Halau Ku Mana arrives at Kahi Kani

A man with food and water

Awa ceremony

Mana maoli

Elders entering the site

Entering Kukaniloko

A nation on the move

Ua lono ka uka o Lihue

Practicing the entrance chant for Kukaniloko.

Bill Aila of Malama Makua

Kumu Hula Vicky Takamine

He inoa no Kakuhihewa

This hula pays tribute to Kakuhikewa, a great chief of Oahu, who was born at Kukaniloko.

Hula ma Kahikani

Protect

Practicing chants

I mua

Hoailona

Kukaniloko and na koa

Kahea ia Kukaniloko

Waianae in morning mist

Raining

Coming up the hill to Kahi Kani

.ca

4 am this morning, Native Hawaiians opposed to the Strykers marched from Kaiaka Bay to Kukanilokolo, the sacred birthing stones.

Night has fallen, waiting for the sun to rise...

Aloha kakou,
Preparations began at Kahi Kani park this evening for tomorrow's events. The marchers have settled in for the night at Kaiaka Bay, in the rain -- while a band of opio are braving the Kukalahale rain as they walk from Mauna'ala, the burial home of the chiefs, to Kukaniloko. 23 miles, under a canopy of stars.

Tomorrow we rise early to greet the sun, and to make last-minute preparations to welcome all those who will come to stand for justice, and to protect the aina and our communities from military expansion.

Aloha Aina a i ka la apopo --
IH

Announcement of Ku I Ka Pono 2005

Native Hawaiian groups and allies rally to protect sacred sites and aina from military expansion
Convoys and marching groups will converge at Kukaniloko birthing stones to protest Strykers

'Ilio'ulaokalani Coalition and other sponsors are calling on all Native Hawaiians and residents of Hawai'i concerned with the protection of our natural resources and cultural sites to join a caravan and march to Kukaniloko, the piko (navel) of O'ahu, to demonstrate our opposition to the Stryker Brigade expansion and the destruction of our cultural sites and natural resources.

The US Army intends to take 28,000 acres of land on Hawai'i and O'ahu to station more than 300 20-ton armored Stryker combat vehicles. Hawai'i is one of the most militarized places in the world, with 1/4 of the island of Oahu and 1/5 of the entire archipelago occupied by the US military. The Stryker brigade military expansion is part of the largest military expansion since World War Two, including plans to establish a secret naval research facility at the University of Hawaii and a dramatic increase of Star Wars ballistic missile testing. The Stryker expansion directly threatens to destroy cultural sites and critical natural resources.

The historic caravan and march opposing the Stryker brigade will take place on Sunday, September 4, 2005.

Caravans will depart from Ke'ehi Lagoon, Kapolei District Park, and Kaiaka State Recreation Area (Haleiwa) at 8:30 am. All groups will convene at Kahi Kani Park (Whitmore Ave. & Ukaniko'o St.) at 10:00 am, to rally and share information. At 11:00 am, a procession will depart Kahi Kani to the Kukaniloko sacred site, where traditional dances and protocol will honor the site.

A procession on foot will depart Kaiaka Bay at 4 am, led by Kapono Aluli Souza.

Ku i Ka Pono 2005 continues the tradition of visible Hawaiian marches for justice, with cars bedecked in red Ku i Ka Pono logo flags and marchers with torches and red shirts.

Live updates of the march, including photos, will be available at http://kuikapono2005.blogspot.com

Press inquiries should be directed to Ikaika Hussey 808-221-2843 or Kyle Kajihiro 808-542-3668.

Aloha Aina

Welcome to the new Ku I Ka Pono 2005 blog. Stay tuned for live updates and photos from this historic event!