Letter: Conservation lands should be preserved

As president of the Pohai Nani Retirement Community and on behalf of our residents, I wish to express opposition to the proposed Hawaiian Memorial Park expansion on conservation land. This land is our heritage, our birthright to our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. It is also a protection for our endangered species. Once diminished, this land can never be replaced. It is gone forever.

I realize that we must honor and care for our loved ones when they pass away. However, on an island with limited land and resources, it is imperative to seek other options to the traditional means of burial.

My first wife died in 2012; she chose to donate her body to the University of Hawaii Medical School for research and training. She was delighted to find out the medical school also provided free cremation for the remains. Afterwards a beautiful free memorial service was held together with other donors and the ashes scattered off Magic Island.

That is how I have planned my own end-of-life services. I am urging my friends to consider doing the same.

The Rev. Samuel Cox

Kaneohe

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