Lepeuli, Koolau Ahupuaa, Kauai

SUBHEAD: Re-location of cattle fence to avoid 3 Re-Burials by CDUA Permit Application 3525 DOCARE KA 09-12 in Lepeuli.

 
Image above: Existing path down to Lepeuli (Larson's) Beach.  

By Hope Kallai on 30 June 2010 for Island Breath -
(http://islandbreath.blogspot.com/2010/07/lepeuli-koolau-district-kauai.html)

The County Council is considering acquiring a new (very steep) easement at Lepeuli to Larson's Beach - instead of maintaining the (gradual) existing 10 foot wide County Right Of Way. Please voice your comments to the Council or the Mayor and attend next week's county council meeting on Wednesday July 7 at 8:30 am. Below is the text of a letter I sent regarding this issue to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

Clyde Nāmu'o Chief Executive Officer Office of Hawaiian Affairs 711 Kapi'olani Blvd., Suite 500 Honolulu, HI 96813 Phone: (808) 594-1835 Fax: (808) 594-1865 email: info@oha.org Aloha no Mr. Nāmu'o and OHA: I am sorry to keep contacting you about the federally funded Paradise Ranch project Lepeuli.

There are many mis-conceptions and inaccuracies that need consideration. SHPD has ruled "No Affect" to Historic Properties without considering the continual Hawaiian habitation (including kuleana with houselots) of this ahupua`a for many hundreds of years. SHPD has failed to consider the Hawaiian presence of habitation sites, and social constructs of schools, churches, stores, and cemeteries as well as proto-historic sugar plantation era developments including roads, ditches, flumes and railroads and the beach house of luna C. David Larsen.

Cattle have caused the exposure of 3 individuals' remains from Lepeuli. SHPD has re-interred these 3 people into the area which will be a federally subsidized cattle pasture. When asked by BLMR Representative Dr. Sam Gon if the fence could be re-located mauka of the reburial site, they answered that they have not been asked to do that. From the minutes of the BLNR meeting of May 13, 2010: The existence of and the location of the re-burials was not included in the original CDUA documents. The exact fenceline location was not included in the CDUA documents until well after the closing date for comments.

There is no known burial treatment plan nor recommendation to avoid the planned ripping, pitting and soil contouring of the area of these reinterrments. Can OHA please request that the fenceline be located mauka of the re-burial site of 3 individuals (by SHPD) so the commercial cattle operation will not deposit manure on these graves? It is unconscionable to allow this federally funded project to enable manure deposition on human remains. A burial treatment plan (with proper map) should include avoidance of machinery and herbicides in this area.

This project needs full consideration by a Cultural Impact Assessment. Lepeuli is a treasure of cultural and environmental resources and deserves scrutiny, respect, and protection. Thank you for your immediate response to this request. The reconsideration time for the CDUA permit is closing soon.

Mahalo in advance for speaking for the `iwi kupuna of Lepeuli.

Hope Kallai
Malama Moloa`a
POB 655 Kilauea, HI 96754
Lokahipath2@live.com

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