LOCATION/TYPE

NEWS HOME

[ exact phrase in "" • results by date ]

[ Google-powered • results by relevance ]


Archive
RSS

Add NWW headlines to your site (click here)

Get weekly updates

WHAT TO DO
when your community is targeted

RSS

RSS feeds and more

Keep Wind Watch online and independent!

Donate via Paypal

Donate via Stripe

Selected Documents

All Documents

Research Links

Alerts

Press Releases

FAQs

Campaign Material

Photos & Graphics

Videos

Allied Groups

Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005.

News Watch Home

Proposed wind farm site named ‘endangered historic’ area 

Credit:  The Maui News, www.mauinews.com 14 November 2011 ~~

LANAI CITY – The site of a massive proposed wind farm in West Lanai where hundreds of archaeological and cultural sites have been identified has been named one of the state’s “most endangered historic places” for 2011 by the Historic Hawaii Foundation.

Advocates for historic preservation said the 20,000-acre Ka’a ahupua’a is significant in Native Hawaiian cultural practices, stories and history. Community members were concerned that Castle & Cooke’s proposal to develop a 170-turbine wind farm in the area could disrupt the “cultural landscape” and change the experience of being in the area, said Historic Hawaii Foundation Executive Director Kiersten Faulkner.

She said her organization hoped to see a resolution to the conflict that would meet the need for renewable energy while respecting a place that was important to Hawaiian culture and history.

“By having this on the most endangered list, I think it helps spur that conversation,” she said.

Officials with Castle & Cooke Resorts did not respond to a request for comment.

Lanai Culture and Heritage Center Executive Director Kepa Maly said Ka’a was “storied.”

“It is host to an unknown number of traditional cultural sites,” he said.

The heritage center recently conducted a cultural survey of the area, including archival research, oral histories and a “reconnaissance level” archaeological survey.

In ancient times, Ka’a had several coastal settlements, the largest heiau on the island and an extensive agricultural system in upland areas. It also was noted for its fisheries, including an ancient turtle fishery. There also are numerous stories about the area’s mythological significance, including accounts of interactions between deities and human beings.

More recently, ranching and introduced goats, deer and sheep have left the area eroded and windswept.

Maly said he was thrilled the area had been recognized by Historic Hawaii Foundation.

“I think the lands of Lanai, like Ka’a, are worthy of being acknowledged for their history and their fragile nature,” he said. “For us, the challenge is to be good stewards, and recognize that change occurs – but do we erase everything in order for that change to take place?”

Robin Kaye of Friends of Lanai, which opposes the “Big Wind” project, was also pleased to see the area’s significance acknowledged.

“It’s a great recognition of what has previously been called by (Hawaiian Electric Co.) and Castle & Cooke a, quote, ‘barren, arid wasteland,'” he said.

In addition to its numerous archaeological and cultural sites, the land is also an important hunting area for the island, he noted.

“It calls attention to the fact that this is a land with meaning and history,” he said. “It’s not just a place for (Castle & Cooke owner David) Murdock to make a lot of money.”

Faulkner said her organization’s annual list was meant to be a “call to action,” drawing attention to places of historical and cultural significance, and letting the public know they may be at risk.

“We really can’t take it for granted that they’ll always be there just because they’ve always been there,” she said.

Source:  The Maui News, www.mauinews.com 14 November 2011

This article is the work of the source indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.

The copyright of this article resides with the author or publisher indicated. As part of its noncommercial educational effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe “fair use” as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law and similar “fair dealing” provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail.

Wind Watch relies entirely
on User Funding
   Donate via Paypal
(via Paypal)
Donate via Stripe
(via Stripe)

Share:

e-mail X FB LI TG TG Share


News Watch Home

Get the Facts
CONTACT DONATE PRIVACY ABOUT SEARCH
© National Wind Watch, Inc.
Use of copyrighted material adheres to Fair Use.
"Wind Watch" is a registered trademark.

 Follow:

Wind Watch on X Wind Watch on Facebook

Wind Watch on Linked In Wind Watch on Mastodon