KAPU "SACRED HAWAIIAN BURIALS" NOVEL
This book is based on a true story. The stories and interviews documented are of Hawaiian practitioners who participated in, or observed, past events of Hawaiian burial practices have beenpreserved through their oral or written testimony.
Over twenty years ago, I found my calling when I chanced on a secret cave in the forest near my ancestral home. Inside this cave were iwi, the sacred bones of Hawaiians from generations past. At only eight years old, I could not begin to imagine how this discovery would change my life.
For many years, Hawaiian people have stood up against the United States Government to recognize Hawaiian land rights. The ongoing effort continues in Hawai’i to protect Hawaiian burials and to keep the sacred bones of their ancestors safe from harm. In the late 20th century, my district of Puna, Hawai’i, became the target of developers who sought affordable property on the island. Faced with a home developer who threatened to plow through the cave near my home, I found myself in the position of David against my own version of a seemingly unconquerable Goliath. My story will take viewers along my journey to realize my identity, heritage, and ultimately my legacy within the tradition of protecting my ancestors' burial cave. I guard something that is more valuable and much more precious than old, the resting place of the iwi of my ancestors.
