February 14, 2011

From: Irmalee Kamakaonaona “Onaona” Pomroy Maly

Kawaiaha‘o Church Attn: Kahu Curtis Kekuna, Senior Pastor 957 Punchbowl Street Honolulu, HI 96813

RE: Family Burials at Kawaiaha‘o Church Cemetery; Ninth Kāhea i nā ‘Ohana Meeting held February 8, 2011; and concern regarding ‘ohana buried in Kawaiaha‘o Cemetery.

Kahu Kekuna:

 My name is Irmalee Kamakaonaona Pomroy Maly. I am informing you in writing, I have ‘ohana-kūpuna buried at Kawaiaha‘o Church. My great-grandmother Lā‘ielohelohe Kapukui Pomroy (and infant who died with her in 1910); and Samuel Lawrence Pomroy, aged 2 ½, who died in 1900.

I know where my great-grandmother is buried (in the Halu‘apo plot – also being family). She has a grave marker but we are concerned as her grave is located right next door to the “Word of Life” building and who knows if someday in the future—based on the history of Kawaiaha‘o, as a church which digs up its congregants graves—that the church may decide to intrude into this section of the cemetery as well. We do not know the location of little Samuel’s grave, and are concerned that he may be one of the unknown ‘iwi.

On behalf of my family, I share with you that we do not want my great grandmother, Samuel or any other ‘iwi kūpuna to be removed from their final resting place. In both the traditional Hawaiian and Christian contexts, there is a reverence for burial sites, that runs deep among our families, and which, for some reason, Kawaiaha‘o has seen fit to ignore.

It is my feeling, that you, the families of Kawaiaha‘o, and members of families, whose elders are buried at Kawaiaha‘o need to respect and mālama the ‘iwi—those in the ground, and those sitting in your basement for over a year. I don’t understand why they were removed in the first place. Whether marked or not, this is a known cemetery, and the record of burials on the property pre-dates the A.B.C.F.M. lands award; and you have known there are burials all about you. How this poor (disrespectful) treatment of members of your church could be allowed, is difficult to comprehend. Just because they are in the way of a multi-purpose building? To build a “kingdom?” We know that the Kingdom of God is not made by the hands of man.

I apologize to my kūpuna for not coming forward sooner when the first unearthing of the ‘iwi occurred. I’ve lived on neighbor islands for the past 30 + years, and because we work full-time, I was not aware of this hewa being allowed to happen. Sadly the desecration of our kūpuna ‘iwi is not new to us, we have been involved and came forward before in protection of ‘iwi kūpuna by questioning, researching, holding signs in protest, making news, etc. back in the ‘70s, 80s and 90s. Never ever in my worst nightmare could I possibly imagine burials at Kawaiaha‘o cemetery would be allowed to be dug up in this day and age. Adding to the hewa, is the fact that this is a Hawaiian Church, and Hawaiians are facilitating the desecration.

Because it happened in the past, more so today, we cannot let it happen again. We have lost enough of our past, our history, our right as a people, it is time for all Hawaiians, all human beings who care, to make a stand. Watch out everyone, for if this is allowed to happen at this well known graveyard who is to stop other graveyards in the future of having this same fate.

I received the invitation and for the first time I attended your hosted Ninth Kāhea i nā ‘Ohana Meeting held on February 8, 2011. My husband and I arrived early as we weren’t exactly sure where on the grounds the meeting was to be held. I approached two older Hawaiian couples who sitting on a bench, said “aloha,” and asked, “Where is the meeting being held?” One of the women asked me, in a very sarcastic voice, “What is your name?” I told her who I was. She then asked “What is my last name? I told her, she asked “Since when did you become a church member?” “I am not a church member.” She said, “I don’t know who you are?” I explained I was there for the burial/‘iwi meeting. She was very rude and sassy, she told me, “What is so good about the bones? They are all gone, they no more feelings.”

Right then I felt so hurt in my na‘au, she hurt me spiritually. I walked away, my husband and I immediately went into prayer. A few moments later a friend, Lani Ma‘a walked up, came up and hugged us. It felt good to know there was a friend at Kawaiaha‘o amongst the wolves. She invited us into the church to go in through the side entrance. While she was directing us, another unknown person, a man, told Lani, “They can’t come in this way, they have to go in the front entrance”. No aloha, no compassion, no care. He didn’t even come up to us to explain, he just spoke to Lani who looked very apologetic, but what could she do. We walked away and went in the front door. I later found out during the meeting by his introduction, this “man” is the newly appointed chair of the Na ‘Iwi Committee. That felt like a slap in my face, to be treated so poorly by the one who has been given charge in the responsibility for the care of our ‘iwi.

As the meeting unfolded with Kimo Kahoano as the mediator, he read the rules which included, “Treat everyone who speaks with kindness, compassion and respect, even if you disagree.” We sat towards the back of the church for we were there mostly to observe since this was our first time in attendance. In my observation each time someone went up to share their mana‘o, if the person was speaking on behalf of our ‘iwi kūpuna the church members were very rude, they would mumble under their breath and make snide remarks.

Because of how they were acting, I did not go up to share. I personally feel there was nothing accomplished at that meeting, it was a waste of time. Is that how all your meetings have been in the past? You and your church members have already made up your mind and desire to finish your building, you care about nothing else. Obviously you cannot see how very wrong this is. How can you or I for that matter attend a funeral at a grave site and not help but think, “Is this only temporary?” until this location is going to be for a future road or a new building?

I can say that one member of your congregation represented the spirit of aloha, in her mannerism that evening. Mrs. Galuteria, graciously came up to us, said aloha, and shared a few family memories with us – my grandmother, Violet Kaiapa Pomroy had been her teacher. Mahalo to her and Lani for being kanaka mākua.

In a recent search of news on cemeteries, and the word “grave,” I came across discussions about flowers being taken off graves, and how upset people are. I can’t help but think what would happen if I was to start a discussion stating “if you think flowers being removed is bad, how would you like to hear bodies are being removed from the grave, their final resting place?” Now that is something worth standing up for, bodies versus flowers.

I feel sorry for you Kahu Kekuna for ultimately this burden falls upon you. You are the senior pastor, the kahu, the leader. It is not too late, make a stand, do what is right. These are burials in your cemetery representing the foundational families of your church. If you don’t stop this now who is to stop the future leaders and church members from taking out more bodies?

Our kūpuna taught us, “Mai kaula‘i nā iwi o nā kūpuna i ka lā!” (Do not expose the bones of the ancestors to the sun!) This saying is both literal and poetic, and it would be helpful if you and your congregation took it to heart.

Below, is a brief record of my kūpuna – ‘ohana, and their place at Kawaiaha‘o. I’m also attaching as a separate file, selected certificates documenting my kūpuna at Kawaiaha‘o, and my descent from them. The genealogy is summarized below:

Lillian Lā‘ieloehlohe Kapukui married Walter Melville Pomroy in 1890, and to them were born:

Jane Kalaniwela Pomroy, March 21, 1891 Edward Matthew Halu‘apo Pomroy, October 15, 1892 Clara Louise Ka‘aimahu‘i Pomroy, April 17, 1895 Samuel Lawrence Pomroy, October 8, 1897 (died, March 21, 1900, buried at Kawaiaha‘o) Louis Melville Pomroy, January 19, 1900 Harry Kind Pomroy, March 28, 1903 Eva Maua‘eikaluaolonoikahiki Pomroy, November 27, 1904 Walter Pomroy (died at birth)Lillian Lā‘ielohelohe Kapukui Pomroy died on February 17, 1910, of complications from pregnancy, and was buried with her unborn child, at Kawaiaha‘o Cemetery.Lillian Lā‘ielohelohe Kapukui Pomroy is my great grandmother; Her son, Louis Melville Pomroy, is my grandfather. His son, Walter Melville Kaiapa Pomroy, is my father.

(Certificates Attached in Transmittal to Kahu Kekuna)

The names and numbers of people who have been interred at Kawaiaha‘o are not all known. But from a simple review of historical records, we begin to comprehend that hundreds of families who are affected by the actions of Kawaiaha‘o in this present time.

On the following pages are the names of a few kūpuna who are recorded as being buried at Kawaiaha‘o Church in the past. As you read each name, feel love, feel compassion, let them touch your hearts. They were laid in their final resting place forever, please let them remain. Do not remove anyone else.

Na‘u no me ke aloha o ke Akua,

SIGNED
Irmalee Kamakaonaona Pomroy Maly
 “And Jacob set up a monument of stones upon her grave, and it is there to this day.” Genesis 35:20 (The Living Bible)
 cc: OHA Trustees and concerned parties