A group of concerned residents yesterday continued to fight for the protection of a sacred Hawaiian burial site where a home is being built on the North Shore.

Some 15 members of the newly formed ‘Ohana O Naue rallied at the Mo‘ikeha Building to urge the county Planning Commission to revoke California resident Joseph Brescia’s permits to build a house on his Ha‘ena lot where at least 30 ancient Hawaiian burials have been identified.

“We are in mourning,” Puanani Rogers, a kanaka maoli, said. “The iwi of our kupuna are an important part of who we are as a people … They are the reason why I am here today.”

The residents — some tearful, some frustrated, some holding cardboard signs protesting the “desecration” and calling for “respect” — asked the seven-member appointed body to review the burial treatment plan approved by the Kaua‘i Island Burial Council, an appointed arm of the state Historic Preservation Division.

James Huff, a long-time builder who has camped on the beach adjacent to the homesite for the past few months along with other residents trying to protect the iwi, said the commission was “betrayed” in issuing the permits.

He said his independent GPS research shows the burials identified in the burial treatment plan fail to align on the ground with the burials marked in the building plans, which were designed to have the footings avoid the known burials.

The commission unanimously voted to direct the county Planning Department to investigate the accuracy of the plans.

“Based on the information that was provided I think we have some things that we need to verify,” Planning Director Ian Costa said.

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(Source: Nathan Eagle, Kauai Garden Island News)