BURIAL REMOVALS DRAW PROTESTORS TO CHURCH

Demonstrators Say Kawaiaha`o Should Stop Disinterments

Honolulu Star-Advertiser - February 15, 2012

Nearly 40 demonstrators, some in skeleton costumes, protested the rising number of Native Hawaiian burial disinterments at Kawaiaha`o Church outside the historic institution known as “the Westminster Abbey of the Pacific.”

The group, mostly University of Hawai`i students, held signs and chanted in Hawaiian to voice their objections to the removal of iwi kūpuna, or ancestral remains, being carried out by Honolulu’s oldest church to make way for a $17.5 million multipurpose building.

More than 238 burials have been removed from the site with state permission.

Most disinterments have occurred since November, rising the ire of Native Hawaiians who say cultural tradition calls for them to protect their ancestors’ remains from disturbance even if they were buried in a Christian cemetery at a church established in 1842.

A Star-Advertiser story has disclosed the disinterment count through Jan. 21 reported to state officials by an archaeologist hired by the church.

The church declines to disclose such figures. A more up-to-date count hasn’t been available from the State Historic Preservation Division, but 14 burials a week have been unearthed on average over the past few months.

Protesters displayed more than a dozen signs with names of families with burials at Kawaiaha`o - Pilali, Ka`ahea, Adams, Shaw, Kapena, Kakelaka, Kuaea, Kanaumu, Godfrey, Buckle — to raise awareness about who might have relatives being disturbed.

The group also carried signs urging the church to cease disinterments. “Stop Digging Kawaiaha`o,” read one. “There’s life in the bones,” read another.

Some signs were more cutting, such as one in the shape of a coffin with the words “GRAVE RAIDERS” intersected on a cross.

“We are here to stand for who we are as a people,” said Zurishaddai “Z” ‘Aki, 25, one of several members of the UH student group Makawalu who donned skeleton masks to emphasize the connection to their cause.

“We came out today to show we’re not forgetting about our kūpuna,” said Punahele Kealanahele-Querubin, 21, a senior in UH’s Hawaiian Studies program. “We still carry the values that we have had for hundreds of years. To give up those values is giving yourself up as a Hawaiian. It’s just hewa (wrong). Just hewa.”

ITʻS IN THE AIR SHOWING UP EVERYWHERE ON “VOICES OF TRUTH - ONE-ON-ONE WITH HAWAI`IʻS FUTURE”

More and more people who call Hawai`i home these days have come to realize the system imposed by the illegal US occupation has not worked.

With yet more of our land about to be sold off to foreign developers in another futile attempt to bail the fake state out of bankruptcy, our natural resources being depleted and plundered and corrupt politicians more desperate than ever to keep things from spiraling out of control, many are realizing there has to be a better way.

What is that way and why is it beginning to show up in the most surprising places? Find out this coming Wednesday on Free Hawaii TV.

We feature individuals this week who have created their own solutions in a variety of ways, from creating scholastic success, to a different kind of church, to reviving an almost completely lost cultural art. Check them out all this week on Hawai`i’s award winning Voices Of Truth – One-On-One With Hawai`i’s Future.

MONDAY, June 27th At 5:30 PM – O`ahu, `Olelo, Channel 53
“Remembering Our History – Teaching Our Future – A Visit With Noelani Goodyear-Kaopua”

Sheʻs always had a lifetime commitment to “aloha `aina,” or love for land and country. As an educator, Noelani now instills it in others. Co-founder of Halau Ku Mana, one of Hawai`iʻs most successful culture-based public charter schools, she fosters visions in her students of a world in balance. Join us as Noelani takes us on a campus tour, and youʻll understand why sheʻs one of Hawai`iʻs extraordinary educators. - Watch It Here

MONDAY, June 27th At 6:30 PM – Maui – Akaku, Channel 53
“One Size Does Not Fit All – A Visit With Kealaula Cockett”

Kealaula Cockett’s scholastic experience could be summed up in one word – failure. Until one day his sister came home with surprising news. The new Hawaiian charter school was turning students lives around. Was he interested? Did he even believe it would work for him? You’ll be amazed as Kealaula tells of his unique and powerful transformation that made him into one of Hawai`i’s young role models today - Watch It Here

MONDAY, June 27th At 7:00 PM & FRIDAY, July 1st At 5:30 PM – Hawai`i Island – Na Leo, Channel 53

New Days & Times -
TUESDAY, June 28th At 7:30 PM & THURSDAY, June 30th At 7:30 PM SATURDAY, July 2nd At 8:00 PM - Kaua`i – Ho`ike, Channel 52
“My Sacred Places – A Visit With Uncle Les Kuloloio”

Like many people, Uncle Les goes to church regularly. But his church has no walls. That’s because the beaches of Maui are his sacred places, and Les knows them like few others. Don’t miss our walk along the sand with one of Maui’s treasured elders as Uncle Les opens our eyes to the breathtaking beauty of one of these very special places - Watch It Here

Sneak Peek!
SATURDAY, July 2nd At 8:00 PM – O`ahu, `Olelo, Channel 53
“Making His Mark - A Visit With Keone Nunes”

Kakau or cultural tattoos in old Hawai`i were highly stylized unique patterns that carried information about the individual, their family and even genealogy. An ancient art done over the centuries with hand-made tools, it was nearly lost forever until Keone Nunes single-handedly revived it. Donʻt miss our amazing visit as Keone takes us inside his studio where he shows us his tools, examples of his work and the age-old process of creating this priceless cultural art he has now brought back to life - Watch It Here

Now you can become a fan of Voices Of Truth on Facebook by clicking Here and see behind the scenes photos of our shows and a whole lot more.

Voices Of Truth interviews those creating a better future for Hawai`i to discover what made them go from armchair observers to active participants. We hope you'll be inspired to do the same.

Voices Of Truth now airs on local access stations in Cape Town, South Africa, Sweden and 50 cities across the US. Check your local listings.

If you support our issues on the Free Hawai`i Broadcasting Network, please email this to a friend to help us continue. A donation today helps further our work. Every single penny counts.

Donating is easy on our Voices Of Truth website via PayPal where you can watch Voices Of Truth anytime.

For news and issues that affect you, watch Free Hawai`i TV, a part of the Free Hawai`i Broadcasting Network.

Please share our Free Hawai`i Broadcasting Network videos with friends and colleagues. That's how we grow. Mahalo.

NO JOKE - ITʻS BROKE ON “VOICES OF TRUTH - ONE-ON-ONE WITH HAWAI`IʻS FUTURE”

Itʻs no surprise the fake state of Hawai`i is officially broke.

The illegal US occupation has imposed a system in Hawai`i that has brought ruin and thatʻs also no surprise to anyone who lives here - sky-high prices, having to work two or even three jobs just to survive, depletion of our natural resources and turning our islands into the most heavily militarized real estate on earth.

But something did happen this last week that surprised a lot of people, and it does not portend well for something fake state governor Neil Abercrombie has his eyes on to fix the problem.

What is that and what are his plans to salvage the fake state financial mess? Find out this coming Wednesday on Free Hawai`i TV.

We present three amazing individuals who are all very much in tune with how things can and should be in our island nation. See for yourself all this week on Hawai`i’s award winning Voices Of Truth – One-On-One With Hawai`i’s Future.

MONDAY, June 20th At 5:30 PM – O`ahu, `Olelo, Channel 53
“Grave Matters – A Visit With Kamuela Kala`i”

Imagine you received a call early one morning and the person on the other end of the phone told you your ancestors were being dug up from their graves. Drop everything and race down there? Thatʻs what Kamuela Kala`i did and not a moment too soon. She discovered bones of her relatives buried at Kawaiaha`o church were about to be removed to make way for a social hall, and no one in the church considered it wrong. Join us in our fascinating interview with Kamuela who literally braved arrest to protect her familyʻs remains in an issue thatʻs shaking the Hawaiian community to itʻs very core – Watch It Here

MONDAY, June 20th At 6:30 PM – Maui – Akaku, Channel 53
“One Size Does Not Fit All – A Visit With Kealaula Cockett”

Kealaula Cockett’s scholastic experience could be summed up in one word – failure. Until one day his sister came home with surprising news. The new Hawaiian charter school was turning students lives around. Was he interested? Did he even believe it would work for him? You’ll be amazed as Kealaula tells of his unique and powerful transformation that made him into one of Hawai`i’s young role models today - Watch It Here

MONDAY, June 20th At 7:00 PM & FRIDAY, June 24th At 5:30 PM – Hawai`i Island – Na Leo, Channel 53

New Days & Times -
TUESDAY, June 21st At 7:30 PM & THURSDAY, June 23rd At 7:30 PM SATURDAY, June 25th At 8:00 PM - Kaua`i – Ho`ike, Channel 52
“My Sacred Places – A Visit With Uncle Les Kuloloio”

Like many people, Uncle Les goes to church regularly. But his church has no walls. That’s because the beaches of Maui are his sacred places, and Les knows them like few others. Don’t miss our walk along the sand with one of Maui’s treasured elders as Uncle Les opens our eyes to the breathtaking beauty of one of these very special places - Watch It Here

Now you can become a fan of Voices Of Truth on Facebook by clicking Here and see behind the scenes photos of our shows and a whole lot more.

Voices Of Truth interviews those creating a better future for Hawai`i to discover what made them go from armchair observers to active participants. We hope you'll be inspired to do the same.

Voices Of Truth now airs on local access stations in Cape Town, South Africa, Sweden and 50 cities across the US. Check your local listings.

If you support our issues on the Free Hawai`i Broadcasting Network, please email this to a friend to help us continue. A donation today helps further our work. Every single penny counts.

Donating is easy on our Voices Of Truth website via PayPal where you can watch Voices Of Truth anytime.

For news and issues that affect you, watch Free Hawai`i TV, a part of the Free Hawai`i Broadcasting Network.

Please share our Free Hawai`i Broadcasting Network videos with friends and colleagues. That's how we grow. Mahalo.

WHO OWNS THESE BONES ON “VOICES OF TRUTH - ONE-ON-ONE WITH HAWAI`IʻS FUTURE”

Thereʻs a new chapter being written at Kawaiaha`o Church in Honolulu regarding the iwi kupuna or ancestral bones buried in the cemetery there.

Previously we reported on both Free Hawai`i TV and Voices Of Truth - One-On-One With Hawai`iʻs Future on efforts of present day descendants to protect their relatives from being unearthed to make way for the construction of a new church social hall.

We also reported that in the eyes of Kawaiaha`o church and its parishioners it sees nothing wrong with digging up its former congregants - and even ministers - all in the name of “progress,” despite the fact that itʻs the ultimate wrongful insult in the Hawaiian culture.

Weekly protests that led to arrests have occurred at the church and a few weeks ago when church officials finally agreed to sit down for talks with the affected families there was hope of resolution.

Now come new developments - and the news is not good.

This coming Wednesday on Free Hawai`i TV weʻll bring you up to date on the shocking new developments at the Kawaiaha`o church cemetery and what it all means for those buried there and their relatives today.

For the full story of whatʻs led up to all of this, donʻt miss our amazing interview with Kamuela Kala`i, whoʻs been on the forefront of both protesting and protecting her own relatives remains buried there. See it all this week on Hawai`i’s award winning Voices Of Truth – One-On-One With Hawai`i’s Future.

MONDAY, June 13th At 5:30 PM & SATURDAY, June 18th At 8:00 PM – O`ahu, `Olelo, Channel 53
MONDAY, June 13th At 6:30 PM – Maui – Akaku, Channel 53
MONDAY, June 13th At 7:00 PM & FRIDAY, June 17th At 5:30 PM – Hawai`i Island – Na Leo, Channel 53

New Days & Times -
TUESDAY, June 14th At 7:30 PM & THURSDAY, June 16th At 7:30 PM SATURDAY, June 18th At 8:00 PM - Kaua`i – Ho`ike, Channel 52
“Grave Matters – A Visit With Kamuela Kala`i”

Imagine you received a call early one morning and the person on the other end of the phone told you your ancestors were being dug up from their graves. Drop everything and race down there? Thatʻs what Kamuela Kala`i did and not a moment too soon. She discovered bones of her relatives buried at Kawaiaha`o church were about to be removed to make way for a social hall, and no one in the church considered it wrong. Join us in our fascinating interview with Kamuela who literally braved arrest to protect her familyʻs remains in an issue thatʻs shaking the Hawaiian community to itʻs very core – Watch It Here

Now you can become a fan of Voices Of Truth on Facebook by clicking Here and see behind the scenes photos of our shows and a whole lot more.

Voices Of Truth interviews those creating a better future for Hawai`i to discover what made them go from armchair observers to active participants. We hope you'll be inspired to do the same.

Voices Of Truth now airs on local access stations in Cape Town, South Africa, Sweden and 50 cities across the US. Check your local listings.

If you support our issues on the Free Hawai`i Broadcasting Network, please email this to a friend to help us continue. A donation today helps further our work. Every single penny counts.

Donating is easy on our Voices Of Truth website via PayPal where you can watch Voices Of Truth anytime.

For news and issues that affect you, watch Free Hawai`i TV, a part of the Free Hawai`i Broadcasting Network.

Please share our Free Hawai`i Broadcasting Network videos with friends and colleagues. That's how we grow. Mahalo.

MANY PERTURBED THESE BONES GOT DISTURBED ON “VOICES OF TRUTH - ONE-ON-ONE WITH HAWAI`IʻS FUTURE”

Our debut last week of “Grave Matters,” our interview with Kamuela Kala`i on the callous disregard of iwi kupuna, or ancestral bones being dug up at Kawaiaha`o church in Honolulu has brought one of the largest outpourings of viewer reaction weʻve ever had.

Digging up remains of their own parishioners in order to build a new social hall without notifying ahead of time the families of those buried there has sparked community outrage, protests, and even arrests.

Those who watched our interview with Kamuela responded with some of the strongest language and reaction to any of our shows to date.

And everyone has asked the same question, “what is the community doing to stop this?”

Find out as “Grave Matters” airs on all islands this week. Donʻt miss one of our most important shows ever, right here on Hawai`i’s award winning Voices Of Truth – One-On-One With Hawai`i’s Future.

MONDAY, June 6th At 5:30 PM – O`ahu, `Olelo, Channel 53
MONDAY, June 6th At 6:30 PM – Maui – Akaku, Channel 53
MONDAY, June 6th At 7:00 PM & FRIDAY, June 10th At 5:30 PM – Hawai`i Island – Na Leo, Channel 53
THURSDAY, June 9th At 8:30 PM & FRIDAY, June 10th At 8:30 AM - Kaua`i – Ho`ike, Channel 52
“Grave Matters – A Visit With Kamuela Kala`i”

Imagine you received a call early one morning and the person on the other end of the phone told you your ancestors were being dug up from their graves. Drop everything and race down there? Thatʻs what Kamuela Kala`i did and not a moment too soon. She discovered bones of her relatives buried at Kawaiaha`o church were about to be removed to make way for a social hall, and no one in the church considered it wrong. Join us in our fascinating interview with Kamuela who literally braved arrest to protect her familyʻs remains in an issue thatʻs shaking the Hawaiian community to itʻs very core – Watch It Here


Now you can become a fan of Voices Of Truth on Facebook by clicking Here and see behind the scenes photos of our shows and a whole lot more.

Voices Of Truth interviews those creating a better future for Hawai`i to discover what made them go from armchair observers to active participants. We hope you'll be inspired to do the same.

Voices Of Truth now airs on local access stations in Cape Town, South Africa, Sweden and 50 cities across the US. Check your local listings.

If you support our issues on the Free Hawai`i Broadcasting Network, please email this to a friend to help us continue. A donation today helps further our work. Every single penny counts.

Donating is easy on our Voices Of Truth website via PayPal where you can watch Voices Of Truth anytime.

For news and issues that affect you, watch Free Hawai`i TV, a part of the Free Hawai`i Broadcasting Network.

Please share our Free Hawai`i Broadcasting Network videos with friends and colleagues. That's how we grow. Mahalo.