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THE SENATE                           S.R. NO.              S.D. 1
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                                
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                    SENATE  RESOLUTION

ENCOURAGING THE RESTORATION OF MOKU'ULA AND LOKO O MOKUHINIA.


 1       WHEREAS, prior to contact with Western civilization,
 2   Moku`ula was considered as the axis mundi or "piko" (center) of
 3   spiritual and political power among the highest ranking ali`i
 4   of Hawai`i; and
 5   
 6       WHEREAS, it is at Moku`ula, at the den known as Kalua `O
 7   Kiha (The Pit of Kiha), that the deified mo`o goddess,
 8   Kihawahine, the progenitor of the Pi`ilani Line of Maui chiefs,
 9   lives; and
10   
11       WHEREAS, Loko O Mokuhinia (Fishpond of Mokuhinia) served as
12   a natural moat surrounding Moku`ula, was stocked with the
13   Ali`i's favorite fish and lo`i kalo (taro field), and fed by
14   the streams of Kau`aula and Pahumanamana; and
15   
16       WHEREAS, Moku`ula and Loko O Mokuhinia were home to and the
17   sacred retreat of the Kings and Queens of Hawai`i up to the
18   time of Kamehameha V; and
19   
20       WHEREAS, it was at Moku`ula that Keopuolani, Nahiena`ena
21   and the children of Kauikeauoli (King Kamehameha III) were laid
22   to rest along with many other ali`i in a mausoleum built
23   especially for them; and
24   
25       WHEREAS, these royal crown lands were confiscated by the
26   Republic of Hawai`i, then ceded to the United States of America
27   at the time of Annexation, then returned back to the State of
28   Hawai`i at the time of statehood and eventually became the
29   responsibility of the County of Maui through an executive
30   order; and
31   
32       WHEREAS, diversion of water from the streams that fed Loko
33   O Mokuhinia eventually led to the filling of the loko and the
34   establishment of a county ball park; and 
35   
36       WHEREAS, recent events, including an archaeological site
37   study, show that Moku`ula and Loko O Mokuhinia, connecting
38   pathways, and an old pier located on the island remain intact;
39   and
40   
41       WHEREAS, because of this information, there is
42   significantly increased interest in restoring and preserving

 
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                                  S.R. NO.              S.D. 1
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1   Moku`ula and Loko O Mokuhinia for the purposes of educating and
 2   preserving the historical and spiritual significance of this
 3   place; and 
 4   
 5       WHEREAS, a community-based non-profit organization known as
 6   Friends of Moku`ula, Inc., has been created to conduct
 7   activities that will lead to the restoration and preservation
 8   of Moku`ula and Loko O Mokuhinia and all other related sites;
 9   now, therefore,  
10   
11       BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twentieth Legislature
12   of the State of Hawai`i, Regular Session of 1999, that this
13   body encourages and supports the efforts of the Hawaiian
14   community; particularly the Friends of Moku`ula to conduct
15   activities that will allow for the restoration of Moku`ula and
16   Loko O Mokuhinia and all other related sites so that all may
17   learn and understand the basic principles and beliefs of the
18   Hawaiian people; and
19   
20       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature encourages the
21   County of Maui to work in concert with the Friends of Moku`ula
22   to resolve any land issues regarding the area now known as
23   Maluuluolele Park and to further work with the Friends of
24   Moku`ula to address any other concerns regarding the
25   restoration of Moku`ula and Loko O Mokuhinia; and 
26   
27       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this
28   Resolution be transmitted to the Friends of Moku`ula, the Mayor
29   of the County of Maui, each member of the Maui County Council,
30   the Governor of the State of Hawai`i and each member of the
31   Hawai`i Congressional Delegation.