Land uproar

A HISTORIC native Hawaiian land

struggle against Japanese develop

ers took a unique form at Oahu’s Leeward Coast on June 30 when indige nous islanders and supporters staged a spiritual ceremony declaring land to be Kapu, or sacred and forbidden. Wearing traditional sarongs, feather-type capes, leis, and blowing conch shells, reciting ancient Hawaiian chants, and carrying taro plants, nearly 100 demonstrators dedicated and consecrated ’Ohikilolo Ranch, land earmarked for a Japanese golf course.

This was the latest in the ongoing Hawaiian struggle to preserve agricultu ral land for farming and ranching, as opposed to tourism and urban expansion in the countryside. The traditional reli gious ritual forbids Japanese investors from building a golf course on the site, according to Office of Hawaiian Affairs Trustee, Frenchy DeSoto. An elected representative of a State agency over seeing Hawaiian issues, DeSoto declared ’Ohikilolo would be developed “over her bones”. She warned of “confrontational actions” against the Japanese developers if they break the taboo and pursue the

golf course project.

For nearly 18 years, the Silva family leased and ran the ’Ohukilolo Ranch at the remote end of Oahu’s Leeward Coast. They were famed for their annual luaus’ free Hawaiian feasts open to the public. Recently, the landowers sold the 700-acre area to the Japanese Alpha Kai company, which plans to build an 18hole golf course at the site.

During the solemn ritual, a Hawaiian priest annointed the Silvas as the land’s Konohiki, or caretakers. The Silvas’ lease expired on the day of the demonstra tion, but they did not leave. Workshops

dealing with the impacts of development

were held at the Ranch over the ensuing weekend. However, a representative of Alpha Kai, who was invited to attend the ceremony, said his firm had no immedi ate plans to evict the Silvas and their allies. ’Ohikilolo is at Wainanae, about 30 miles from downtown Honolulu. It is a Polynesian preserve predominantly

populated by indigenous islanders. Many

Waianaa residents live on Hawaii homes teads, land set aside for people of Native ancestry. However, during the 1980 s, Japanese investors made major develop ment roads into this Oceanic enclave. At the beginning of the Leeward Coast, an area twice the size of Waikiki is under construction for tourism development.

Now, near the end of the Leeward side, this Hawaiian ranch is being closed in favour of a proposed Japanese golf course. D