Tyranny and Iwi
Exposed at Mākua

Valley is home to prominent Hawaiian memorials

PART ONE | TWO OF TWO

By Alika Poe Silva

Kahu Kulāiwi, Koa Mana, Kupukaaina o Wai'anae wahi pana, O'ahu, Hawaiian National

Aloha no, 'ohana, I am writing regarding our ancestors' iwi presently uncovered and artifacts stolen by the U.S. Army (and the Army's Laurie Lucking) from Mākua and the Wai'anae wahi pana, etc., when heavy military equipment (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) was planned to be put on our sites for training. These egregious violations are still occurring today. The U.S. Army knew or should have known that these sites are prominent Hawaiian Kingdom sovereignty war memorials and 'ohana gravesites that are significant in uniting the Hawaiian Kingdom state. 'Ohana, these sites are sacred to Kāne and to Kū (Kūkaniloko).

Additionally to ancestral burials, these sites have rare petroglyphs and astronomical significance – they are sacred traditional cultural property (TCP). For the Kāne religion's recognition of the December solstice, it represents both Papa as Mother (Earth) and Wākea as our (Sky) Father. Remember 'ohana our tūtū and place names that honor Mākua (Kanehunamoku), where he made our first parents' home (Na au Mākua). Remember, 'ohana, 'ike papa lua, the path of the Sun, is first seen from Ka-au-makua, and the door to Kāne no I'O faces the East. The Sun of the Son of I'O, Kaneikapualena, is revered for restoring life both on Earth and in Pō, where the spirits rest and await for healing or rebirth. Kānehunamoku is the cradle for La'ila'i and Ki'i that is located in Mākua. Here is where the womb of Papa (Kāneana) and the place where the sounds of I'O Lani (heaven) groan when there is birth at Kane-ukanipo Heiau or at Kūkaniloko. Our 'ohana deliberately built these schools for 'ohana needs and to connect the geometric alignments with the cosmology, unlocking the door to Hale'au'au, Kāne'ilio, Kāne'aki and back to Kānehunamoku in Mākua or back to Kūkaniloko, the piko of O'ahu. To illustrate that life is sacred to Kāne and our 'ohana, our kūpuna used to say, if you had an answer for a serious question it would have came from Kūkaniloko. This is what Koa Mana kūpuna knew, practiced and taught us.

Lucking's coercions supported Hui Malama and participated in setting up new ahu (altars) for Lono, which is a violation on sovereign levels. The reason why Lucking supports outsider political groups to practice a religion foreign to Mākua is to divide and conquer Hawaiian nationals. This conspiracy is carefully carried out against the Hawaiian Kingdom's sovereignty – National War Memorials and founders, heroes and the fallen who sacrificed for the union of our Nation, bringing Kaua'i in unification by a treaty. Malihini overlook for political purposes, to displace our foundation and rights (a'o pono, existence) of the Hawaiian Kingdom. Mākua is solely known as the celebrated land of the Kāne religion and home of I'O lani. Whether by the Army's intent or negligence, we ask that the Office of Hawaiian Affairs insure that there are meaningful consequences for the Army and Hui Malama's violations! Remember, the Hawaiian Kingdom does not solely exist in the opinion of our 'ohana. “It exists,” (see Larsen case, www.HawaiianKingdom.org), and the State of Hawai'i recognized our lineal descendants' claims.

Regarding the following questions about Hawaiian Kingdom traditional cultural properties:

1. Do those historically and culturally linked to this TCP (Mākua) still exist and do they own the property?

The answers to these questions:

1. Mākua contains numerous TCPs and is illegally occupied by the U.S. Army, which administers the Mākua TCPs under federal law and military policy. Notice Anti-Annexation Petition of 1897-1898.

These are examples of legal/proper management of TCPs:

1. Civil war battlegrounds and especially gravesites can be desecrated by acts and ceremonies that violate the meaning, memory and sacrifice of the war dead. Primarily, the sensibilities of the nation are used to define desecration. A rally by the Ku Klux Klan in Civil War graveyards or building a memorial to themselves would surely constitute a civil desecration of a secular site.

2. Mākua is a Hawaiian Sovereignty War Memorial and these gravesites also can be violated by acts and ceremonies that violate the meaning, memory and sacrifice of our 'ohana's war dead. The sensibility of the Hawaiian Kingdom and nations and lineal descendants are used in law to define desecration.

The law is about persuasion, not coercion. The Army by allowing persons or traditions that are alien to perform their rituals or to build on-site is a desecration of the public's trust in a non-coercive manner.

Dear 'ohana, please kōkua and call upon OHA and raise your voices for our mo'opuna and encourage them to do something now to protect our National Treasures and TCPs. And remember ,'ohana, the wisdom of Tūtū Lili'uokalani – we are her voice, ears and eyes. “A hiki mai ke aloha (come with love), a e pono mai ana (come with righteousness), Kekahekakai kapu a Kāne (sacred is Kāne).” A me, 'Onipa'a kākou (seek justice my people).”

Aloha no'ohana for being there when we need you to help our kids be akamai. Stay tuned for Part 3. I 'O lako 'ohana, ua mau ke ea o ka 'āina i ka pono.

This is the second in a series of commentaries.

Alika Poe Silva, Kahu Kulāiwi, Koa Mana, Kupuka'āina o Wai'anae, Moku, O'ahu, Hawaiian National.