Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 16, Number 12, 1 December 1999 — Mākua valley: ʻĀina o nā kūpuna [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Mākua valley: ʻĀina o nā kūpuna

ON FRIDAY, Nov. 5, I attended a meeting for five hours with the Mālama Mākua members and Carl W. Warren, environmental engineer, representing the Uiuted States Environmental Protection Agency, Region 9. I was given a copy of a sediment sampling field report and a programmatic agreement proposal. The sediment field report was done by Katherine J. Baylor, a hydrogeologist with the U.S. EPA. This report and activity was a one time sampling event to conduct a "screening." Previous soil sampling of the military's open buming and open

detonation sites in Mākua Valley has determined that levels of "lead arsenic and dinitroluene were present at concentrations that exceed health-based guidance levels." Programmatic agreements in conformance with Section 106 of the National Historic Presentation Act requires the U.S. Army, as well as all other federal agencies, to consult with the Native Hawaiian community, the state Historic Preservation Office anel the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation concerning the effects of further undertakings proposed. Īo my knowledge, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs has never been consulted, so who watches and advises on behalf of the native beneficiaries? May I take this opportunity to request that OHA's administration contact Mākua Valley's installation

commander and begin the consultation process to ensure traditional rehgious and cultural importance is identified and our assistance offered? Frightening is the real possibihty that Mākua Valley ean never be cleaned, that there is not enough money, that future generations, not yet bom, will inherit nothing more than cement and high-rises. A proposed test, or pilot research project has surfaced whieh attempts to "study" a possible way of cleaning the valley. We have not yet heard all of the details, however, if you are interested in any of this please eall my staff at 594-1877 or 594-1878 for copies. And so, the struggle continues, the attempts to resuscitate Mākua Valley are legion and continue. Our past, present and future are worth the battles, generations not yet bom depend on us. Let us pledge to make a difference by empowering ourselves with the knowledge of aloha Mākua. Mahalo e nā po'e mālama Mākua, nā po'e o 'Ukanipō a pau, mahalo piha. ■

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