HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0534.003 2018-2020 COUNTY CLERK PIC49000
COUNTY OF HAWAII
RECEIVED f)!)4
Time14:x}M $5t, d['Pj
Po'akolu, October 30, 2019 Date 11/04120ti
First of all, I would like to say E kala mai iau for not being here today in person.
Mahalo for taking the time out of your busy schedules to come and listen to our mana'o
and mo'olelo.
Aloha Kakou Hawaii County Council Members, DHHL, DLNR, Bishop Museum,
OHA, U of H, Office of Planning, Land Survey Division & Guests,
My name is Jenizary Uilani Morante. I am the oldest daughter to Leslie Lloyd
Morante Jr. and Waltan Morante (Makanani). I am the oldest granddaughter to
Donna (Hess) and Ken Walker, I am the second oldest great granddaughter to David
and Patricia Hess. My 'ohana has been the caretakers of this 'aina for past 49 years. I
remember the times we would always go up to the family house for many occasions,
such as parties, get-togethers, Christmas, thanksgiving, birthdays, gathering flora and so
much more. While growing up I always knew that there was more to the 'aina and the
kai than what it looks like.
While in elementary school, I never thought of it much, you know just the basics
of Hawaiian studies out of a textbook, but when I moved to Kua 0 Ka La Public Charter
school, which was taken by the lava in the summer of 2018. 1 was opened to more
things about my hawaiian culture than being in a public school. I learned chants, I
learned hula, and I learned Mo'olelo. I learned to understand how open my mind and
engage in, my surroundings and in my elements. Kua 0 Ka La has helped me form the
wahine I am today.
I remember the day the first fissure opened, it seem like hours to get checked in
to help my grandparents. While waiting in the longest line ever, I prayed that my 'ohana
was okay and unharmed until we got to them. Finally we got in and all I hear is the
sirens going off and I see the police trying to conduct traffic, I started to cry but I had to
stop and be strong for my 'ohana. While pulling in to the driveway of our family home I
could see that there was so many of our family there already packing up the house, As I
walk into the house, I turn and see all my little cousins crying out to their parents as they
pack the house up. Minutes later, more family and friends come with trailers to help get
everything out. My grandparents long-time friends opened their home up to my 'ohana.
As we rushed over there to get unpacked and settle the kids down and get some food in
them, we could see the glow from Hawaiian Paradise Park. My sisters and I stayed over
a couple nights because our little cousins were scared and frightened, so we stayed to
comfort them.
As the time passed on from that day on May 3, 2018, 1 continued to stay on
social media and on the apps like my grandmother mentioned. I knew we, as an 'ohana
would have to go inside Leilani Estates and face the fact that our childhood home is
gone. The day came when that happened on July 22, 2018. It was my birthday. What a
coincidence, the year before in 2017, 1 had my graduation and birthday party at the
house. It was the last big party there. As we pulled up to the barricade, I could see that
the lava was still flowing and it looked like it wasn't stopping anytime soon. Once we
started our protocol and Ho'okupu, which consist of oli(chants), mele(songs), hula and
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Ref. pate NOV 0 5 2019