Kawa`a, in the Ahupua`a of Hilea, in the District of Kau
August 26th, 2008

Pristine coastline and untouched green slopes of Mauna Loa, as shown in the picture of Kawa`a above, have become the focal point for Hawaiian Sovereignty on the Big Island.

In the middle part of August 2008, Uncle Abel Simeona Lui received a letter from Rechtman Consulting, stating that a group of individuals, some representing the County, and some representing private interests, would be making a trip to Kawa`a on August 26th.

This is a excerpt from that letter:

"Rechtman Consulting, LLC

August 14th 2008

Dear Abel

I am writing to inform you of an upcoming trip to Kawa`a area that the County of Hawaii has planned for August 26, 2008. As you may be aware, the County of Hawai`i has purchased or has an agreement to purchase, lands extending from Hilea to Honu`apo. The purpose of the August 26, 2008 visit is twofold: 1) for a land appraiser to do a site inspection, and 2) for County officials and members of a consultant team that the County has retained to prepare a Resource Management Plan, to acquaint themselves with the overall project area.......We look forward to meeting you on site first before proceeding to other parts of the project area. The Following individuals are scheduled to participate in this trip:

Harry Yada - County of Hawai`i, Dept of Finance, Property Management Division

Ron Whitmore - County of Hawai`i, Planning Deptartment

Pat Engelhard - County of Hawai`i, Parks and Recreation

James Komata - County os Hawai`i, Parks and Recreation

Paul Cool - John Child & Company

Bruce Tsuchida - Townscape, Inc. (Consultant Team)

Ron Terry - Geometrician Associates (Consultant Team)

Bob Rechtman - Rechtman Consulting (Consultant Team)

John Cross - Representing Edmund C Olson

John Replogle - Ka Ohana o Honu`apo"

August 26th 2008

About fifty people gathered to meet the consulting team, which arrived at about 10:45 in the morning. The group met the team at the highway, to define that to enter those lands uninvited would be trespassing.

The talks went quite well. There was no shouting, no yelling, and there was a balanced conversation with members from both groups politely exchanging views.

All in all everything went quite well. Both sides agreed that further talks were necessary, and that there was a willingness to do so.

There was one police officer present, and he was mostly there to show face.

The meeting ended with everybody holding hands, and Uncle Abel leading a prayer.

This will hopefully set the tone of any future meetings and hearings to be held concerning the Kawa`a and Hilea area.

We will be watching this issue very closely as the effects of the outcome of this land issue will be felt across all the islands.

Excellent video coverage of this issue was provided by Big Island Video News: Kawa`a Standoff

Other stations were offered a chance to pick up this story, but no body else picked it up.

Below we give a brief outline of the three major groups involved.

Moku O Keawe Ohana

The County of Hawai`i

Edward C. Olson

Moku O Keawe Ohana

Uncle Abel is the Konohiki of Hilea and the surrounding area, he represents the interests of the Moku O Keawe Ohana in all matters concerning Kawa`a and Hilea. He has official backing in his authority from the Moku O Keawe Kapuna Council.

He is also the rightful heir to the Hawaiian Kingdom Land Grants Helu 993 and Helu 1530. His great grandfather being Timoteo Keawe, who was the holder of those grants, which are private land.

The land in the Kawa`a area is private land, there was never any sale of this land, and it was never to be sold. It was private land at the time of the invasion of the Kingdom of Hawaii, and held by the families in the Moku O Keawe Ohana. It is not, and has never been state land.

Besides having a number of very important cultural sites in the Hilea Ahupua`a, it is also inhabited by active members of a living Hawaiian culture. There is no need for preservation or conservation, as it is not a historical site, or in danger of being harmed by these practitioners.

Quite the contrary, the Moku O Keawe Ohana's efforts must be supported in keeping the Hawaiian culture strong, in a time when all over the island cultural rights are being infringed upon, such as camping and fishing.

On August 26th 2008 a number of people from the Moku O Keawe Ohana were present to bear witness and show support for Uncle Abel in these matters.

Edward C Olson

Mr Olson has a trust fund that he has used to finance his ventures in Kau. A few years back Olson entered into a agreement to purchase lands in the Kawa`a area from one Thomas Okuna.

However Okuna had a clouded title to this land. Now Olson is trying to sell the land off to the county. John Cross was present to represent Mr Olson's interests.

The County Of Hawaii

The county has made statements such as: Our number one priority as far as acquiring land to put into conservation and preservation, is the Kawa`a area.

However the county is bound by the State constitution, specifically Article XII, to protect Hawaiian Cultural Practices and rights.

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