SCR57

THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	57
TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002
STATE OF HAWAII

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SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

requesting that the city and county of honolulu appropriate funds to cover the city and county's share of repairing and maintaining puea cemetery.

 

WHEREAS, in many of the cultures that make up our State, great importance is placed on respecting and revering one's ancestors; and

WHEREAS, island residents regularly visit gravesites to honor deceased family members and friends; and

WHEREAS, consequently, it is fitting that these final resting places be maintained in a manner that respects those whose remains are contained within their boundaries; and

WHEREAS, the Puea Cemetery in Kapalama is one of four major state cemeteries on Oahu; and

WHEREAS, the oldest marker in the cemetery dates back to 1903 and other markers indicate that the buried include persons of Hawaiian, Filipino, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, Puerto Rican, Korean, English, and Irish ancestry; and

WHEREAS, although a portion of the cemetery, owned by the Kaahumanu Society, is well maintained and protected by a chain link fence, the rest of the cemetery is not fenced in or otherwise contained; and

WHEREAS, as a result, the rest of Puea Cemetery, which is located within an urban, residential area and adjacent to public roads and walkways, suffers from the thoughtless and disrespectful actions of those who litter the grounds, walk over graves, and walk their pets through the cemetery; and

WHEREAS, in 2001, (Act 160, Session Laws of Hawaii 2001), the Legislature, recognizing the importance of protecting and maintaining our ancestral gravesites, appropriated funds for the maintenance and upkeep of the Nanakuli Homestead Cemetery; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature believes that the appropriation of funds is also warranted to preserve and maintain Puea Cemetery; and

WHEREAS, although the Legislature believes that appropriating funds is necessary, it also realizes that the City and County of Honolulu is a part owner of Puea Cemetery and should therefore share in the cost of its repair and maintenance; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-First Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2002, the House of Representatives concurring, that the City and County of Honolulu appropriate funds to match the funds appropriated by the State for the repair and maintenance of Puea Cemetery; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu and the members of the Honolulu City Council.

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Repair and Maintenance of Puea Cemetery