HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The Department of Health has ordered construction of a septic system halted after the remains of an ancestor were discovered on Kauai’s North Shore. Descendants of iwi kupuna (ancestral remains) are currently celebrating after several spiritual arrests were made on the property last week.
The matter is now with the National Lands Authority.
“The DLNR State Historic Preservation Office is actively working with stakeholders to resolve concerns and identify the best treatment options for iwi,” the agency said in a statement.
Last Friday, police arrested three people at a waterfront property in Wainiha.
Activists claim six iwi kupuna, including children and babies, were intercepted during the construction project.
Kauai Police said they sent officers after receiving reports that several people had been at the scene for four days.
Among those arrested was Megan Wong, a descendant of cultural figures.
“It was like a pimple, where it hit me, they wanted to move forward and dig deeper, and that’s where we were trying to draw the line,” Wong said. spoke.
The landowner had been building a septic system, but on Thursday the Ministry of Health issued a stoppage order.
“It definitely stops it. We’re hoping it actually stops and they go through the protocols,” said Mahailani Honey Grace, a descendant of Kulture.
“I was relieved,” Wong said.
“This is ping pong, because now it’s in the hands of SHPD,” she added.
Stacey Kealohalani Ferreira, chief executive officer of the Hawaii Affairs Bureau, met with the Department of Health director on Wednesday and told Hawaii News Now that this decision is an important step to protect iwi kupuna. spoke.
“Things may not be followed as required by law,” Ferreira said.
She says more stringent checks and balances are needed during the permitting process.
“Our kupuna, we buried our families in the sand. With climate change, rising sea levels, and state mandates for cesspool diversions, this kind of negligence We’re going to see more and more discoveries happening,” Ferreira said.
On Thursday, Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami visited the site to play music and meet with respected kupuna, police, Wong and other community members on the beach.
“It’s clear that there is scope for the government to improve the permitting process and help find ways to do what is right for the environment and host culture,” he said in a statement.
Hawaiian News Now has reached out to property owner Chris Arreguin of Try Slow LLC and is awaiting a response.
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