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DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES News Release LINDA LINGLE GOVERNOR _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PETER T. YOUNG, CHAIRPERSON
Phone: (808) 587-0401
Fax: (808) 587-0390
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For Immediate Release:
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HONOLULU— The remains of 38 Native Hawaiian individuals that were inadvertently discovered over the past 12 years at Kualoa Regional Park were reinterred on Friday February 24, 2006, Peter Young, chairperson of the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) announced today. Young said, “We encourage the involvement of communities and constituencies in assisting in the management of natural and cultural resources. This concept of ho‘okuleana (to take responsibility) reinforces the importance of partnerships and working together.” “In this case, the families (including lineal descendants) of the disturbed burials, the City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Parks and Recreation, the State Historic Preservation Division (SHPD), the O‘ahu Island Burial Council (OIBC), and Pacific Legacy Inc., a private archaeological consulting firm, shared responsibility for planning the re-interment of these remains.” When State Historic Preservation Division (SHPD) administrator Melanie Chinen learned that these individuals had been awaiting re-interment for over a decade, she made it a division priority to plan for their reburial. “We believe the iwi kupuna must not be forgotten, and our cultural program staff were instrumental in bringing the community together,” Chinen said. The City and County of Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation has volunteered to assist the state and families by maintaining the burial site. “We humbly take the responsibility to continue to maintain and care for the re-interment site at Kualoa,” Wilford Ho, park manager for the Department of Parks and Recreation. Archaeologist Paul Cleghorn of Pacific Legacy Inc., who has cared for the remains for over a decade, participated in today’s reburial and thanked the families for their recognition of his services. Kalei Kini, member of the OIBC said, “The re-interment of these remains was successful because of the contribution and participation of many people. We were all united behind the leadership of the family elders who kept us focused on the goal of reburial.” SHPD O‘ahu cultural historian, Pi‘ilani Chang said, “We will continue to work with community groups to ensure that others who await re-interment are also put to final rest and cared for in perpetuity. SHPD appreciates the assistance that was provided by everyone involved, and hopes that this will set up a precedent for future reburials.”
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