa Kaho’olawe as a sacred cultural trust for the Hawaiian Nation by submitting testimony by Monday February 13, 2012 at 1:30pm. Mahalo and Aloha ‘Āina.

SB 3056: Relating to the Kaho’olawe Island Reserve Commission.
Transfers control and management of the Kaho’olawe Island Reserve from the Kaho’olawe Island Reserve Commission to the Department of Land and Natural Resources and provides that the KIRC shall be subject to the oversight of the DLNR.

Hearing: Tuesday February 14, 2012 @ 1:45pm at the Capitol in Room 225
(It is third on the agenda) in the Senate Water Land and Housing Committee (WLH). Senate WLH Members: Donavan Dela Cruz (chair), Malama Solomon (vice-chair), Carol Fukunaga, Pohai Ryan, Maile Shimabukuro, Jill Tokuda, Sam Slom

Easy to file Internet testimony can be submitted at:
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/submittestimony.aspx – Hearing Notice SB3056
or
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/gethearingbybill.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=3056
See Bill: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2012/bills/SB3056_.pdf

Download sample SB3056 testimony here.

Talking Points:
Kaho’olawe Was Set Up as Separate Special Cultural Trust for Hawaiian Nation: In testimony on 2-12-11, former Governor John Waihe’e described the trusteeship that he and the legislature established for Kaho’olawe: “so this property was not placed back into the DLNR inventory, it was set aside with a special commission to say that it actually belonged to the Hawaiian Nation. You can talk about it coming back to the state of Hawai’i, but it was specifically set aside by the people of this state, by their elected representatives, as the first piece of sovereign soil.”

SB 3056:

1. Erodes Original Intent: In 1993, the Hawai’i State Legislature set up the Kaho’olawe Island Reserve (KIR) as a separate cultural reserve and trust for eventual transfer to the sovereign Hawaiian governing entity. Transferring control and management of the KIR to the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) goes against the original intent of the legislature.
2. Takes Away Special Management for the Hawaiian Nation: SB 3056 will take the power to control and manage the island as a special cultural reserve away from the special commission (KIRC) that was set up to manage the island for the Hawaiian Nation.
3. Takes Away Separate Status: SB 3056 will incorporate the island under the DLNR to be managed like other state lands under DLNR. The island will no longer have its own separate, special and unique management as a cultural reserve.
4. Dissolves Trust: SB 3056 will, in effect, dissolve the KIR as a trust for the Hawaiian Nation.
5. Takes Step Backward from Transfer to Sovereign Hawaiian Governing Entity: Act 195 and the Native Hawaiian Roll Call Commission move us closer to the re-establishment of the sovereign Native Hawaiian governing commission and the transfer of the control and management of the Kaho olawe Island Reserve to the sovereign Hawaiian governing entity. The transfer of control and management under the DLNR is a step backward from this timely process.
6. Please Honor and Protect the Trust Established by Predecessors: We respectfully urge the Senate Water, Land and Housing Committee to protect the trust established by your predecessors in 1993 to Nā Kānaka Ōiwi. Please defeat SB 3506 and support the continued control and management of the island by KIRC as a distinct sacred cultural land trust for the Hawaiian Nation until its transfer to the sovereign Hawaiian governing entity.

Statements can also be sent to Senate WLH Committee Members:
sendelacruz@capitol.hawaii.gov
sensolomon@capitol.hawaii.gov
senfukunaga@capitol.hawaii.gov
senryan@capitol.hawaii.gov
senshimabukuro@capitol.hawaii.gov
sentokuda@capitol.hawaii.gov
senslom@capitol.hawaii.gov

Kahoʻolawe 20-Year Commemoration

All Our Aloha in One Kānoa- Oʻahu, held on Sunday, October 23, 2011 at Kānewai, Oʻahu is now online, thanks to ‘Ōiwi-TV.  Also see it on ʻŌiwi TV  Oceanic Channel 326 “Na ka Hawaiʻi, No ka Hawaiʻi”

Supporters of the Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana (PKO) came together on September 25, 2011 at Ka Papa Loʻi Kānewai at the University of Hawaiʻi-Mānoa to mark 20 years since the military ceased bombing of Kahoʻolawe. Participants offered song, stories, and deep reflections that evidenced hope for a positive future for the island. A panel discussed how the Makahiki Festival held annually on Kahoʻolawe has influenced the increasingly popular event across Hawaiʻi. High school students remarked on how the island has reconnected them to their cultural past and inspires action in their own communities. Finally, individuals spoke of how Kahoʻolawe will play a role in the future of Hawaiʻi.

• Photographers: Kaʻāina Paikai & Kamaka Pili
• Producer: Kapōmaikaʻi Stone
• Audio: Justyn Ah Chong
• Editor: Kaʻāina Paikai

Kahoolawe 20-year Commemoration

Tahitian Canoe Faafaite Departs From Traditional Launching Site on Kaho‘olawe

(Honokanai‘a, Kaho‘olawe). Shortly after 10 AM on Sunday, October 30, the Faafaite, the Polynesian voyaging canoe from Tahiti, departed the Hawaiian Islands from a point on Kaho‘olawe named Kealaikahiki, pathway to Tahiti.  This is the first time a canoe has departed for Tahiti this way in more than 750 years.

The Faafaite is one of the 7 voyaging canoes that arrived in June with the Pacific Voyagers  fleet.  It spent two days on the sacred island of Kaho‘olawe before embarking on its final leg home to Tahiti Sunday from the place named by the ancients to send Polynesians to their homeland.

“It was important for us to come to this island,” said Faafaite captain Teva Plichart.  “To the place our ancestors studied wayfaring, to the where our tūpuna, ancestors, launched from, from the place named path to Tahiti.”

Ke-ala-i-kahiki, or pathway to Tahiti, is the southwest point of Kaho‘olawe that juts out, enabling seafarers studying the waters in
Hawai‘i to observe both due north and south on the ocean horizons.

“Kealaikahiki is where the Kalohi, ‘Au‘au and Pailolo channels join with the ‘Alalākeiki, pouring into the Kealaikahiki channel.  Pushing off from Lae o Kealaikahiki in a canoe is like pulling onto the freeway,” exclaimed Protect Kaho‘olawe ‘Ohana founder Noa Emmett Aluli. “It’s a straight shot toTahiti from here.”

The waka, wa‘a, canoe, arrived on Kaho‘olawe at daybreak Friday, greeted by members of the Protect Kaho‘olawe ‘Ohana, and joined by others from the Hawaiian voyaging community.  The crew wanted to visit the island that is so historically and culturally significant in the training of navigators.

At the island’s summit, Moaulanui, the group of 34 greeted the rising sun, and in the storytelling, noted similarities to places and practices. The island of Kaho‘olawe, sometimes called Kanaloa, is a physical manifestation, kinolau, of the Hawaiian deity Kanaloa.  Another kinolau is a whale, whose design just happens to grace each side of the Faafaite’s hull.  It is a nod to Dieter Pullman, the German benefactor of the seven Pacific voyaging canoes, who was moved to environmental action by an up-close-and-personal encounter he had with a whale.  It also represents the many Maohi, indigenous Tahiti, families that claim the koholā, or whale, as their spiritual guardians.

At Moaula‘iki, the voyagers saw where navigators engaged in the early phases of their traditional training, studying the stars and their movements, also benefitting from a panoramic view of 5 islands, surrounding channels, clouds and currents.  Moaula was a chief from Tahiti who came up to Hawai‘i.  There are places named Moaula in Hawai’i, in Tahiti, and throughout other Polynesian Islands.

The Protect Kaho‘olawe ‘Ohana hosted a ceremony for the voyagers at Kealaikahiki.  Moved by the significance of this historic event where, in October 2004, master navigator Mau Piailug directed representatives from all the Hawaiian canoes to launch from Kealaikahiki before heading south.  The last time this occurred was in the 1250s.

“We’ve sent our canoes to Tahiti many times.  We’ve been waiting for one from Tahiti to come visit us,” said ‘Ohana member Craig Neff on the significance of the occasion.

The name Faafaite means reconciliation.  This visit to Kaho‘olawe is a reconciliation between Hawaiians and Tahitians.  In fact, three Hawaiian voyagers—early voyager Snake Ah Hee, master navigator Chad Kalepa Baybayan, and navigator Shantell Ching DeSilva—are joining the Tahitians in this final leg, expected to last 15 days.

Faafaite captain Teva Plichart explains, “The name describes our mission to protect the ocean and our environment, reconciling nature and humanity. But as we Maohi revive voyaging, we are reconciling ourselves with our spirit and culture.”

All photos courtesy of Danee Hazama Photography.

Formed in 1976, the vision of the Protect Kaho‘olawe ‘Ohana is Aloha ‘Āina. Its mission is to promote Aloha ‘Āina throughout the islands through cultural, educational and spiritual activities that heal and revitalize the cultural and natural resources on Kaho‘olawe.  

[PKO news release 2011-1031 Faafaite departs Kahoolawe]

Aloha ‘Āina

The PKO continues a year-long, state-wide observance – the 20^th Anniversary of Stopping the Bombing on the Island of Kaho‘olawe by staging the next free, public event on Moloka‘i on Friday, October 14 from 5:30P – 9:00P at Kūlana ō‘iwi Hālau.

Featuring:

Music by Kekama & Kanoho Helm and others…

Kūkākūkā – Remember the past and look into the future

Aloha Our Aloha in One Kānoa – Drink and ‘apu of ‘awa to signify commitment to Aloha ’āina and Kanaloa-Kaho‘olawe as a sacred cultural trust of the Hawaiian Nation

Mea’ai (Food)

MOLOKAI PREMIERE:  Mai Ka Piko Mai, A Ho‘i:  Return to Kanaloa

by Matt Yamashita, Moloka‘i filmaker and video documentarian

Aloha mai kakou,

We’re setting up for the All Our Aloha in One Kanoa at Ka Papa Lo’i of Kanewai this morning. If you won’t be with us in person today you can contribute photos to be shared at the event.
I’ve created a flickr group: http://www.flickr.com/groups/kahoolawe/
We’ll be livestreaming photos from this group as a slideshow at the event, so if you have time today to upload a few of your favorites we’d love to see them.
If you don’t already have one, you’ll need to set up a flickr account, it’s free and easy to do, upload your photos and then join the group at: http://www.flickr.com/groups/kahoolawe/, and add photos to that group pool.

This group will be open, not only for today’s event, for going forward for anyone who wants to upload photos from their time on island. I look forward to having this shared space for our memories.
Malama Aina!

Download and disseminate.

All Our Aloha In One Kānoa

Protect Kaho‘olawe ‘Ohana rededicates itself to Kaho‘olawe

 (Kānewai, O‘ahu). The Protect Kaho‘olawe ‘Ohana (‘Ohana) will host All Our Aloha in One Kānoa on Sunday, September 25 from 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM at Ka Papa Lo‘i ‘o Kānewai at 2645 Dole Street.  The event, which is free and open to the public, and welcomes families, wraps up a year of islandswide activities marking the 20^th anniversary since the bombing of Kaho‘olawe was stopped,  The ‘Ohana invites the community to join in the rededication of promoting Aloha ‘Āina throughout the islands.  Activities include talk story panels, music, food and other activities.  The ‘Ohana will be serving ‘awa from the kānoa (‘awa bowl) that has been traveling across the Hawaiian Islands for the past year inviting community to rededicate themselves to Kanaloa Kaho‘olawe and continued efforts for its restoration.

 Three unique kūkākūkā sessions will bring in members of the community to connect to Kaho‘olawe:

11 – 12 PM.  MAKAHIKI.  Makahiki practitioners from various O‘ahu communities will share their experiences around the revival of Makahiki on Kaho‘olawe and how they’ve connected those practices to their own wahi kapu (sacred places).

1  – 2 PM.  I MUA NĀ PUA.  Young people will share what the island has meant to them as students and family members through poems, songs, oli, or their personal stories.

3  – 4 PM.  EA.  Activists and proponents of Hawaiian sovereignty and restoration will describe their visions of how Kanaloa Kaho‘olawe fits into a Hawaiian entity.

Live music will be featured between sessions, including music by the Hakioawa Serenaders, Steve Ma‘i‘i, Jon Osorio, Ernie Cruz, Jr., and Kupa‘āina.

The lo‘i at Kānewai was re-established by UH Hawaiian language and culture students who were also members of the Protect Kaho‘olawe ‘Ohana.  Kūpuna who guided the activities on Kaho‘olawe also helped young people to re-open the lo‘i kalo.  The histories of the two communities are interconnected.

Ono food, familiar to those who have accessed Hakioawa with the ‘Ohana, will be available for donation.  All proceeds from the day will support the mission of the Protect Kaho‘olawe ‘Ohana.

Formed in 1976, the vision of the Protect Kaho‘olawe ‘Ohana is Aloha ‘Āina.

Its mission is to promote Aloha ‘Āina throughout the islands through cultural, educational and spiritual activities that heal and revitalize the cultural and natural resources on Kaho‘olawe.

The Protect Kaho‘olawe ‘Ohana Maui in partnership with UH Maui College, Hawaiian Studies & Hawaiian Language and the Hawaiian Canoe Club sponsor a series of free, public events to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of “Stopping the Bombing” on Kaho‘olawe.

Maui Event Flyer