NATIVE HAWAIIANS TO PRESS FOR RELEASE OF SACRED ANCESTRAL REMAINS
lio`ulaokalani Coalition To Co-Sponsor 24-Hour Vigil
lio`ulaokalani Coalition along with Hui Malama i na Kupuna o Hawai`i Nei,
University of Hawai`i - Kamakakuokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies and the
Nation of Hawai`i, will hold a 24 hr. prayer vigil at the Bishop Museum on
May 29th and 30th , 2004.
The vigil begins promptly at 12 noon May 29th .
This prayer vigil seeks the expeditious repatriation of all iwi kupuna (ancestral
human remains) and moe pū held at the Bishop Museum, and spiritual protection
for the Kawaihae iwi kupuna and moe pu .
While many this coming Memorial Day weekend will remember, visit and lay
flowers at veteran cemeteries nationwide including Punchbowl – the National
Memorial of the Pacific and Arlington National Cemetery to honor fallen soldiers,
Native Hawaiians will also pay tribute to those who have gone before.
lio`ulaokalani Coalition and supporting Native Hawaiian Organizations mentioned,
will lead this prayer vigil at the Bishop Museum where approximately 100 human
remains continue to be held by the Museum.
The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act require the rightful
repatriation of these bones (cultural items), sacred objects, associated and
unassociated funerary objects, and cultural patrimony.
We emphasize that this is a prayer vigil and ask the public to respect the sanctity of
this gathering.We encourage the Native Hawaiian community and supporters to join us in pule(prayer.) All who attend are reminded to bring their own mea `ai, water, and related necessities for the 24 hr. vigil.
Parking will be available on the grounds of the Bishop Museum and after school
hours at Kapalama Elementary. Street parking available.
Pule will occur every hour on the hour beginning at noon until 6 p.m. From 6 p.m.
until sunrise, pule will be observed every three hours. Thereafter, we will resume
pule every hour on the hour until closing at noon on May 30th .
To downloaded the pule, visit www.ilio.org.
