The story of the Department of Hawaiian Homelands and the beneficiaries of King's Landing reveals the struggles presented when a State agency is entrusted to carry out the Trust established under the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act.
Below is a timeline of the King's Landing beneficiaries' continued landback journey. This timeline shares the land security endeavors of the beneficiaries of King's Landing.
These endeavors work towards securing a future for the beneficiaries in collaboration with the DHHL to formalize a secured Alternative Development to Homesteading Model that represents
Ke Kauhale o King's Landing and the MAHA community.
"The ahupua'a of Waiakea and all the lands of Hilo were controlled at one time by Kalaniopuu who left them to his son Kiwalao. When Kiwalao dies in 1782, the lands passed to his uncle Keawemauhili, who lost them in battle to Keoua in 1790. With the defeat of Keoua in 1792 the lands went to Kamehameha and remained in his family until the Mahele of 1848. Waiakea was designated Crown Lands until the American-led overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom (1893) ... when they became government lands. In 1920, the original draft of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act did not include any lands in Waiakea. The Territorial Legislature inserted, these lands and several others, in their amendment to the act in 1921"
(MAHA Management Plan 3)
"Documented archeological research has been conducted in the Keaukaha Tract II area. These studies show presence of a native Hawaiian population before and after contact.... The presence of many archeological sites and of families maintaining homes in the area from earliest memory suggest that there has been continuous human settlement in Keaukaha Tract II from ancient times to the present." (MAHA Management Plan 3)
"The Malo family, descendants of the chief Waiakea, had three homes in the area during historic times: one at Waiuli, one at Koki and one at Waiokawa. Two other families who are remembered to have lived in the area during historic times are the Pakele family at Papai and the Kaaawe family at Paukupahu." (MAHA Management Plan 4)
"In the 1950s, Hawaiian Homes burned a house at Waiokawa, Pakani said. Since the only way into the land then was along a foot trail, the Puana ʻohana built a rest cabin at the head of the trail about a mile from their main cabin. A Hawaiian Homes official, angry that Sam and Lily Puana had two houses, burned down the family's main cabin. Keaukaha resident John Kua, Lily's nephew, confirmed the story." (Honolulu Star Bulletin 1993)
In the 1960ʻs Kupa and King's Landing resident Lily Puana invites uncle Bill Pakani to live at Waiokawa. "Uncle Bill receives oral permission from the Commissioners of Hawaiian Homelands to improve the area. In 1977, after living at Waiokawa for several years, uncle Bill received an eviction notice from the Department of Hawaiian Homelands."
"It took me over eight years to develop this land in road improvements, digging wells, dredging, clearing the land, planting bananas and taro and food for everyday subsistence for my family... my only interest in being on this ʻāina is to be an example of one Hawaiian who can make something out of nothing. Everything that you see here was cleared, built, and planted by the blood, sweat, and tears of myself, my wife, and my children" (Pakani, 1977)
*Image: King's Landing coastline of Kai ʻAikanaka, man-eating ocean
In 1981 Keliʻi "Skippy" Ioane moves his ʻohana into Waikaʻalulu.
He asked his grandfather William Kanakaole Ioane, one of the first homesteading families in Keaukaha, for guidance. His grandfather encouraged him and was with him the day Skippy hand-cut the trail into Waikaʻalulu. When they reached the area of their home site, Skippy's grandfather offered a pule to the land and the spirits of the space, asking permission for Skippy to raise his ʻohana there on the 'āina.
*Image: Kelii "Skippy" Ioane and daughter Ha'awina Wise circa 1992, at their home in Waikaʻalulu.
In 1982 Skippy was served an eviction notice. He writes to the Department inquiring about lease options and explaining his rationale for settlement,
"Because of our high number on the waiting list and the Department's slowness in placing Hawaiians on the land, we placed ourselves here" (Ioane, 1982)
* Image: daughterʻs ʻĀinaaloha & Akolea Ioane, in their home at Waikaʻalulu circa 1992
"The Department's slowness in placing Skippy on the land was hampering the natural process of rehabilitation within the timeframe of the body. He felt it was wrong that the governmentʻs "ability or immobility" should counter the purpose and mission of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act" (MAHA Management Plan 6)
*image: Skippy Ioane, Louis Pelekane, Theodore Benedicto building a kauhale for a community center in King's Landing. circa 1988
Skippy persists in his attempts to secure leases. In September of 1982 the Commissioners visited Skippy and Pakani at their homes. They were told that leases could not be offered because a management plan for the area of Keaukaha Tract II did not exist.
*image: Ioane, Laimana & Pelekane ʻohana keiki at kauhale community center. circa 1988
Based on their need to organize and be recognized, the two families, Pakani and Ioane form MAHA, Malama Ka ʻĀina Hana Ka ʻĀina. MAHA, is the democratically elected self-governing body in King's Landing that governs the Hawaiian beneficiary interactions in the community. This community association began with four members.
Uncle Bill Pakani was the Kupuna, Kelii "Skippy" Ioane was the President. Aunty Audrey Pakani was the Vise-President, and Carol Ioane was the Treasurer & Secretary. MAHA was formalized in 1982 and continues today. They intended to live and rehabilitate themselves as native Hawaiians.
In 1983 more Hawaiian families began to move into King's Landing. Many of these families "exhibited symptoms of disillusionment with mainstream western society. For them, settling at King's Landing was the first real opportunity to make something for themselves, by themselves." (MAHA Management Plan)
*image: The wahine of King's Landing at kauhale community center. circa 1988
Discussions between MAHA and the Department of Hawaiian Homelands continue through these years. " The Department administration has been committed to working out a cooperative solution because it recognizes the need for alternative homesteading programs."
(MAHA Management Plan)
*image: Ioane, Laimana & Pelekane keiki in Kingʻs Landing circa 1986
Currently, only traditional Homesteading models are present for beneficiaries, so the Department offers the King's Landing community Right-of-Entry 76. Georgiana Patakin is Chairman, and she initiates the motion for a Right-Of-Entry.
The ROE gives residents temporary permission to be on the land until a management plan can be created and implemented.
"The final Right-of-Entry agreement was signed by the (MAHA) community in September 1985 and by the DHHL Chairman in September 1986." (MAHA Management Plan)
* Click on the image to read ROE 76. A pdf can be found in "documents"
* Image: Kingʻs Landing ʻohana preparing for a community fundraising event. circa 1995
MAHA reaches out for help creating a site management plan to move forward on settlement and lease awards.
"In December of 1985, the Protect Kahoolawe Ohana, on behalf of MAHA community association, applied for and received a grant from the DHHL's Native Hawaiian Development Office to produce the MAHA Management Plan."
Palapala Ink is contracted to conduct the research and compile the findings.
*click on the image for a copy of the management plan. It can also be found in "documents."
On February 5th, 1987, Palapala Ink submitted the Keaukaha Tract II Community Management Plan to the Department of Hawaiian Homelands. Sadly, there is no movement or communication about the findings of the management plan between the two parties, and lease discussions are stalled.
The findings and recommendations within the management plan are forward-thinking and support all the needs of the Hawaiian beneficiary and address the Department's concerns.
Some of these recommendations inspired the future Kuleana Homesteading model of Kahikinui in 1999. There is also a recommendation calling for a King's Landing subsistence waitlist.
The King's Landing families that are acknowledged for participating in the creation of the management plan are: Benedicto ʻohana, Borges ʻohana, Ioane ʻohana, Iwalani Kalei, Lawrence Akimsu, Kane ʻohana, Kuamoʻo ʻohana, Laimana ʻohana, Nahakuʻelua ʻohana, Ben Oili, Pacheco ʻohana, Pakani ʻohana, Uncle Kimo Pelekane, Loui and Lisa Pelekane ʻohana.
For the next eight years, the King's Landing Community continued its self-governing and self-determining powers entrusted to them by the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act.
The ʻohanas within the community continue to grow, rehabilitate and connect to ʻāina.
*Image: Laimana ʻohana on their lot in Kingʻs Landing. Circa 1996
Francis Laimana is President of MAHA. He is faced with other Hawaiian entities wanting to use MAHA as a way to address the inconsistencies with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. This brings confusion and unrest within the community.
MAHAʻs self-governing authority is challenged when a MAHA member resides on a designated community fishing access road and is asked to relocate his structure.
MAHA goes to court.
MAHA is found to be within its authority and continues its self-governing responsibilities.
Skippy Ioane goes yearly to the Hawaiian Homes Commission Meetings in Waimea, Hawaii, to request leases for the King's Landing beneficiaries.
Kahikinui, Maui, is designated Kuleana subsistence Homesteading, and leases are awarded. Concepts for this homesteading product were inspired by the King's Landing community and the MAHA Community Management Plan.
Founding member of Kahikinui Blossom Feiteiras visited King's Landing in the years previous to learn from the Hawaiian subsistence beneficiary community.
Skippy Ioane continues to go yearly to the Hawaiian Homes Commission Meetings in Waimea, Hawaii, to request leases for the King's Landing beneficiaries.
*click on the image for Kahikinui Management Plan
The King's Landing community successfully continues their rehabilitation and welcomes the third generation of King's Landing Keiki o ka ʻāina, children of the land.
*image Hilo mud derbies MAHA concession stand (community fundraising) circa 1993
In 2001 a new Right-Of-Entry is given to MAHA. ROE 294 land disposition recognizes the desire of more beneficiaries to live a King's Landing subsistence lifestyle. MAHA outlines 24 lots to welcome 24 families into the village. Responsibilities are redefined and articulated within the new ROE.
The Department has now created a new useable product to offer leases for homesteading (Kuleana Subsistence Homesteading) but no leases are offered to the beneficiaries for King's Landing.
*image: Second-generation keiki o Kingʻs Landing growing up in the subsistence lifestyle of MAHA. circa 1994
Beneficiaries concerned with possible evictions and no progress towards land security continue to move out of King's Landing. This relocation happened because the Department failed the beneficiaries of King's Landing by not implementing the MAHA management plan.
This exodus severs the native Hawaiians' relationship to the ʻāina of King's Landing and destroys their spiritual rehabilitation.
DHHL begins Keaukaha Regional Plan. The community plans for King's Landing are discussed at this meeting. Neither MAHA nor the beneficiaries of King's Landing are present. No one from the Department or the Keaukaha Community Association reaches out to invite the Kingʻs Landing community to the planning. Skippy Ioane hears from a cousin about the three-day-long discussion. He appears in the last hour of the last day to voice his frustration and anger about the King's Landing community not being informed or involved in the regional planning for Keaukaha Track II
(King's Landing).
*click on the image to read the Keaukaha Regional Plan
President Herman Costa addresses the Commissioners about land security and asks for successorship rights for the Hawaiian beneficiaries of King's Landing.
MAHA member, native Hawaiian beneficiary, and loved father Joseph Angay passes. His dependents cannot succeed in their 'ohana home because there are no successorship rights in the ROE.
This land rights issue hurts the community as they are forced to return Joseph Angayʻs parcel to MAHA.
The Department ignores the request of Herman Costa and the need for lease and successorship within King's Landing.
* click on the image for Commission meeting notes from this address to the Commissioners of 2011. It can also be found in "Documents."
*image: 2022 MAHA monthly meeting. Daughter and son of Joseph Angay. Lehua and Moke, raised in King's Landing, contribute to community discussion.
The King's Landing community continues its rehabilitation, self-governing and self-determining kuleanas, and responsibilities.
MAHA's self-governing authority is once again questioned when a non-beneficiary claims residence on a designated community fishing access road. This dispute takes many years to resolve.
In 2021, DHHL removes the non-beneficiary from the community fishing access.
Movement for land security in King's Landing and the MAHA beneficiaries stall. There has yet to be a forward movement or collaboration between MAHA and the DHHL Commissioners.
*image: Iopa, Ioane and laimana keiki at Ioane house at Waikaʻalulu. circa 1992
The Department establishes a policy that requires all Rights-Of-Entry to be renewed by the Commissioners yearly. MAHA is not informed of this change. This is a breach of the original ROE:
"Each Party of this agreement agrees to inform the other of any substantial change in the status of a party or the conditions of circumstances in the area." (ROE 294)
The Kūpuna council is formed. Kūpuna Kelii "Skippy" Ioane suggested this leadership council to help transition the leadership roles onto their keiki, now adults.
Kūpuna council members help guide community discussions, offer their experiences as guiding examples and advice, and are sought out when a solution or resolution cannot be attained. The council holds a Kūpuna vote during community voting. These Kūpuna are members of the first ROE and include Kelii Skippy Ioane, Francis Laimana, Rose Pacheco, Herman Costa and Loui Pelekane.
The MAHA Board, led by the new generation and guided by the Kūpuna Council, sends a certified letter to the Commissioners requesting a meeting.
"The intent of this formal letter to the Commissioners is to enact number 20 of the ROE, which states: Change of condition and circumstances notice: Each Party of this agreement agrees to inform the other of any substantial change in the status of a party or the conditions of circumstances in the area.
The Commissioners form a Special Investigative Committee to investigate the community of King's Landing. East Hawaii Assistant Manager Olinda Fisher reaches out to MAHA. She organizes the first sit down between MAHA and the Commissioners, something that has yet to happen since the signing of the second ROE in 2001.
*image keiki o King's Landing at Moani bay after MAHA community monthly meeting. circa 2021
MAHA and Commissioners of the Special Investigative Committee meet. They begin with a driving tour of the 24 lots within King's Landing. They request to stop at every lot and ask board support ʻĀina Ioane to explain the situation. At this time, non-beneficiaries have forced their way into residing in King's Landing.
After the driving tour, the MAHA board and the Commissioners meet at the East Hawaii office. Here Commissioners share with MAHA that the status of their long-standing ROE and land disposition agreement with the Department needs to be clarified.
Six years previous, the Department implemented a new policy that required all Rights-Of-Entry to be renewed annually. However, MAHA was not informed.
The current Commissioners understand MAHA's history and want to work with the current beneficiaries to reach a solution that supports the beneficiaries and follows the Department's due process.
Concerns of possible eviction of MAHA and the King's Landing residence arise. ʻĀina Ioane, born and raised in Waikaʻalulu and daughter of Skippy Ioane addresses the Commissioners on the J-Agenda Item during a monthly Department meeting.
The King's Landing community discusses possible land security and successorship solutions. They search for a solution that honors MAHA and the King's Landing Village 40-plus years of success, including the Management Plan submitted to the Department in 1986. Creating such a prototype could take many years. Eighteen beneficiaries have passed while residing in King's Landing and awaiting leases, including 2 of MAHA's founders Bill and Audrey Pakani. The 'ohana's in the first Right-Of-Entry are all entering their 70's. "Many years" is a concerning thought for the villagers.
*Image: Herman Costa, at a community clean-up day. Herman a Hawaiian beneficiary, has been living in King's Landing since 1985.
In the January 2022 Hawaiian Homes Commission Meeting, Hawaiian Homes Investigative Committee on King's Landing reports to the Commission. The Investigative Committee shares their proposal based on their investigation and discussions.
Agenda item C-2 outlines a 4 phase plan for King's Landing.
*click on the image to read the full C-2 Proposal. It can also be found in "documents"
1.) Begin the process to identify if homesteading is a possible (viable) option for King's Landing, considering environmental concerns like sea-level rise.
2.) Discuss with MAHA a new-short term land agreement (disposition).
3.) To receive the new land agreement, MAHA must fully understand that relocation "transition" is highly likely and that MAHA participates in the transition. For example,
4.) Creation of a King's Landing Phase 2 Committee.
'Āinaaloha Ioane, daughter of Kelii "Skippy" Ioane shares her frustration with the Commissioners about the focus of the Proposal.
"The Proposal takes away from the focus at hand, which is the beneficiaries of King's Landing... Please remember that this is the life breath of our people and that we live our sovereignty every day on the ʻāina pulapula of King's Landing."
This video shares the C-2 proposal and discussion by the Commissioners.
Unfortunately, this proposal and discussion doesn't acknowledge MAHA and the village of King's Landing's rehabilitation successes and concernedly ensures some level of
relocation of the native Hawaiian beneficiary.
Commissioners discuss concerns about the waitlist, waste treatment, and rising sea levels. ʻĀina Ioane responds to each of the concerns.
" MAHA and the village of King's Landing have processes and protocols to address waste treatment... The native Hawaiian is a product of these lands and is well aware of sea level rising and the effects of climate change... the success of a multigenerational self-governing Hawaiian community is evidence of rehabilitation and viability. "
ʻĀina also welcomes a healthy collaboration with the Commission to discuss further solutions addressing all of the Department's concerns..
Kuleana Subsistence Homesteading would offer land security and successorship for the King's Landing beneficiaries, something they have yet to have but have requested for their entire existence.
The Department of Hawaiian Homelands warns that they must follow the waitlist to award leases if designated. This means that the current residents of King's Landing may not receive lease awards for the lands they reside on, which have rehabilitated them and have raised their keiki and moʻopuna.
If the lands of King's Landing are found not "viable," the Department will consider designating King's Landing as a Park or Conservation. This will require the removal of all the native Hawaiian beneficiaries of King's landing.
The removal and relocation of multigenerational Hawaiian families rehabilitated from the ʻāina of King's Landing, which has flourished for over 42 years, will continue the trauma of native Hawaiian land displacement.
Lease awarded to the current King's Landing beneficiaries will honor Ke Kauhale o King's Landing and its beneficiaries and solidify MAHA as an Alternative Development Model to homesteading on Hawaiian Homelands.
The Commissioners approve the Investigative Committees' February C-1 recommendations. This is a historic moment in the movement toward land security. Even with the unfavorable wording within the proposal, the acceptance is a positive movement forward.
Mahalo to the Commissioners for committing to a path toward a resolution and land security.
* video of the February 2022 meeting and public testimony can be viewed by clicking on the image.* Approved Commission meeting notes can be found in "documents."
Copyright © 2023 Malama Ka ʻĀina Hana Ka ʻĀina Kingʻslanding Community Association - All Rights Reserved.
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