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October 24, 2019
Aloha Kakou Hawaii County Council Members, DHHL, DLNR, Bishop Museum, OHA, U of H,
Office of Planning, Land Survey Division & Guests,
We will begin by thanking each and every one of you for allowing community input in to the
naming of our infamous Fissure 8. We are submitting our entire ohana testimony for the
naming of the Fissure 8 in support of Ahu 'Aila'au as submitted by Pi'ilani Kaawaloa, Keone
Kalawe, Ikaika Marzo and Leialoha Iiae-Kaleimamahu. I will give you a brief history on our
ohana.
Our parents, David & Patricia Hess immersed us in to our communities since moving to
Hawaii in 1967. On Oahu, we resided in Kaneohe on William Henry Road and were raised by
the Adams & Cobb-Adams Ohana. Upon moving to the Big Island in 1970, as our parents
purchased our Leilani Estates properties, the oldest of us four siblings, Deborra remained in
Kaneohe to complete her senior year at Castle High School and resided with the Ho'omana
Ohana.
Again while here on the Big Island we were immersed in the Hilo and Pahoa communities as
our parents both worked full-time. As we began to clear our Leilani properties strange things
began happening. Dangerous life threatening supernatural events began to encompass us
each time we went to our Leilani property. Our mom informed our dad that we, she and we,
the children would NOT return to Leilani until he got the property blessed. At that time he
worked for Hawaiian Equipment and spoke with his assistant who explained that her husband
would be able to help us with this. This began our current spiritual belief system in the culture
of the Hawaiian ancestors and heiau education. This man that came and educated us as an
entire "haole" ohana was none other than Papa Edward Kealanahele, PhD., affectionately
called Eddie by Nana Marge Kealanahele. He educated us in that we did not "own" the
property, that we are the care takers and must agree to respect and reside alongside the
ancestors. We agreed, and thus began our immersion and experiences in a whole new realm.
He went on to bless us and the 2 acres, while we sat and absorbed more mana'o from Nana
Marge. It was a sun shining day, not a cloud in the sky and we all can attest to the fact that
when Papa & Nana left that property there was loud thunder. It was so unnerving our dad
jumped in his truck and tried to chase them down to see what they did wrong? Upon
contacting them by phone later in the evening our parents were reassured that it was a
confirmation of a clearing of the air. I failed to mention Papa Ed's doctorate was in Heiau and
he had over 30 miniature replica models of various heiau from many ahupua'a. Just as Papa
Ed was a Kahuna of heiau, so is Keone Kalawe. Our ohana's mana'o agrees with Keone,
Pi'ilani, Ikaika & Leialoha that Ahu 'Aila'au is a perfect name spiritually, culturally and
educationally. It has tremendous meaning and purpose; it is an educated and well researched
choice, appropriate to the time, place, and energy put forth during this time.
Our immersion and education continued with the many local ohana and continues until today,
49 years later. We have been eager haumana of the Kaawaloas, Eldert's, Keliihoomalu's,
Kuamo'o's, Kuahiwinui's, Kealoha's, Pavao's, Kahilihiwa's, Hauanio's, Pau's, Peleiholani's,
Kamau's, Makuakane's, Aiona's, Kekaualua's, Kaapana's, Kalawe's, Poha's, Hale's, Ahyo's
and so many more ohana on the shore and aina of Kalapana, Kapoho, Pohoiki, Pahoa and
most of our lives Keahialaka, where Leilani Estates is located. Papa Ed always told us we
were "Lehua people" and we took that to heart. We cried when the Ohia started dying, we
learned about the forest eater, 'Aila'au, in the early 70's even though he is not a commonly
known God or in many mo`olelo. We wholeheartedly attributed the Rapid Ohia Death to him.
On April 28th, 2018 we began to notice an unnerving movement in the ground. As days went
on, it felt as if we were being lifted up and set back down. In hind sight, we now know we
were, as the movement in the ground was becoming relentless we discussed how angry it felt
and the stink smell it was generating. After 49 years of experiencing earthquakes and
eruptions this felt so different. Our brother David chose the word "angry" as there was no
better word. As this part of our lives unfolded in the following days we clung to social media
and apps on our phones that would alert us. The evening of May 3rd left with the children
leaving my husband Ken, brother David and daughter Davina to watch the house. We left our
home with the intention of returning in 3 days. Well that didn't happen. As I was returning to
Leilani around 12 am or so our daughter Davina called to say they were coming out as a
fissure had opened across the street behind Uncle Phil and Aunty Lunel's, I could hear the
roar and ash falling on my brother's car as they were exiting our driveway via Luana St.
Our first hike in to retrieve some important items we remembered was I believe on May 10,
2018 1 stayed on Nohea street in the truck as my two youngest daughters, my brother, and
my niece, Hoku, hiked in. They described what they saw as a field of lava with no end in
sight. As they approached the front of the house, they saw a large cinder cone in our
driveway smoking and steaming from different areas (Exhibit A). We hiked in 4 times after
that, through Nohea Street to retrieve important and sentimental items, taking photographs
and documenting what we saw. We could only use backpacks so it limited us to what all we
could retrieve as the hike was through dense forest. The smell was atrocious and gagged us.
On the 4th attempt in, on May 20th, as the lava was entering the ocean at Mackenzie, I
received a phone call from our daughter Davina and heard the screams and cries like a death
wail. I kept asking "what, what, what?" "It's gone!" was all I heard and the call dropped, the
next few minutes seemed like an eternity until they sent pictures. My brother Dave, niece
Dione, daughter Davina and granddaughter Naleo were completely devastated upon finding
this. Our home had been burnt and succumbed to lava. We were witnessing the birth of
Fissure 8 as we all know it today, (Exhibit Al followed by Exhibit A2). Since that last hike in,
our family was in mourning and could not find the strength to go to Leilani and encounter the
changes that had occurred. Our first visit into Leilani was on June 24"(Exhibit B Original
picture and drawing by artist William Sullivan Titled Four Generations), where my brother, my
niece Melissa, grandnephew Kyren, three of our grandchildren who reside with us, and myself
had seen first hand that our livelihood in Leilani was over and it was time to move on. On July
22nd of 2018, our second visit in, most of our Hess 'ohana bid an a hui hou to our"Leilani
House" as we call it, and gave ho'okupu and oli mahalo to the ancestors who allowed our
`ohana to caretake and reside on that property for generations (Exhibit C and Cl)
On July 29t''- of 2019, approximately 10 of our ohana finally physically stepped onto the lava
for the first time and graciously and respectfully ascended Ahu 'Aila'au (Exhibit D}. It was
surreal to experience the realization that our home was somewhere below the 100 some odd
feet of lava, cinder and tephra. GPS coordinates puts our back boundary, half way up the
slope and the rim at 2/3rds from the back boundary, essentially meaning the front 1/3d of the
2 acres is under or at the crater floor of the fissure. On October 13' of 2019, we again as a
unified ohana of more than 50 went back to Ahu 'Aila'au to spread our parents ashes and
share solace and memories {Exhibits E, E1, and E2} .
As we continue to move forward as an ohana in the healing and recovery alongside our
community, please consider our sincerest respect and humility when choosing the name of
what once was a home that loved 6 of us, to a home that loved 12, to a home that loved 17
grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren, and countless hanai children, grandchildren, and
great-grandchildren; a home that bid a hui hou with the passing of our dad in 2006 and one of
his great grandsons in 2011. This aina, that witnessed over 10 weddings, baby birthdays,
graduation pa'ina, baby showers, as well as provided food and d6cor for school May Days
and halau, over the 49 years we shared the aina with the ancestors our `ohana has been
incredibly blessed and for that, we are humbly grateful.
Me ke aloha pumehana,
The Hess Dynasty-Keahialaka's Lehua People
We agree and support the Naming of Fissure 8 t Ahu 'A' 'au L
Deborra (Hess) and Lionel Kaawaloa, Sr.
Donna (Hess, Morante) and Kenneth Walker
David T. Hess, JrC t
Dean Sr. and Laverne (Aiona) Hes y - ,. ��% J' L er
Grandchildren: Great Grandchildren:
Lionel Wilson Nahakuelua Kaawaloa,Jr. Lobe Nauaonalani Kamakeeaina Kaawaloa
Jenizary U'flan Hepunaheleno'oenakamakua Makanani Morante
Michele Mulin Nahinahi Hess-Tokelau Jordyn'BAani Kaleimokuokalani Kaho'opomaikai Makanani Morante
Leslie Lloyd Morante,Jr.(Kaleimokuokalani) Nanea Kamakanapo'ina oleakeakua Melanie Kaawaloa
Lyrica Naleoho'omalla iokalani Morante-Rodrigues
Lyle William Kawika Kaawaloa Janaya Mihlani Leialohapau'oleokalani Tiare Makanani Morante
Wayne Nakoapomaika'i ikamaluokaha aha'aKaawaloa
Lennie Lee Morante(lopa) Noah Caleb Kaimana Kaawaloa
Lance Wayne Kaleo Kaawaloa Lenissa Ku'uleialohamaikalani Taoaanaana Morante
Jayden Kealoha Asaji Soriano
Melissa Ann U'ilani Mei-Hsein Aiona Hess Uasrla'a Kaumana Ahping Peni Hess Tokelau Jr.
Lesley-Ana Po'okelaokalani Miinoaka Hayley Makanani Morante
Dione Shizue Hess Dymend Theodora Kamaleiikamaliealehuanani Morante-Rodrigues
Dawn Konami Hess Lloyd Nohealani Tahom Morame
Kendon Jeremiah Kahiwamaikalani Kinobi Walker
Lehuanani Liberty(Moraine)Rodrigues Isabella Sophia Anita Ofaloto Hess Tokelau
Mark Kaulanaokahokulani Gonsalves-Kaawaloa
LoriLee Hokunani Kaawaloa JaiLyn Kesae Ku ualoha Soriano
Davina Patricia Kahealani(Walker)Nevarez Shady Kaleinoweomaikalani Morante-Rodrigues
face David Ka imipono Kanehoalani Walker j
Kahealani May Walker Kyren Aliiloa Kalakaua Napoleon-Hess
Dayten Lloyd Makana Morante
David Theodore Hess III Daylen Lee Makamae Morante
Shelby Lee Hess Mystique Leiamaluhia Morante-Rodrigues I
Vinson Isaiah Kapono ola a leiolama"ani Walker
Dean Thomas Hess,Jr. Liana Kaipole$rinano Mata i otera'i Morante
Faith Brook Kahealani Nevarez
Rieshel Meleana Haili Hess Arlan Luseane Prescott Sarah Aiona Tokelau
Makenna Marie Nanea Meheula
Marygrace Pu'uwaialoha Boyce
Evan Noe Ka'ihikapu Nevarez
Tristan Lee No'eau Meheula
Sophei Kapilinaho'olokahi Eiflander
Logan Brian Nuoliokalani Meheula
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L._he 1 ear 1970/71,David and Palnda Hess had a house built on Luana
St z the newly developed Leilani Estates.It was 1 a 5th house built in
rhe subdi".'..These,dteybegan a family,where over the next almost ;1
50 years,four generations had lived.David passed away in I0/2006 and
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rcid:is 11/2015_
'.On May I,2015,earthquakes began to behave as affect rn iei3ard y
=stares.The Hess family,lily so many others experienced earthquaicas
every 5 minutes over the next couple of days. _
I Approximately.at 3:30 pm on May 3,a volcanic fissure(Fissure 1,
opened on Miohala St.,in lower Leilani,prompting a mandatory
evatvat;on of a0 of Leilani Estates_
�poro:dmately May 19,Fissure 3 opened up tin the Hess yard_Itis 3
believed that the following day,is when Fissure 8 took the house.And
soon,two other houses and properties.By May 22,an aerial photo
showed the Hess house completely encased.Between June 5 and June 9,
Fissure 8 became the predominant fissure that permanently destroyed so
much,covering 20h communities.
j On July 1,the family took the 3 youngesi:.David and Patric&s great
grendldd_,living in the house at the time of the eruption,into Lenard,to
the barricade at Ldani St:and Pomokai St to see what had happened.
The view of Fissure 8,where their house was was not possible to see,as
was out of view.The lava river was visible,though,and a street they
a aveiea countless tures to get to their Luana house could be seen
:�,ered r_th 3&+-ft deep lava.
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July 29th, 2019 ExMbit D
The First Time we Stepped • - Lava
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October 13, 2019 ambit E
Most of our Hess Ohana made a visit,
some from as far away as Washington State
and Las Vegas, Nevada
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October 13, 2019 Exhibit EZ
Most of our Hess Ohana made a visit,
some from as far away as Washington State
and Las Vegas, Nevada
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