Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 5, Number 3, 1 March 1988 — In Brief Dedication Ceremonies Jan. 23 [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

In Brief Dedication Ceremonies Jan. 23

Kailua HCC Becomes Official Ulupo Heiau Curator

By Kenny Haina, Editor Ka Wai Ola O OHA The Kailua Hawaiian Civic Club became official curator or caretaker of Ulupo Heiau in Kailua during a brief dedication ceremony on the morning of Jan. 23. The revitalized club, whieh is headed by Chris Faria as p-?sident, and the Department of Land and Natural Resources signed a letter of agreement Dec. 23, 1987, designating Kailua HCC as curator of the heiau whieh is on state land adjacent to the Windward YMCA. Libert Landgraf, DLNR deputy director, in brief rem_'.rks, said he was "comfortable" with such an agreement. Landgraf, a Hawaiian, added, "I feel good about something like this. We have entered into similar agreements with the people of Kauai

and Kona on matters relating to heiau and trails/' he reported. City and County of Honolulu Mayor Frank F. Fasi noted that this is one of the largest heiaus on the Windward side whieh onee overlooked a great fishpond where mullet, moi, aholehole and other kinds of fish were plentiful. He said he was told that the ali'i used the heiau as a plaee to rest and that it was aiso probably a lookout point for fishermen. Fasi noted that while the heiau sits on state land, he was nonetheless offering the city's kokua to the club in the way of volunteers and equipment. "This is a historic landmark and it is important we preserve our culture," he concluded. In his welcoming remarks, Faria lauded Charles Rose as the driving force behind the club project. Rose is a retired Hawaii County Poliee Department poliee officer active with the Hawaiian Civic Club movement and its poliheal arm — the Hawaiian Civic Political Action Committee. Faria said: "We're ready to take on our responsibilities. We've got the instructions, we've got the books, we'll have classes, we won't disturb and we'll preserve." He said club members and friends will be cleaning up the site of debris, vegetation and other litter and perhaps establish educational sites. "We'll plaee historical markers here and there so people and school children will know what this plaee is all about," Faria added. The club's agreement with the state is for two years but it is renewable. The program opened with an oli by Kumu Hula Mapuana de Silva of Halau Mohala llima and then pule by the Rev. David Kaupu of Kamehameha Schools who later declared that "this day should live long in Hawaiian history — a day of Ho'olokahi and Ulupo." Members and friends then gathered around a stone marker to affirm their dedication to the heiau as Kaupu completed his blessing of the club's ho'okupu. Rose served as master of ceremonies. A little pot-luck pa'ina followed.

The Rev. David Kaupu of Kamehameha School, right, is about to bless ho'okupu held by Chris Faria and his wife, Willie. Faria is president of the Kailua Hawaiian Civic Club.

Mapuana de Silva, kumu hula of Halau Mohala llima, opens program with a chant while standing to her right is Mayor Frank F. Fasi who briefly addressed the group.