A Kilauea organization is leading a coalition of community groups in an effort to raise funds to purchase the Hawaiian burial ground at Naue point in Wainiha, a press release issued Tuesday states.

The effort has been seeded with a $75,000 pledge from an anonymous donor, according to Keone Kealoha, executive director of Malama Kaua‘i, a nonprofit organization.

The 15,000-square-foot oceanfront site has been the subject of ongoing controversy that began with shoreline setback issues and drew further community concern when some 30 Hawaiian burial sites were found. Landowner Joseph Brescia has been stalled several times in his plans to construct a single-family residence.

“We believe that purchasing the site is the best way to ensure that the iwi kupuna (Hawaiian ancestral bones) are allowed to peacefully remain in place,” Kealoha said in the statement. “The purchase also would provide the community with coastal open space and help to prevent beach erosion by allowing the natural cycles of ocean and sand movement to occur unhindered by development.”

While no purchase price has been identified, Brescia has indicated that he will consider offers for the site. In a statement released by his attorney on June 24, it was noted that Brescia has invested over $1 million in the project thus far.

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(Source: Kauai Garden Island News)