Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutComm. 25-014 Comm. 25-014 From: Archaeo Hawai i To: PONC Testimonv Subject: Support for Kuamo o Legacy Foundation and Ho oulu Lahui s PONC application Date: Wednesday,March 5,2025 9:14:52 AM Importance: High Aloha mai e PONC Commissioners, I am writing to express my strong support for the application submitted by the Kuamo`o Legacy Foundation and Ho`oulu Lahui for the acquisition and stewardship of lands at and surrounding Kumukahi through the PONC initiative. There is no greater responsibility than the care of ancestral lands, and no one is better suited for this kuleana than the mo`opuna of this `aina. Kumukahi is home to a number of precontact ceremonial sites, including heiau, as well as historic cemeteries and burial grounds where iwi kupuna rest. Its coastline continues to sustain traditional cultural practices such as fishing and gathering, and it serves as a vital habitat for endangered species including Hawaiian monk seals that now frequent the newly formed beach. Protecting Kumukahi is not only a matter of cultural preservation but also of environmental stewardship, ensuring that its natural and cultural resources remain safeguarded for future generations. The Kuamo`o Legacy Foundation and Ho`oulu Lahui are uniquely positioned to malama these lands.As descendants with ancestral ties and dedicated cultural practitioners and community members, they bring an intimate knowledge of and a deep commitment to Kumukahi's protection. Stewardship of these lands is not simply a responsibility to them, it is a birthright, an inherited kuleana passed down through generations. Their leadership will ensure that Kumukahi is cared for in a way that respects its historical and spiritual significance while maintaining its natural integrity. I strongly urge the Commission to support this application and move forward with the acquisition of these lands. Entrusting Kumukahi to the stewardship of Kuamo`o Legacy Foundation and Ho`oulu Lahui will provide the protection it deserves, ensuring that its cultural sites, natural resources, and ancestral spaces are protected in perpetuity. Mahalo a malama pono, Lauren Kepa`a-Tam Sing ...................................................... LAUREN KEPA'A-TAM SING ARCHAEO.HAWAI'I I FIELD DIRECTOR W W W.ARCHAEOHAWAII.COM (808) 313-1029 ......................................................