Cool people...great possibilities...really great host...what happened?
We were confronted by Abel's sister the morning after and she was upset:
*upset about no one really asking permission;
*upset about the insensitivity to their culture- no Hawai'ian music, no mahalos, no malama...no gifts of recognition!
And...they really love us! They want us to be happy but>>>>>
Jeez, their home is being threatened! Check the papers! As we party, they are being set up for the big rip-off!
PLEASE SUPPORT UNCLE ABEL AND HIS FAMILY!
Our love, aloha and malama to all who did put a little aloha back into the aina!!!!
We were confronted by Abel's sister the morning after and she was upset:
*upset about no one really asking permission;
*upset about the insensitivity to their culture- no Hawai'ian music, no mahalos, no malama...no gifts of recognition!
And...they really love us! They want us to be happy but>>>>>
Jeez, their home is being threatened! Check the papers! As we party, they are being set up for the big rip-off!
PLEASE SUPPORT UNCLE ABEL AND HIS FAMILY!
Our love, aloha and malama to all who did put a little aloha back into the aina!!!!
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Hawaii
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Re: What Happened???!!!
Mon, March 24, 2008 - 2:01 PMHmmm. Yeah, it did seem like a pretty bad scene as I was leaving at around 8:30 am.
For my part, I always Leave No Trace, and try to clean up after others as well. I saw Uncle Abel, gave him a big hug, and offered to share my food with him, which he declined.
Perhaps we, the people who care about Abel and Kawa'a, could organise a protest / awareness raising demonstration in Hilo to show our support? -
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Re: What Happened???!!!
Mon, March 24, 2008 - 3:42 PMi was surprised to hear this. we exchanged aloha with abel & his family on the way in and on the way out, helped pick up trash in the morning, and didn't hear anything about the house or the land being threatened. can anyone give an overview of the facts? -
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Re: What Happened???!!!
Mon, March 24, 2008 - 7:19 PMA lot of Ka`u is up for sale/development, including Kawa. Most of the focus has been on Punalu`u, and before that the bay just south whos name escapes me. Ka`u preservation has been working to get the county and or state to buy Punalu`u... not sure where that stands at the moment. Like most Hawaiian land, no one can clearly state who Kawa belongs to as far as land deed. It has been listed as "for sale" in the past. Ka`u for the most part has no development along the coast, and the developers love to find places like this. Throw in a local economy with little to no jobs and you have one big mess. I guess waiting tables at a new resort is better then nothing. A man who leads a group ???? that opposes Ka`u preservation is running against Bob Jacobson for county councial so that he can bring about development and create jobs. I'm sure if you google Punalu`u, Kawa, Ka`u preservation you can find out all kinds of interesting things. A lot of focus has/is going on down there.
Its great that celebrations are going on down that way. Bringing conscienceness and conscience people to these areas is always a good thing. -
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Re: What Happened???!!!
Mon, March 24, 2008 - 9:37 PMFrom what I understand (and this is from my memory, so please forgive me the inaccuracies), the county is considering purchasing several swaths of land along the coast in Ka'u to preserve it for use by everybody, this generation and future, and to keep access available. From my interpretation, this would be in part to prevent resorts from buying and developing the land, and to preserve the heiau and springs and other special features and beauty of places like Kawaa.
They have some sort of priority list, which I believe currently has Kawaa and Punaluu near the top, but like everyone, the county is also strapped for money and allocation of resources. I read in the paper that were the county to purchase the land, they stated that they did not intend for Uncle Abel et al. to be asked to leave the land, and that they wanted to work with him and other residents to come to some agreement about the stewardship.
Hope this helps. And as in love with that spot as I am, I truly hope that this community left a positive impression.
-erin -
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Re: What Happened???!!!
Tue, March 25, 2008 - 12:39 PMi lugged the big speakers out there and received nothing for it, not even gas. im used to this so no biggy. I feel like the moon tribe presence is a blessing. We arent the developers coming to take over .and were not abunch of kids looking for a place to party. We come to pray, dance , and collectively display acts of awareness and good will towards all that come into the circle during the gathering. No one is charged , its not a politically active picket line. Its what we do when were free. For some reason the big speakers got shut off in the middle of sat nite. im guessing we were disturbing the manahunas or something. i dont think theres any neighbors. I jus cant help but feel like we are the solution, yet we are still facing the ol' politic regarding whos in charge, whos land , what kinda music, etc. you had over 100 people show up and be happy. that IS a blessing for the land, the aina and the Hawaiians. im not sure why someone would have beef, over music, bpms, genres, etc. For instance i hardly ever like the music, its always too slow for me and not enuf weird spaced out sounds, but its still fun , always, and if it makes one dance, its on. If Abel doesnt want us there partying in force maybe we should find another spot to pray for. i left a thousand tobacco seeds in Abels hand as i left on easter, i hope he plants em:)Boost the aina boost the love!
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Re: What Happened???!!!
Fri, May 23, 2008 - 8:44 AMThis is in response to all:
I wasn't there but I am very familiar with Kawa. Yes, Uncle Abel needs help....but it is he who says what kind of help (besides prayer) for he is the konohiki (caretaker) of Kawa. Konohiki is an ancient position, granted by God and the ohana (family) for a portion of land or the entire apua (pie shaped area of land from mountain to sea that was allotted to the various families).
What Abel says, goes. You could plant a paca seed or a papaya tree thinking you are doing good, yet it may foul up the entire eco system as intamatley understood by the konohiki. No scientists even have this knowledge for there is more than just science involved....history, sacred spots (burial) and other considerations are taken into mind to protect what is there and what should remain and be planned for the 7th generation.
It is customary to bring Hawaiians gifts...the greatest one being food. If a huge gathering is to take place and people all bring food , most of it will go to waste as there is not enough ohana down there to consume it all. Best think and ask....Abel needs things like machetes, weed whackers, donations for solar power etc.. People can pool their resources and get him what is needed for the land, or just donate.
Abel and his sister are also getting on in years. They get cranky, just like everyone else. Abel has been asserting his rights at Kawa for over 20 years and attempts have been made on his life. He knows what can best help.
The threats to the land will be taken care of in court. Abel has filed. He has the title to the property.
As far as his experience goes, anyone of you could be secret service or planted agitators.
And why not play some Hawaiian music? Why not learn some Hawaiian words?
People like to consider themselves citizens of the earth and that they are helping, but often miss out on the respect for the beliefs of where ever they are. God has asked Abel to do what he does. He likes to party too and have people come down to Kawa. But there is so much the visitor is not aware of about Kawa. It is up to YOU to find out and respect, otherwise you are acting like any other 'ugly american' but in different clothes and hair.
Abel and his sister know the land, the laws (ancient and the false ones of the settler's government)...they are not stupid by any means.
Please use your Aloha and BE RESPECTFUL....and if Abel or his sister is having a bad day, comfort him, understand. Kindness and compassion, always.
