County council unanimously adopts resolution to protect Kumukahi iwi kūpuna and sacred sites

The Hawaii County Council voted unanimously on Nov. 9 to adopt Resolution 330, a measure urging protective management and preservation of iwi kūpuna and other cultural and natural resources at Kumukahi.

The resolution, introduced by Council Member Ashley Kerkowitz, follows extensive public testimony from residents and lineal descendants who said the area has suffered desecration and needs protections and local stewardship. “Kumukahi is a very sacred place,” said Keone Kalabe, identifying himself as a lineal descendant, who urged the council to back a management plan and implementation. Council members also heard from educators and long‑time residents who described the site’s cultural and historic significance.

Kerkowitz said the resolution is “a promise” that the county remains committed to recovery efforts five years after the 2018 eruption and will seek a coordinated approach involving lineal descendants, community organizations and state agencies including the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. She said geothermal community benefit funds, among other sources, could support recovery work.

Council discussion emphasized funding, the county’s limited land interests in the immediate area, and the importance of returning control and management roles to Native Hawaiian groups. Council members pressed for planning‑department leadership as a convener and noted that several state partners have been involved in recovery work for years.

The measure does not appropriate money or create binding land‑use change, but it directs the county to pursue collaborative preservation, mitigation and management plans and to prioritize involvement of lineal descendants. The council adopted the resolution by voice vote, with the clerk recording seven ayes; council members Leroy and Galimba were excused.