Poipu Kauai Story

Waterfall

2008-09-10T13:00:00.000-10:00

Billy playing acoustic version of "Waterfall", in memory of Jean Hayes passing one year ago Oct.27, 2006. We miss and love you Mama!

Kane-i-olo-uma Heiau

2008-09-10T12:00:00.001-10:00

Kanaka Maoli, the aboriginal people of Hawaii, are fighting to keep their culture alive. This Poipu site on Kauai is the largest intact cultural site in the state of Hawaii and the location for the proposed 10-acre Hawaiian cultural preserve.

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Poipu Sheraton Shoreline

2008-09-09T11:12:00.000-10:00

Photos taken on October 24, 2007 of underwater and beach debris located in front of the Poipu Sheraton following their request from the planning commission to be exempt from Environmental Impact Assessment for proposed new development in Poipu Kauai.

Meeting Tonight!

2008-08-28T10:00:00.000-10:00

Kona Moku Meeting will be held at Po`ipu Beach Pavilion Thursday, August 28th, 6:30pm

We are going to talk about Proposals for community participation in:

1. gardening
2. canoe paddling
3. preservation/restoration of archaeological site
4. fishing

Please come check us out!

Kane i olo uma canoe news

2008-04-12T11:52:00.005-10:00

The double-hulled Tahitian carved albizia wood canoe will be joined by a six-man fiberglass canoes next week. Preparations are underway. Paddles are also under construction.

In Rememberance

2008-03-10T21:03:00.000-10:00

Sad but true

2008-03-05T19:26:00.003-10:00

I'm so sorry to inform you of the beginning of the demolition of the Koloa Monkeypod Trees. The bulldozers rammed the trees. The Garden Island News had in on the front page today.
It's a sad day for Kauai.

Leap Day

2008-02-29T21:15:00.004-10:00

While the Monkeypod trees are being trimmed, black plastic now surrounds and hides the dirty deeds. Green Energy, a biomass plant, gets a thumbs up from the Planning Comission. How is it that "The Garden Island" could cut down beautiful trees and approve a plan to clear and burn up others?
I'm glad this day comes only once every four years.

Monkeypod Trees still standing

2008-01-07T15:30:00.000-10:00

Mahalo for your Kokua! Plenty prostestors have gathered, Island school journalism students are reporting, local residents and visitors HONK in support of the Monkeypod trees. David Nelson of Nelson Companies, West Bloomfield MI, will be cutting 23 of the 33 Monkeypod trees in Historic Koloa Town, to clear for an upscale shopping center! Email your oppositions to Mr. Nelson at drnelson@nelsoncos.com
Stacey Wong is the head of the Knudsen Trust, pushing for leaseland development.
VIGIL TONITE AT THE TREES, VOICE YOUR CONCERN, CALL THE MAYOR AND COUNCILPEOPLE!!!

Hauoli Makahiki Hou 2008

2008-01-01T12:53:00.001-10:00

Happy New Year!!! Thanks to all who continue to help the "causes". Lots to recap, lots going on.
Check out today's Garden Island News.
Please don't forget about the fate of the Monkeypod trees in
Old Koloa Town tomorrow, Jan. 2nd!!!!!!!
"Never, never, never ever give up." (W.Churchill)

TIMBER!!! Koloa Trees coming down

2007-12-15T10:37:00.000-10:00

After a much controversial ruling, Koloa Marketplace manages to push it's way threw!
Unfortunately, that means most of the 100 yr. old, or so, Monkey Pod Trees, at the entrance of OLD Koloa Town, are coming down too. Protesters are already gathering.
January 2, 2008 is the date!!Tree huggers wanted!!!!

Creekside goes down

2007-11-20T11:06:00.000-10:00

The proposed residential development for Koloa town, CREEKSIDE, was NOT approved by the planning comission! COMMUNITY MEMBERS CONTINUE TO SPEAK OUT, too much dust, noise, traffic congestion, and no thought for the residents of this Historical community. Too bad the Planning Commission didn't listen sooner! With 12 PROJECTS currently underway in this small community, we could have all breathed alot easier.
Read about the decision in The Garden Island News.

Kane-i-olo-uma site visit

2007-10-21T11:25:00.000-10:00

Uncle Jimmy Kimeokeo and Billy Kaohelaulii

The visit was a success with island wide interest. Keeaumoku Kapu of Maui, Sol Kaho`ohalahala of Lanai, and Kane Turalde of Waimea shared their mana`o with Uncle Jimmy Kimeokeo, Rupert Rowe and Billy Ka`ohelaulii at this sacred site.

View video tour of site

Hawaiians want cultural preserve

2007-10-14T17:42:00.001-10:00

Kane-i-olo-uma site map

Over two years ago The Garden Island ran this front page article by Lester Chang.

Kanaka Maoli, the aboriginal people of Hawaii, are fighting to keep their culture alive. This Poipu site on Kauai is the largest intact cultural site in the state of Hawaii. The site continues to have work done and will be the location for the Kane blessing in October.

Read this facinating article about our unique cultural site at The Garden Island Online.

MORE development coming?

2007-10-12T13:40:00.000-10:00

Approval sought to expand the Sheraton/SVO property, Koloa, Poipu area.
The planning commission approves, in spite of local opposition. The plan is to blast at the site, near the oceanfront.

In related news, the EPA is documenting the unbridled development in a report to the legislature, and to use the Poipu-Koloa area as an example of an "Environmental Injustice"

Read more about the EPA's visit to Kauai in the Garden Island News.

Po'ipu Cultural Site Visit Part of Zoning Change Decision

2007-10-03T17:15:00.000-10:00

SOURCE: Kauai Garden Island News originally published May 03, 2007

The Hawai'i State Land Use Commission conducted a site visitation in Po'ipu yesterday in relation to a petition by the Eric A. Knudsen Trust to consider the reclassification of approximately 127.49 acres of land currently in the Agricultural District to the Urban District for residential, bicycle and pedestrian path and archaeological preserve uses.

LUC staff member Anthony Ching, at-large commissioner Michael Formby, Kaua'i commissioner Thomas Contrades and Dr. Hallett Hammatt of Cultural Surveys Hawai'i were joined by about 100 interested observers.

"We don't want (the zoning change)," said Billy Kaohelaulii, kahu/guardian and member of Hui Malama O Kaneiolouma.

Kaohelaulii said the number of historical, cultural and sacred sites in the area have been reduced from over 70 to the current 17.

"We want to keep the sites . . . to put them back," he said. "This is the ahupua'a that belongs here."

The visitation included the petition area, the project area associated with the petition area but not part of the LUC decision and a visit to an off-site heiau of significance.

The fear, Kaohelaulii said, is that the heiau and other important sites will be affected sooner or later.

"Everything up runs down," Kaohelaulii said.

Ching told participants that the purpose of the site visit was to give commissioners an orientation to geographical, archaeological sites.

"It is an opportunity to see the grounds, see the sites and to gain an appreciation of the land we are talking about," Ching said.

Ching cautioned the crowd against engaging in "substantive conversations" with the commissioners and discussing the merits of the case.

Dr. Hammatt, the leader of the visitation who explained and identified the sites, told participants to expect rocky areas and cactus. He had done a "dry run" of the visitation that took three and a half hours.

Rupert Rowe, kahu/guardian, addressed the crowd and spoke of respect for the area.

Kehaulani Kekua, kumu hula of Halau Palaihiwa O Kaipuwai, presented traditional ceremonial prayer chants. She also offered mele komo, a chant asking for permission to enter the sites.

Kekua said she was invited by Don Cataluna of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the kupa/natives of the area like Ted Blake and by kahu Kaohelaulii and Rowe.

Kekua said that in 1959 Henry Kekahuna had mapped the entire Koloa field system. The current development proposal involves the last remaining section of the system.

"This last section possesses magnificent, unique ancient archaeological sites--archaic engineering, construction of irrigation channels, cultivation and habitation sites-- that cannot be found anywhere else in Hawai'i," Kekua said. "This is a big deal."

As the group disappeared into the brush, Kekua pointed out the native Hawaiian owl flying overhead.

"It is ho'ailona," she said. "It is a sign that our ancestors are watching."

Aloha from Po'ipu Kauai

2007-10-03T17:08:00.000-10:00

Welcome to the new Po'ipu Story website, a local community effort to help inform and educate those who would help preserve and protect the fragile beauty of these Hawaiian heritage sites and cultural ways.

Located on the south shore of the northern Hawaiian island of Kauai, Poipu has long been a destination cherished for its pristine environment. But today we are here to share with you the story of the battle to preserve these sacred lands.

Future stories will highlight some of the constructive things that one might do to make a difference here. If you'd like to keep informed and learn how to contribute, please be sure to subscribe to our newsletter here.

Mahalo for your interest!