Hui Malama reports break-in at cave holding burial objects
The
Advertiser
reports:
"Leaders of a Native Hawaiian burials group said last night that it has found
evidence of a
break-in at the Big Island cave from which
burial objects reportedly went missing and were offered for sale.
Hui Malama I Na Kupuna O Hawai'i
Nei sought access to
Kanupa
Cave after news reports that the federal
Department of the Interior was investigating offers to sell funeral objects on
the island of Hawai'i, Kunani Nihipali, the group's po'o, or leader, said in a
written statement. The group is a nonprofit organization established for the
care of ancient iwi kupuna (remains) and moepu (burial objects). 'Whoever
desecrated Kanupa Cave violated Hawaiian kapu (sacred law) regarding the
sanctity of a burial site and state laws regarding historic burial sites and
must be apprehended,' said Edward Halealoha Ayau of Hui Malama. 'Though the
thieves who committed this crime are not yet known to us, they are well-known to
the robbed kupuna who will seek their own
justice.'"And the
Star-Bulletin
has a photo of the cave entrance, and
reports
that "a recent visit to the entrance of the cave revealed it is wide
open."
Posted: Thu - August 26, 2004 at 12:25 PM