NŪ HOU - NEWSBRIEFS

Nū Hou

By Ka Wai Ola Staff

OHA Board of Trustees visits Kanu O Ka 'Āina

The OHA Board of Trustees on July 16 toured three sites of Kanu O Ka 'Āina charter school in Waimea, Hawai'i. The Hawaiian culture-focused charter school, which for much of its existence has held classes in tents and other temporary structures, is constructing a permanent site at Kauhale 'Ōiwi O Pu'ukapu. Construction is being funded through private financing and government grants, including a $1 million Level II grant from OHA. Pictured from left are: Bus driver Dexter Matsui, Tiona Wailehua, Kama Hopkins, Lei-Ann Durant, Malia Schneider, Trustee Robert Lindsey, Crayn Akina, Chairperson Haunani Apoliona, Trustee Walter Heen, OHA Administrator Clyde Nāmu'o, Melissa Beimes, and Trustees Oswald Stender, Boyd Mossman and Colette Machado. - Photo: T. Ilihia Gionson

Moloka'i services

On July 21, the state Department of Health issued an order requiring Moloka'i Properties Ltd. and its subsidiaries to continue water and sewer operations on Moloka'i for at least the next 90 days, while requiring Maui County to assess the situation and be prepared to assume the role of providing the services.

The next day, Maui County asked to have orders issued by the Hawai'i Department of Health rescinded and the case dismissed. Maui County Deputy Corporation Counsel Jane Lovell said that the department's orders are flawed, and that the state has no legal authority to require a county to bail out a private utility.

As of press time, no decision had been made, and a continuance of the hearing was scheduled for July 30.

Moloka'i Properties, which owns about one-third of the land on Moloka'i, announced in March that it would shut down its Moloka'i Ranch and resort operations and lay off more than 120 employees. Later, the company said it could no longer financially sustain the island's utilities past August.

Ha'ikū Valley

A bill that would have established a cultural preserve in Ha'ikū Valley under consolidated management failed last month with Gov. Linda Lingle's veto. But several community groups, which provided the impetus for OHA to introduce the bill in this year's Legislature, say they have received assurances from the governor's office that Ha'ikū Valley will receive state protection without the bill.

“We feel confident we can work together to address our many concerns, such as access for cultural practitioners in the valley and reducing the number of trespassers that have troubled neighboring residents,” said Mahealani Cypher, president of the Ko'olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club, one of several groups that contributed to the Ha'iku Valley Master Plan, a basis for HB 2704.

The bill had called for a state commission to manage Ha'ikū Valley land, including its several heiau and burial grounds. Since most of the land already belongs to the state and county, Lingle has said that existing laws will protect the area. The bill would have also begun a campaign to raise money for converting the abandoned OMEGA navigational station into a cultural center. This may still happen, said Cypher, adding that it will depend on a strong and continued collaboration by the state and community groups.

Ward iwi

A lawsuit filed in First Circuit Court by Paulette Kaleikini regarding iwi kūpuna discovered on the construction site of General Growth Properties' Ward Village Shops in Kewalo, Honolulu, O'ahu, has been resolved.

After consulting with Kaleikini and other cultural descendants, an agreement was reached to reinter all iwi disturbed during construction in a central burial site, adjacent to a burial site of 30 sets of remains which was previously preserved in place pursuant to a State Historic Preservation Division decision. About 30 more sets of iwi had been found at various locations on the site. Cultural descendants completed the reinterment in a ceremony on May 3.

The agreement necessitates the redesign of a planned 160-unit residential tower, said Jan Yokota, development vice president for General Growth Properties Hawai'i Region. She said construction on the tower will be delayed, but that construction has been ongoing on other components, including the Whole Foods building, which is slated to open in 2009.

33rd annual Queen Lili'uokalani Keiki Hula Competition

Top to bottom: The gentlemen of Hālau Kekuaokala'au'ala'iliahi under nā kumu hula 'Iliahi and Haunani Paredes, from Wailuku, Maui, took Kāne Overall title with the highest combined score at the 33rd annual Queen Lili'uokalani Keiki Hula Competition at the Neal Blaisdell Center in Honolulu. The young ladies of Hula Hālau 'O Kamuela, from Kalihi and Waimānalo under kumu Kau'ionālani Kamana'o, dazzled the judges and the audience to take first place in the 'Auana Kaikamahine division, as well as the Kaikamahine Overall title. The July 17-19 competition, which attracted hālau from across the state and Japan, suffered a blow this year as title sponsor Aloha Airlines went bankrupt. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs stepped in as a sponsor, ensuring that the competition would be broadcast to TV audiences statewide. Showtimes are 6:30 p.m. Aug. 1 (hula kahiko) and 6 p.m. Aug. 2 (hula 'auana) on KITV4. [More photos can be seen from the event here.] - Photos: Blaine Fergerstrom

Kaua'i DHHL homes

On July 19, 19 Native Hawaiian 'ohana from Kaua'i and Ni'ihau moved into new homes as they celebrated the completion of the Kekaha Residence Lots Unit 4 Self-Help project. The 19 families along with volunteers provided 60 percent of the labor constructing the four-bedroom, two-bath, 1,248-square-foot homes. “Sweat equity is one way we can offset the cost of the home and we would like to see more of these types of projects throughout our developments,” said Micah Kāne, director of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.

To participate in the project, families needed to be at or below 80 percent of Kaua'i County's median income. For a family at 80 percent of the median income, the four-bedroom home cost $96,380. For a family at or below 50 percent of the median income, the home cost $71,380. Nearly three-quarters of the families had incomes at or below 50 percent of the median.

The entire project of 49 homes should be completed by November and occupied by December.

Burgess lawsuit

On July 1, U.S. District Judge Michael Seabright dismissed the latest lawsuit brought against the Office of Hawaiian Affairs by attorney H. William Burgess, saying that it makes the same claims as one rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2006.

The lawsuit, filed by Burgess in April on behalf of six non-Hawaiians, sought to prevent OHA from lobbying in support of the Akaka Bill and to halt state funding for the organization founded by the 1978 Hawai'i Constitutional Convention. Burgess challenged OHA as being racially discriminatory. The lawsuit is the latest in a long string of legal challenges brought by Burgess.

KS Trustee search

Perhaps it's time to freshen up that résumé.

The Kamehameha Schools Board of Trustees this month filed a petition to appoint a successor to Trustee Robert Kihune, whose term expires on June 30, 2009. Pending the court's approval of the petition, the search will be on for a new trustee.

According to the process by which the current Board of Trustees was selected, the Probate Court will appoint a screening committee of seven people, which will then accept applications and nominations for the position. The committee will select and interview six semifinalists. The three finalists will be subject to public comment for 30 days. The committee will submit a report to the Probate Court, which will make the final selection.

Kamehameha Schools' five-member Board of Trustees oversees policy for the $7 billion trust in accordance with the will of Ke Ali'i Bernice Pauahi Bishop. In addition to Admiral Kihune, the current trustees of Kamehameha Schools are Chairman Nainoa Thompson, Diane Plotts, Corbett Kalama and J. Douglas Ing.

Pauahi Foundation

Kalei Stern takes the helm Aug. 1 as executive director of Ke Ali'i Pauahi Foundation, the charitable arm of Kamehameha Schools. The $13 million endowment includes more than 100 donor-supported scholarships and corporate partnerships.

Most recently, Stern worked as the philanthropic services director for the nonprofit Hawai'i Community Foundation, where she served as donor services director and senior scholarship officer during her eight years there.

“I am truly honored to be at a place where I can help to support and further Pauahi's vision,” Stern said in a news release. “I'm eager and excited to work with Kamehameha Schools' alumni, campuses and statewide programs and those who are touched by Kamehameha Schools' broad network of support.”

A native of O'ahu's Windward side, Stern graduated from Kamehameha Schools and has a bachelor's degree in international relations from the University of Southern California and a master's in business administration from the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa.

Federal grants awarded

Eighteen educational programs to help Native Hawaiians received a total of $9.8 million in federal grants. The grants were awarded under the Native Hawaiian Education Act, administered by the U.S. Department of Education. The programs are:

• Partners in Development, about $2.6 million for five projects.
• UH's Mānoa's Center on Disability Studies, $1.5 million for four projects.
• Maui Community College's Liko A'e program, $1 million to provide financial aid and support to Native Hawaiians pursuing higher education.
• Institute for Native Pacific Education and Culture (INPEACE), $948,000 toward providing educational opportunities for parents, caretakers and children at 12 sites on O'ahu, Hawai'i and Moloka'i.
• Kanu O Ka 'Āina Learning Project, $799,000 to provide literacy, technology and cultural education in Waimea, Hawai'i.
• Ho'ōla Lāhui Hawai'i, $791,000 toward increasing the percentage of immersion and charter school students on Kaua'i wanting to pursue careers in healthcare or education.
• UH Mānoa's College of Engineering, $557,000 to provide enrichment to Native Hawaiian students.
• Mana Maoli, $479,000 to develop curriculum for high school students and to increase professional development.
• Ke Kula 'O S.M. Kamakau Public Charter School, $418,000 to provide services related to career decisions and self-sufficiency.
• Pacific American Foundation, $366,000 to develop curriculum in math, science, social studies and language arts from a Hawaiian perspective.
• Ka'ala Farms, $220,000 for culture-based instruction for students at Mā'ili Elementary School.

In addition, the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee on June 26 approved about $61 million for eight projects relating to health care and education for Native Hawaiians. The legislation will now advance to the full Senate for approval.

“All socio-economic indicators show that modern-day Hawai'i has not treated its First Citizens well. That is why federal Native Hawaiian programs, particularly in health and education, are so crucial,” read a statement by U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, who has served on the Senate Appropriations Committee for 37 years.

Papa oli course

Kumu hula Tony La'akapu Lenchanko is accepting students interested in oli and mele oli for the 10-week fall session of Nā 'Ōpua o Ke'alohilani. Registration will be on Sunday, Sept. 14, at the Bishop Museum Paki Building, Room 2. Class registrations and orientations are as follows: Novice 4-5 p.m., Intermediate 5-6 p.m., and Advanced 6-7 p.m. For information, call 668-7054 or email lenchanka001@hawaii.rr.com.

NO KA ILINA - BURIAL NOTICES

Kaipapa'u Ahupua'a

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that unmarked burials have been discovered in TMK 5-4-3:003, & 52-54, located in Hau'ula along the coast of Kaipapa'u ahupua'a, Ko'olauloa District, O'ahu Island. The remains of three individuals have been discovered during the past 20 years and one partial remain was recently discovered. Treatment of the human remains shall occur in accordance with Section 6E 43.6 HRS.

All interested individuals or families who are possibly associated with the burial site or its location, and who have a position regarding burial site treatment, are requested to contact (a) Ms. Pua Aiu, Administrator, Historic Preservation Division (SHPD), Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), State of Hawai'i, Room 555 Kakuhihewa Building, 601 Kamokila Blvd., Kapolei, Hawai'i 96707 (808-692-8015), or (b) Lata Sua (representing the Client), 55-541 Kamehameha Highway, Lā'ie, Hawai'i 96762. All interested parties must provide information to the DLNR-SHPD that adequately demonstrates descent from the subject remains or from ancestors buried in the same ahupua'a or district where such remains are buried.

Hi'ona'ā, Honu'apo, Kī'olokū and Kaunāmano Ahupua'a, Ka'ū District

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Archaeological Consultants of the Pacific, Inc. (ACP) representing Mr. Christopher Manfredi of Ka'ū Farm and Ranch Company, LLC, has identified burials at TMK: (3) 9-5-12: 17 & 26 and 9-5-14: 8, 11, 17, 41, 45, 46 & 48 on a property in Hi'ona'ā, Honu'apo, Kī'olokū and Kaunāmano Ahupua'a, Ka'ū District, Island of Hawai'i.

Based on observations made, it is believed that the remains are most likely of Hawaiian ethnicity and proper treatment shall occur in accordance with Chapter 6E of the Hawai'i Revised Statutes regarding burial sites. Proposed treatment of the burials is to preserve the remains in place, however, the decision whether to preserve in place or disinter and relocate the human remains shall be made by the Hawai'i Island Burial Council in concert with the wishes of lineal descendants.

The Council is requesting families of HAWAIIANS WHO ONCE LIVED IN HI'ONA'Ā, HONU'APO, KĪ'OLOKŪ & KAUNĀMANO AHUPUA'A, KA'Ū DISTRICT, or who may have knowledge regarding these remains, to immediately contact Ms. Wendy Machado of the State Historic Preservation Division at (808) 981-2979 to present information regarding appropriate treatment of the human remains. Individuals responding must be able to adequately demonstrate a family connection to the burial(s) or the ahupua'a of Hi'ona'ā, Honu'apo, Kī'olokū and Kaunāmano.