By Cindy Ellen Russell, Star-Bulletin
Leinaala Heine, member of Ilio'ulaokalani, a coalition
of traditional Hawaiian cultural practitioners, confronts
Paul Rosendahl, archaeologist behind the Heco report that
said Waahila Ridge and Manoa Valley are not viable cultural
landscapes and do not qualify for historical preservation.
Vicky Holt Takamine, Ilio'ulaokalani president, looks on.

---

Hawaiians dispute
Heco Waahila
Ridge report

An archaeologist says
the mountain ridge doesn't
have the integrity of a
historical landmark

By Rod Ohira
Star-Bulletin

Native Hawaiians are angered by a report that claims Waahila Ridge is not a "significant cultural landscape," adding to criticism of a Hawaiian Electric Co. power-line project in East Honolulu.

One of the proposals for the Kamoku-Pukele project calls for the 138,000-volt line to cross Waahila Ridge, which separates Manoa and Palolo, on 100-foot towers.

Waahila Ridge was listed in 1997 as one of the National Trust for Historic Preservation's "11 most endangered" sites, a listing disputed by archaeologist Paul Rosendahl in Heco's draft environmental impact statement for the project.

At a well-attended Historic Hawaii Foundation forum last night at Ala Wai Elementary School, Rosendahl said Waahila Ridge does not have the integrity of a historical landmark and also does not meet the eligibility criteria for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places.

Rosendahl added that no cultural or ethnic groups -- Native Hawaiian or other -- were identified whose practices or beliefs would be potentially affected by the project.

He also noted that Manoa Valley is not a historically significant cultural landscape.

But Members of Ilio'ulaokalani, a coalition of traditional Hawaiian cultural practitioners, ripped Rosendahl's findings.

"Waahila Ridge is worthy of preservation because, for Hawaiians, the mountain areas are sacred," said Vicky Holt Takamine, president of Ilio'ulaokalani. "We go up there to practice chants and meditate.

"Most of (Rosendahl's) archaeological surveys are done on behalf of development and his assessments reflect that. So I can't say his assessments are unbiased."

Ilio'ulaokalani member Leinaala Heine addressed her concern to Rosendahl outside the meeting area.

"You got paid for doing the job, so why didn't you come to (native Hawaiians) for advice or help and do the study?" she asked.

Rosendahl said his preliminary assessments were based on reviewing archive information and checking with Office of Hawaiian Affairs personnel, but that the purpose of having public comment on the draft environmental impact statement is to bring out issues.

Susan Shaner, a Manoa resident, said researchers currently are studying the legend of the sleeping giant Kauhi, who lived on Waahila Ridge.

"In fact one of the existing poles is supposed to be going through his chest," Shaner said. "The whole cultural issue is being ignored.

"But even if we prove it, there's no state statute to prevent them from building it because no federal funds are involved."

David Scott, executive director of the Historic Hawaii Foundation, disputed Rosendahl's statement that officials of the National Trust never saw Waahila Ridge.

Scott said the foundation received a letter from the National Trust reaffirming the fact that the Manoa neighborhood qualified for national listing.

"Furthermore, the letter said the president of the board of trustees (Nancy Campbell) was in Hawaii and saw Waahila Ridge before it was listed," Scott added.

In September 1997, the foundation's board of trustees affirmed its belief that "large power lines visible on Waahila Ridge, which constitutes a threat to the historic Manoa neighborhood, should be opposed."

The board, however, agreed to allow Heco to make a presentation when its draft impact statement was completed, which was the purpose of last night's forum.

The trustees plan to meet this week to adopt a position on the project based on information presented at the forum.

Critics say Helco construction done without a permit to meet deadline HILO -- The Hawaii Electric Light Co. pushed ahead with construction at its Keahole power plant in Kona without an air quality permit because it is trying to meet a January deadline for its 56-megawatt expansion there, Helco critic Michael Matsukawa says. The big question facing Helco is whether its Big Island electricity customers will pay for the $80 million invested in expansion so far, or whether the company's stockholders will be stuck with the bill, said Matsukawa, an attorney for various opponents. If the plant is producing power by January, Helco can include its costs in its 11.5 percent rate increase request pending before the state Public Utilities Commission. With that as an incentive, the company has been doing construction in advance of final approval of the air quality permit, saying its work is to upgrade its existing facility. Matsukawa said the statement isn't true. "This whole story about, 'It's just to upgrade,' began to unravel," he said. Peggy Ratliff, one of Matsukawa's clients, added, "The boil is starting to burst open." On Friday, the state Department of Health fined Helco $48,800 for unauthorized work. Helco President Warren Lee side-stepped the issue of a January deadline but confirmed that his company is eager to build the plant. "We want to get it in as soon as possible," he said. "We're not getting any recovery right now (on money invested in two combustion turbines)." But Lee denied a published report suggesting his company is violating the state Health Department's stop-work order, which went along with the fine.