Video by David Corrigan | Voice of Stephanie Salazar
Martin Luther King Jr. Day marked one year for Uncle Abel Simeona Lui’s roadside vigil at Kawa in Ka’u.
The day was shared with ohana and fellow Hawaiian activists at the site by Highway 11, where most of the beach goers enter to reach the shore.
Abel claims to be the konohiki and allodial heir to the land, which is currently under negotiation for sale. The County recognizes the lawful owner as the Edmund Olson Trust, and the government is trying to purchase the area for public open space preservation.
Abel has been camping out on the side of the highway as a form of protest against the pending sale. During the past year, he has tranformed the location into a virtual homestead, complete with a garden and smoldering imu.
Abel thanked his supporters during a quiet pule on Monday.
I can throughly understand the sacredness and the deep emotions of the this person that claims that the Ahu pua’a is rightfully his. Those that still hold on to the belief of Hawaiian Sovereignty can be heard, but in the eyes of our current governmental system, Hawaiian Sovereignty is a myth. Many Hawaiians who still practice the ancient systems struggle with post-missionary influence and the strength of the dollar. It is deeply important that Hawaiian lands be kept for the Hawaiian people (otherwise in ends up like Alii Drive in Kona).
Who then can be the best stewards for lands that are special to the ones who fish, surf and enjoy the natural beauty that can be found in Hawaii only? Regretfully, Kawa will be won-over by those that can generate revenue s from it and not by those who truly has traditional ties. I admire Abel and his courage to perpetuate the ancient-Hawaiian way, but more saddened when the current legal system will rip him away from what he believe is rightfully his.
Correction to the video report: The correct name of the place is Ka Wa. Even though it is spelled as one word, please don’t pronounce it as if it rhymes with lava. It should be written with a kahako over the second ‘a’ so that people unfamiliar with the place can pronounce its name correctly. Mahalo.
Why not make Able the steward of Kawa’a? He is already established there and has been her care-giver for the last 30years or so. Why would anyone even consider anyone else??It’s obvious to anyone who knows or who has spoken to Able that Able “Love’s’ Kawa’a, what better qualification is there? Because Hawaii has such good weather and because it is so isolated from the rest of the world, everyone want’s a piece of it. We, as Hawaiian’s must always remember we cannot “own” the land because she already “owns” us and without her we will die,we already are. I wish the mayor and the rest of our county counsel would just leave Able alone. When his life is over Kawa’a will still be there, she’ll still be there when all our lives are over. Onipa’a!!
Uncle Able, although we no longer live in the area so we can honk in support of you each day, our hearts and prayers remain always with you. May God see that justice is done – for you, your ohana, and all those who love the aina. May we one day see justice and freedom once again in these islands of Hawaii.
Loving hugs
Why doesn’t the county turn Kawa’a into a park and pave the road going into it. And also build a home for Abel and make him the caretaker of the park with pay. Nobody knows the area better, and nobody would care for the land better than Abel. Kawa’a is one of the best surfing area’s in Kau and the coastline is ideal for a family park.
Abel doesn’t want anyone on “his” land. The last owner and the county told him he could stay there for the rest of his life. Abel said it is already his. Abel is from Oahu, not Ka’u. Let the the kanaka maoli from Ka’u malama Kawa.