🙏Mahalo nui to all who sign-waved 👋 with us on June 13th in Kahuku! You brought the good energy and showed your aloha for the special place we are fighting to protect! 🥰 Mahalo to the many who honked, threw a shaka 🤙, and sent a cheehooo passing by! 

Iwi Kūpuna Discoveries at Areteʻs RR3 Development Site – May Through July 2025

Over the past three Oʻahu Island Burial Council meetings, serious concerns have been raised regarding multiple inadvertent discoveries of iwi kūpuna at the Arete RR3 development site, also known as The North Shore Club, at Turtle Bay. Here's what you need to know:

📍 1. July 9, 2025 – Meeting Ended Early

• Agenda Item VI. A addressed new inadvertent discovery at the RR3 site (ʻŌʻio 1, Ulupehupehua, and Punalau, Koʻolauloa).
• ⚠️ No quorum was met, and the meeting ended early without discussion or public testimony.
• Written testimony submitted in advance remains part of the official record and may be revisited in future meetings.

📍 2. June 18, 2025 – New Findings Confirmed

• 🎥 Watch: OIBC June 18 Meeting Recording here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KE1_u-7TY8  🕒 Turtle Bay discussion starts at 2:56:05 and ends at 3:40:07.
• Remains discovered since construction began reported: 3 intact individuals and ~12 bone fragments
• These are in addition to the 5 iwi kūpuna documented in the original AIS.

Community advocates called for:

• A new, comprehensive AIS, as all of RR3 lies in Jaucus sand, known to have traditional burials.
• Expanded consultation with more lineal and cultural descendants
• Kūpaʻa Kuilima later clarified multiple false claims made during the meeting. See our IG or FB posts for more details!  
• 📝 Kūpaʻa Kuilima submitted a formal letter to SHPD on June 15, 2,025, urging stronger protections, citing the need to avoid repeating mistakes made at sites like Honokahua and Mōkapu.

📍 3. May 14, 2025 – Inadvertent Findings Reported

• 🎥 Watch: OIBC May 14 Meeting Recording here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PL_leDsbTQ 🕒 Turtle Bay discussion starts at 1:46:34 and ends at 3:03:54.
• Multiple iwi kūpuna were uncovered near Buildings 3 & 4. Building 3’s design was altered to preserve burials in place; questions regarding what will be done about Building 4 remain.

Community testifiers:

• Expressed deep ancestral ties to the area.
• Criticized insufficient surveys and outdated burial plans.
• Raised concerns about conflicts of interest, with some burial decision-makers having ties to the developer.
• Urged SHPD to formally recognize more descendants to ensure meaningful consultation.

🌊 Final Thoughts
These meetings reveal deepening concerns about how iwi kūpuna are being impacted by ongoing development at Turtle Bay. Advocates continue to call for truth, accountability, and respect, insisting that consultation and burial protection must be grounded in cultural responsibility, not convenience.

🙏 Mahalo to all who showed up in person, submitted testimony, and stood in solidarity!

MAHALO NUI LOA TO HAWAIʻI PEOPLE'S FUND FOR SUPPORTING KŪPAʻA KUILIMA'S EFFORTS!🙏 

Kūpaʻa Kuilima is grateful and proud to be included in the Hawaiʻi People’s Fund 2025 Hōʻala Grantee Cohort!

🙌"Hawai’i People’s Fund has helped to support, build capacity, and amplify the impact of grassroots social change movements in Hawai’i since 1972.

✊🏼As the only intermediary organization in Hawai’i working with this constituency from a social justice perspective, we strive to be a model for progressive social change and a viable resource for a strong and enduring movement in the islands.

🤝Hawai’i People’s Fund supports passionate, grassroots community groups working for social justice in Hawai’i. These groups are often considered too small, too new, or too controversial by traditional funding organizations. We are dedicated to the most creative, passionate, and radical visions of community, bravely navigating the intersections of indigeneity, environment, race, class, labor, gender, ability, art, technology, mental health, incarceration, food, and other crucial issues we face."

✊🏼SHOW YOUR ALOHA AND SUPPORT HAWAIʻI PEOPLE'S FUND TODAY! 🙏hawaiipeoplesfund.org🙏

Stay Connected & Take Action!

Follow us @kupaakuilima on Instagram, Facebook, and Linktree to stay updated on urgent advocacy efforts and ways to protect Kahuku Lewa. The fight isn’t over—stay tuned for actions you can take!

 We’re urging the Honolulu City Council, DPP, and developers to pause Turtle Bay’s expansion and give the community a real voice. Outdated agreements and waived reviews ignore critical issues like rising sea levels, endangered species, traffic, and cultural preservation. We’re calling for an updated SEIS, requiring a new SMA permit application and a renegotiated unilateral agreement with fair community benefits and full compliance with Native Hawaiian protections to safeguard our ʻāina and prevent further strain on overburdened local and natural resources.

•  Use our easy letter writing toolkit and learn more @linktr.ee/kupaakuilima 
•  Sign and share our petition @ change.org/protectturtlebay
•  Put your road signs up to let them know how the community feels!

Kūpaʻa Kuilima: Community-led, ʻāina-focused, rooted in tradition. Advocating for pono change from Waialeʻe to Keana.