CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@ STARBULLETIN.COMSupporters and family of imprisoned Hui Malama leader Edward Ayau held vigils earlier this week outside the Federal Detention Center to pray for his release and that 83 Hawaiian artifacts under dispute would not be retrieved from secret burial caves.
From the Honolulu Star Bulletin, via archeologymagazine.com :
Judge says Hawaiians must settle artifact fight
Tradition, not court action, would be preferable, Ezra says
By Sally Apgar
sapgar@starbulletin.com
January 6, 2006
A FEDERAL JUDGE ordered several native Hawaiian groups yesterday to resolve their differences over the final disposition of 83 artifacts, suggesting they pursue a Hawaiian form of conflict resolution on which they can all agree.
"This is not a dispute between the federal government and native Hawaiians. It is a dispute between native Hawaiians and native Hawaiians," said U.S. District Court Judge David Ezra. "We did not file this lawsuit."
In the meantime, Ezra refused to release Edward Halealoha Ayau, leader of Hui Malama I Na Kupuna O Hawaii Nei, from federal detention. Ayau was sent to prison last week for refusing to tell Ezra the location of the artifacts or the names of those who helped him rebury them.
[...]
Ezra said yesterday that the federal court "has the power and authority" to make a resolution "and jam it down someone's throat." However, Ezra said he prefers a "method within the framework of Hawaiian tradition" so the groups can resolve their differences "without direct court involvement."
"The whole idea is to take this out of the courtroom and put it back into the hands of the Hawaiians," he said. [read the full article]
More on the story from the Honolulu Advertiser :
This
carved wood figure was among objects taken from a Big Island burial
cave near Honokoa Gulch in Kawaihae by the Forbes Expedition in 1905.
Advertiser library photo
Dispute delivers praise and scorn to Hui Malama
One of the central issues is what constituted a 'loan'
By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Advertiser Staff Writer
January 13, 2005
[Excerpt] At the center of the dispute, which has been bubbling in Hawaiian circles for years, is the issue of a permanent home for the objects, which include a famous wooden female figure and several renowned stick 'aumakua.'
To comply with Ezra's order, Ayay said, would fly against his religious and cultural beliefs. [read the full article]
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