Groups urge OHA to sue Army to stop destruction of sacred sites

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DMZ- Hawai'i / Aloha 'Aina
c/o AFSC Hawai`i • 2426 O`ahu Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96822
Tel.: (808) 988-6266 • Fax: (808) 988-4876 • Email: info @ dmzhawaii.org
www.dmzhawaii.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 12, 2006

Contact: Kyle Kajihiro, (808) 988-6266
Terri Keko'olani (808) 722-6917

GROUPS URGE OHA TO SUE ARMY TO STOP DESTRUCTION OF SACRED SITES

Groups concerned about the protection of Native Hawaiian sacred sites called on Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the State of Hawai'i to take legal action to halt the destruction and desecration of an ancient Hawaiian religious and cultural complex in Lihu'e, O'ahu - location of the Schofield South Range and several Stryker Brigade expansion projects.

They will hold a press conference:

Wednesday, September 13, 2006
11:30 am
At the State Capitol, in front of the Queen Lili'uokalani statue.

continued in the extended...

Among the speakers will be two of the plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the Department of Defense for alleged violations of the National Environmental Policy Act related to its Stryker Brigade Environmental Impact Statement. Speakers will include:

Victoria Holt-Takamine, Presdient of 'Ilio'ulaokalani Coalition, plaintiff in the 'Ilioulaokalani v Rumsfeld lawsuit.

Laura Edmunds, Spokesperson for Kipuka, a University of Hawai'i - Manoa Native Hawaiian graduate students organization and plaintiff in 'Ilioulaokalani v Rumsfeld.

Kyle Kajihiro, Program Director, American Friends Service Committee - Hawai'i Area Program.

Since 2003, the U.S. Army has pursued the expansion of training areas on O'ahu and Hawai'i Island for the stationing of a Stryker Brigade. At public hearings testimony was overwhelmingly opposed to the proposed expansion. Along with concerns about military impacts to health, endangered species and Native Hawaiian land rights, one of the top issues raised was protection of Native Hawaiian cultural and sacred sites in proposed Stryker expansion areas.

DMZ-Hawai'i / Aloha 'Aina has obtained information that the Army allegedly violated federal cultural preservation laws and agreements and as a result, has damaged sacred sites in the Lihu'e area of O'ahu including the recently rediscovered Hale'au'au Heiau. The Army's cultural monitors have called for a halt to ground disturbing activities in the Battle Area Complex. These violations and threats to cultural sites were so serious that the cultural preservation staff for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) has recommended that OHA file a lawsuit to obtain a temporary restraining order against the Army in order to protect these endangered sites.

Ikaika Hussey said "The community has spoken loud and clear in opposition to the Stryker expansion. So OHA should stand with the community and protect our heritage."

"The Army doesn't even know what it might be destroying because it has not completed the required cultural studies," said Terri Keko'olani, of DMZ-Hawai'i / Aloha 'Aina.

Kyle Kajihiro said "The Army must stop the destruction immediately. Every day that the bulldozers are running means another piece of Hawaiian culture, another precious link to the past may be lost forever."

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Posted: Wed - September 13, 2006 at 09:14 AM

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Groups urge OHA to sue Army to stop destruction of sacred sites

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