Press Release: Hui Malama Upholds Silence

Latest Press Release from Hui Malama yesterday...

December 30, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: William Aila
Phone: (808) 330-0376

HUI MALAMA UPHOLDS SILENCE

HONOLULU - As Hui Malama I Na Kupuna O Hawai'i Nei prepares for its upcoming court battle, its resolve is strengthened by a groundswell of support from Hawaiians and others.

"We believe that our kupuna are speaking loudly and clearly and that their voices are being heard by all those who oppose a second theft of their moepu (funerary objects)," comments Pualani Kanahele, Hui Malama's kumu (teacher and advisor). "We are not deaf to their pleas for peace, sanctity, and respect."

Hui Malama's stance remains firm. Commenting two days after Judge Ezra imprisoned its Executive Director Edward Halealoha Ayau for failing to disclose the exact locations of 83 funerary objects that were reburied with the remains of 19 individuals in a Kawaihae cave, the group's spokesperson, William Aila, affirms the group's conviction: "If Western law will not protect our ancestors' burials, then we must. We have no choice. If we are to honor who we are as Hawaiians, what our ancestors have taught us, and what we want our children to learn from our actions, we must remain steadfast and protect the burial places of our kupuna (ancestors) - their iwi (bones) and all moepu (funerary objects) that were placed with them. Jailing our executive director will only reinforce our position. Hui Malama's resolve rests on a long history of caring for our ancestral burials. Our opponents have no such record."

In 1989, Hui Malama played a crucial role in establishing federal and state laws giving unmarked Hawaiian burials similar protections afforded burials at graveyards with tombstones. Hui Malama has reburied over 3,500 ancestors who were disturbed by development projects, purposeful looting, or scientific study. These repatriated individuals were returned from 95 institutions including museums, universities, private entities, and federal and state agencies. Through such repatriation efforts, Hui Malama has worked in successful partnership with at least 20 Native Hawaiian organizations and even more Hawaiian families over its 16-year history.

"We believe our record speaks for itself," says Aila. "Our motives, our past history, our current actions are all consistent. We find it impossible to comply with Judge Ezra's order because we are bound to a more fundamental kuleana (responsibility) to our kupuna."

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Posted: Sat - December 31, 2005 at 05:14 PM

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Press Release: Hui Malama Upholds Silence

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