HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The landowner where the remains of his ancestors were found on Kauai’s North Shore told Hawaii News Now he has received threats online.
Descendants of those buried said they want everyone to come together to protect iwi kupuna.
Video of the Onewan Road property, called Hale Makai Cottages, in Wainiha near Hanalei, showed construction stalled and orange flags marking areas of iwi kupuna.
At least six iwi kupuna were discovered during the cesspool conversion project, according to people with cultural ties to the area.
“That area has been completely dug up and there are piles of sand. We are finding bone fragments all over the area,” said Megan Wong, a descendant of the Nawe burial culture.
“It’s like a crime scene and I don’t know how to put it back together,” she added.
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Kauai police arrested three people, including Wong, after KPD said they responded to a report that several people had been at the scene for four days.
“We want laws that protect our descendants from practicing their cultural rights, and some of those cultural rights include access to iwi kupuna, visiting and performing rituals,” Wong said. said.
Last week, the state Department of Health issued a cease-and-desist order to allow the state Historic Preservation Division to begin and complete its investigation.
Property owner Chris Arreguín said he and his family have been targeted by “misinformation” and “threats” online.
“There have been numerous instances of trespassing and destruction of property,” Arreguín said in a statement to Hawaii News Now.
He said they received instructions from the DOH to upgrade from a cesspool to a septic tank and followed state and county procedures.
“We understand that people are questioning the processes and procedures under the direction of the DOH and SHPD, but abuse and intimidation of anyone is not an acceptable response,” Arreguín said.
The Native Hawaiian Law Corporation is involved in this case.
“The government has heard the cries of descendants, heard the concerns and has fully determined that it is appropriate to pause the work,” said Makalika Naholova, executive director of the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation. .
“Were all these processes carried out because the descendants and the community were well aware that there was a burial site here? That’s really a protest,” Nakhorova added.
Meanwhile, Wong said the owners are not on Kauai, but are encouraging kapu aloha as the community seeks a peaceful resolution.
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