S. McMichael 48 hours Testimony 05.31.23

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Ui4f cc- , 140 �oto 5A Surfer finds human skull in Kona BYCAROLYN LUCAS-ZENK and stern:"This is not a tour- WESTHAWAIITODAY ist site. Anyone caught with clucas-zenk@westhawaiitoday.com photos or disturbing the burial A human skull was discbv- site will face severe repercus- sions.Leave the remains alone. ercd 'Imam on the ocean Respecc side of the Kona Bali Kai.The Accordingto Hawaii Revised State Historical Preservation Statutes,"Appropriation,exca- Division and Hawaii Island vation, injury, destruction, or Burial Council will meet today alteration'of a burial site is to determine the care of the a misdemeanor for. which*a M2. or bones, said Phyllis fine noi to exceed $25,000, "Coochie"Cayan,the division's may. imposed in addition History and Culture Branch to<any other penalty provided chief ---by chapter 706 for a misde- "With inadvertent finds, meanor"Each day of a eontin- the care of the bones is under ued«olation shall constitute a the state. Our No. 1 priority distinct and separate ofense. is protection. Several factors Kailua-Kona resident will play into the decision as to Walter Gay said he was walk- whether the iwi will be relocat ing along the shoreline on. ed,"Cayan said."Staff from the his way to surf at Banyans State Historical Preservation around noon Tuesday, when Division have secured the he noticed something unusual remains. The Division of in the sand.He claimed high Conservation and Resources surf uncovered the top part of Enforcement is regularly a skull and an eye socket Then checking the site to make sure more water exposed the teeth the remains are not exposed or Gay immediately called disturbed:' DOCARE. Within an hour, As of press time Wednesday, DOCARE officers, State it was not clear whether the Historical Preservation skull was of Native Hawaiian Division staff and kupuna ancestry. However, archeolo- arrived. By Tuesday evening, gists think it might be of a Gray said the remains had been youth,Cayan said. reburied and secured with The State • Historical heavy rocks. Preservation Division has Native Hawaiians believe been notified that some people mans,or the spiritual essence have taken photos of the skull and power of a person,resides and are sharing, distributing in his ivvi.It was important for or posting the images.Besides the bones of deceased persons being "disrespectful;' this is to complete their journey and illegal to take photos of Native return to the ground to impart Hawaiian remains and viola- their mana. Sandy areas were tors can face fines ofthousands often easier to bury ivvi than in of dollars.All photos should be the dirt or lava,Cayan saict destroyed immediately, Cayan Report violations and con- said. terns regarding this burial Already word has spread site to the State Historical about the latest find of Preservation Division's Kona ivvn and concern has been office at 327-4959 or the state' expressed over the Security of Department of Land and the remains. &yan's message Natural Resources' enforce- Wednesday to"the inquisitive ment hotline at 643-DLNR public" was straightf jrward (3567).