Posted on: Friday, April 15, 2005
Tree removal in Kailua completed
By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Windward O'ahu Writer
KAILUA — Two hoop pines that threatened to fall on the house where Queen Lili'uokalani wrote "Aloha 'Oe" have been cut down along with another that threatened a second historic site in Maunawili Valley.
Property owner HRT Ltd., which is the business side of the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, began removing the trees near the queen's house on Tuesday, said Mark Paikuli-Stride, a banana farmer in the valley. Several more dead hoop pines tower over a nearby two-story home built around 1870 called the Hedemann house. One pine has been cut, Paikuli-Stride said yesterday, adding that it looked like more work would be done.
HRT did not return a call for comments.
The Kailua Historical Society, 'Ahahui Malama I Ka Lokahi and the Kailua Hawaiian Civic Club had asked HRT to remove the trees to preserve the historic sites.
"The Kailua Historical Society is very grateful that HRT is taking action to remove the dead pines that threaten the queen's retreat in Maunawili," said Molly Mosher-Cates, president of the society. "We are hopeful that HRT will continue to be good stewards of the land and take action to preserve the two homes that remain on the property."
The trees stand in a 10-acre site that contains unexplored archeological sites including the queen's bath, petroglyphs, a heiau, the two homes and taro lo'i.
The two homes are the most significant historic sites on the Windward side, Mosher-Cates said, adding that she hopes to continue to work with HRT to preserve the sites.
The retreat is on Luana Hills Country Club property, which has more than 1,000 acres of land. One of the conditions of the permit for the golf course was that it complete a preservation plan that cataloged significant archaeological, architectural and burial sites, Mosher-Cates said.
Charles Burrows, with 'Ahahui and the civic club, said protecting the sites was honorable and pono.
"We appreciate this beginning of establishing a relationship with the community and hope that their restoration plan for the queen's retreat is their next major undertaking."
Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com or 234-5266.
