QUESTION: What is the significance of the stone with a fence around it at Mother Waldron Park in Kakaako? It is at the mauka-Diamond Head corner of the park. There are "kapu" plaques on the top surface of the walls. There are no other signs to identify the memorial.
ANSWER: Below the unmarked site, at the Halekauwila and Cooke streets intersection of the park, lie the reinterred remains of 12 people, according to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Historic Preservation Division’s Burial Sites Program.
E. Tory Laitila, registrar for the Mayor’s Office of Culture and the Arts, explained that the site is on state property in the area overseen by the Hawaii Community Development Authority.
However, since 1995, with an agreement between the state and the city, the city Department of Parks and Recreation maintains the park, including the reinterment site, Laitila said.
When the burial site was situated in 1994, it was decided that it should not be marked.
According to officials with the Burial Sites Program, six of the 12 sets of remains were discovered during construction of the park, two during construction within Keawe Street and four during construction within Halekauwila Street.
DLNR spokeswoman Deborah Ward said the placement of signs or markers for burial sites normally is discussed in consultation with the appropriate island burial council and any recognized descendants.
"Usually the thinking behind not marking a burial site is to avoid drawing unnecessary attention to the site, which could be disrespectful or disturbing," she said.
PALI PALMS UPDATE
The state Department of Transportation informs us that six Pritchardia palm trees were planted last week along the median of Pali Highway in Kailua, replacing the coconut trees that died last year. (See is.gd/XsIlCj.)
AUWE AND MAHALO
To the driver who thought it acceptable to sideswipe my parked car on Kinau Street and drive off without leaving any contact information or even an apology. Your thoughtlessness will come back to haunt you. Mahalo to the police officer who filed the accident report with efficiency and sympathy. A big mahalo to the young couple who witnessed the hit-and-run and provided the officer with a license plate number.
I thanked you in person, but it felt shamefully inadequate compared with the size of your generosity. You are the embodiment of the aloha spirit. — Brandon Leu
MAHALO
To a kind man. Last month I was stopped at a traffic light near the Koko Head Fire Station when a man in the car behind me got out and approached my car. To my surprise he told me my wallet, which I had carelessly left on the trunk, had fallen off and he was returning it.
Unfortunately, the light turned green, and I only had time to thank him for his honesty. Everything was intact. I’m so sorry I did not get his name, but what a wonderful experience to find one so honest and so determined to do the right thing by following me until there was an opportunity to return the wallet. I hope to pay it forward some day. With much aloha. — Jane
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