Kawaiaha鈥檕 Church Respectful of Iwi Kupuna
In a recent Civil Beat article, Bones in Purgatory: 660 Skeletal Remains Languish in Church Basement, the author鈥檚 editorializing leaves readers with the impression that Kawaiaha鈥檕 Church is nonchalant in its handling of burials found in the site of the proposed Multipurpose Center.
Using phrases like, 鈥淪o much for resting in peace鈥 and 鈥渢rapped in a strange sort of purgatory,鈥 Kawaiaha鈥檕 Church鈥檚 congregation and leadership are portrayed as insensitive and uncaring.
The fact is, Kawaiaha鈥檕 Church has taken extraordinary measures to ensure iwi kupuna found in the excavation site are handled with the proper level of dignity and respect.
The final outcome of this is a complex issue. In the meantime, Kawaiaha鈥檕 Church is committed to respectfully caring for the remains until such time that they can be reinterred in a permanent location.
About the author: Duane Sayers is a Kawaiaha鈥檕 Church Board Trustee.
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