Music CD joins fight against Wa'ahila poles
By James Gonser
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer
The effort to prevent Hawaiian Electric Co. from further building on Wa'ahila Ridge will take a new turn with the release of a Hawaiian music CD celebrating the cultural significance of the historic ridge above Manoa Valley.
The CD, simply titled "Wa'ahila," is set for release Nov. 30 and is the brainchild of Kenneth Makuakane, according to Mark Hee, co-executive producer of the album.
Featuring artists ranging from Robert Cazimero to Maunalua, the CD is considered a new, unusual tool in the fight over Wa'ahila Ridge. Proceeds will benefit the educational endowment fund of Malama O Manoa, one of the groups opposed to HECO's plans.
Hee said HECO has downplayed the ridge's cultural significance.
"We were able to assemble songs of Manoa and Wa'ahila and create new ones showing that there is cultural significance to it," said Hee.
HECO spokesman Pepi Nieva said the company is aware of the cultural issues surrounding the ridge and that Hee is misrepresenting its studies.
HECO wants to link the Pukele substation at the back of Palolo Valley to the Kamoku substation at Date and Kamoku streets, 3.8 miles away. It has spent millions of dollars since 1993 on environmental studies and to argue the need for the $31 million project. HECO would replace the existing 40-foot poles with new ones as tall as 120 feet.
HECO officials say the work is needed to ensure service to 54 percent of their customers and to prevent major power failures such as the one in 1983 that left most of O'ahu in darkness.
Environmental groups and Manoa residents say the transmission line is unnecessary, could cause health problems and that the bigger poles would be an eyesore.
The situation is under review and a court officer is scheduled to make a recommendation to the land board of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources by the end of January.
"About three years ago HECO hired archaeologist (Paul) Rosendahl, who said there were no significant cultural sites or nothing significant about Wa'ahila," said Hee. "If he understood Hawaiian history, he would know Hawaiians did not have a written history. They did not write it down; it was storytelling in chant."
Nieva said Hee is misrepresenting Rosendahl's 1998 findings and that the environmental impact statement on the project included talks with 86 people from the Hawaiian community with knowledge about legends and chants of Manoa.
"The cultural impact study was made by Rosendahl in which he said that the ridge did not qualify for the criteria for the National Register of Historic Places," said Nieva. "The criteria didn't fit within that. I guess that has been taken as HECO saying there are no cultural significant sites."
Wa'ahila Ridge was named one of the National Trust for Historic Preservation's 11 Most Endangered Sites in 1997. Rosendahl said its inclusion was based on "aesthetic and emotional" issues, not historical criteria.
Retired Maui Circuit Judge E. John McConnell conducted a hearing on the issues this month and will make a recommendation to the Land and Natural Resources board. After a week of testimony, HECO asked that the judge mediate a settlement, a move that took the environmental and community groups opposed to the project by surprise.
If no mediation is attempted, McConnell wants all parties to file their findings of fact and conclusions by Jan. 7. He is scheduled to make his recommendation on the proposal to the board by Jan. 31.
Hee said the CD complements the book "Kahalaopuna: Ka U'i O Manoa/The Beauty of Manoa," by James Rumford, which tells the ancient Hawaiian legend of Kahalaopuna, the beautiful girl of the rainbow, betrothed to marry a chief named Kauhi. When Kauhi's heart is turned by lies, he sets out to destroy the Beauty of Manoa. In the end he destroys only himself and is condemned to spend eternity as the Sleeping Giant of Wa'ahila Ridge.
Most of the songs on the CD were written by Makuakane, who recruited several local musicians and groups, including Cazimero and Maunalua and O'Brian Eselu, John Feary, Kuuipo Kumukahi, Pandanus Club and Jeff Rasmussen. All volunteered their talents for the project.
Barbara Lowe, president of Malama O Manoa, said the CD will help publicize the effort against HECO's plans, as well as provide grant money for programs that support the group's mission to preserve and protect the valley and promote cultural diversity.
Hee said there is no set percentage of sales from the CD that will go to Malama O Manoa, but the group will receive the proceeds minus costs.
Reach James Gonser at jgonser@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2431.
