The Army has desecrated another set of iwi kupuna (Native Hawaiian ancestral human remains) approximately 600 yards from the site of a previous desecration in 2010.
Thomas Lenchanko, a lineal descendant of families from the Lihu’e / Kukaniloko area and spokesperson for ‘Aha Kukaniloko has demanded immediate access to the site. The families have told the Army that the area is sacred and should be avoided by Stryker Brigade construction projects. But the Army has continued to ignore community concerns and have continued destructive activity in the vicinity, resulting in the desecration.
Chris Monahan, an independent archaeologist hired to review the adequacy of the Army’s cultural and archaeological surveys for its Stryker brigade project found that the Army failed to conduct adequate cultural and archaeological studies of the proposed project areas. Monahan calls for a more comprehensive and rigorous study of cultural sites and resources and stronger protections of these sites.
—–Original Message—–
From: Gilda, Laura Ms CIV US USA IMCOM [mailto:laura.gilda@us.army.mil]
Sent: Friday, April 29, 2011 10:05 AM
To: michael.vitousek@hawaii.gov; pua.aiu@hawaii.gov; phyllis.l.cayan@hawaii.gov; shadkane@gmail.com; KEONAHALEIWA@aol.com; Alicegreenwood60@yahoo.com; kawaihapai@hawaii.rr.com; kaleop@me.com; Clyde Namuo; pjrcgo@gmail.com; Kai Markell; Keola Lindsey; Everett Ohta; halealoha@wave.hicv.net; kawikam@hawaii.rr.com
Cc: Lucking, Laurie J Dr CIV US USA IMCOM; ljluck@aol.com; Yuh, Peter Mr CIV US USA IMCOM; Abramson, Kerry Mr CIV US USA USARPAC; Char, Alvin L Mr CIV US USA IMCOM
Subject: Notice: Inadvertent Discovery of Human Remains at Schofield Barracks Apr27,2011 (UNCLASSIFIED)
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: FOUO
Aloha,
The US Army Garrison Hawaii (USAG-HI) is notifying you of an inadvertent discovery of partial and displaced human remains under the provision of Appendix C (Inadvertent Discovery Plan) of the Programmatic Agreement for the Army Transformation of the 2nd Brigade, 25th ID to a Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT).
On Wednesday, April 27, 2011 at approximately 9:30am, possible human remains were inadvertently discovered in the Battle Area Complex (BAX) project area by archaeological and cultural construction monitors for Garcia and Associates (GANDA). USAG-HI Oahu Archaeologist, John Penman, was notified and immediately visited the project location and assessed one molar tooth to be human and several small bone fragments in poor condition. SHPO was notified by phone of the discovery at 12:05am. On Thursday, April 28, 2011, Dr. Sara Collins, physical anthropologist with Pacific Consulting Services Inc. (PCSI), visited the location. Dr. Collins examined the remains and determined they were human, indentifying one molar tooth and approximately 20 small fragments of a human femur or tibia with a minimum number of individuals (MNI) of one (1).
These remains are approximately 600 meters from the May 2010 discovery.
The fragments were discovered during mechanical soil extraction from a borrow pit within the project area. The fragments were discovered within disturbed soil at the edge of a borrow pit. All construction stopped at the time of discovery and the construction contractor was immediately notified that the entire borrow pit is off limits for construction activities until further notice. The original locations of the scattered fragments were marked and the fragments consolidated at the main concentration. These fragments were recovered within a 2 meter diameter area. The area surrounding the discover location was marked of with flagging. A site protection fence will be erected around the area. The GANDA cultural monitors assisted with covering the fragments and conducted protocols as appropriate.
Laura Gilda
Archeologist
USAG-HI DPW ENV Cultural Resources
808-655-9731 desk
808-384-7796 cell
808-655-9705 fax
Cultural Resources Section, 1513 Kolekole Avenue, Bldg 494, Schofield Barracks (physical)
DPW-ENV Division, 947 Santos Dumont, Bldg 105, 3rd Floor, WAAF,
Schofield Barracks, 96857 (mail)
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: FOUO