HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0476.002 2014-2016Murashige, Laura
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From: Jamie Kawauchi <jami.kawa@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, October 05, 2015 7:52 AM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Resolution 287 - 15
Attachments: Letter RESO. 287 15.pdf
Please, see attach file and forward to all Committee on Finance Members. Mahalo nui loa! J.
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Ref. To:
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October 4, 2015
Attn: Committee of Finance
County Council
County of Hawaii
Hawaii County Building
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Aloha mai kakou,
Mrs. Karen Eoff, Finance Committe Chair & Presiding Officer
Mrs. Valerie T. Poindexter, Fiance Committee Vice Chair
Finance Committee Members:
Mr. Aaron S. Y. Chung, Council Member
Mrs. Maile "Medeiros" David, Council Member
Mr. Greggor Ilagan, Council Member
Mr. Dru Mano Kanuha, Council Member
Mr. Dennis "Fresh" Onishi, Council Member
Mr. Daniel Paleka, Council Member
Ms. Margaret Wille, Council Member
RE: Resolution 287-15 Kahua Olohu Makahiki Grounds, Kaundmano Ahupua'a, Ka'u District,
TMK: (3) 9-5-012:005
I "strongly support", Resolution 287 15 for the County acquisition of the Kahua Olohu, Makahiki
Grounds at Kaunamano, Ka'u, Hawaii, TMK: (3) 95-012:005 and humbly urge you to vote "YES" to
this resolution.
It is an extremely valuable asset to the Hawaii County, our Ka'u District, Hawaii nei and beyond. Due
to it's rarity of being only one in two Kahua Olohu or Makahiki Grounds throughout the Hawaiian
Islands and notable preserved historical site despite commerical dairy and cattle husbandry uses mid
1900s (http://www2.hawaii.edu/—speccoll/p_kauhut.html).
Several archaeology surveys including the Naalehu AIS — final — Feb. 2013, Pacific Legacy done on
and associated with this parcel, have discovered many ancient resources heavily supporting it as a
Kahua Olohu or Makahiki Arena. Furthermore, along with documentation by well known historical
author and researcher Mary Kawena Pukui Wiggins, whose 'ohana is rooted in Ka'u (Tutuwahine
Nali'iPO'AImoku, born in 1830 in Ka'u) in her famous book Native Planters In Old Hawaii Their
Life, Lore, and Environment by B.S. Craighill Handy and Elizabeth Green Handy with the
Collaboration of Mary Kawena Pukui, explicity describes this local. She states, "The famous bowling
field named Kahua-olohu (maika stoneswere called olohu in Ka'u) was just below the present town of
Na'alehu.
It is a large level area to seaward of the road which must have been cleared and graded. In old
Hawaiian times this borad kahua or plaza was used not just for bowling, but for other sports such as
boxing, javlin throwing, and hula dancing during the Makhiki festival. But in a later era this was good
sweet -potato land. Puku'is elder relative, Opupele, had 'uala patches here when she was a child." In
relationship to the Makahiki, specific religious practices would be performed her as well.
A high prominence of cultural customs, beliefs, events and oral chronicles is significant to the the
history and cultural of the populace. Both the Hawaii State, HAR Section 13-275-6 (b) and the
National Registry as a Tradional Culture Property (2004 Federal Courts); 36 CFR Section 60-4.
An ideal partnership between County of Hawaii, the community organizations, and the many families
of Ka'u could come together in assisting to rejuvenate this beautiful "wahi pana" into a multi -faceted
wealth in establishment of a functional Makahiki arena, education, cultural and other related activities
for everyone in Hawaii and world — wide.
Mahalo nui loa, in advance for your voting "YES" in supporting and passing Resolution 287 15.
Me Ke Aloha Pumehana,
Jamie Moana Kawauchi
Jamie M. Kawauchi
POB 573
Naalehu, Hawaii 96772
(808) 929-9076
(808) 937-2185
jami.kawa@gmail.com
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