In many isolated areas of the country, far removed from the towns and urban areas of Hawaii, there are graveyards of immigrants buried years ago. Their headstones have fallen and no one comes to place flowers on their graves. They had probably worked hard intending to return to their mother country, but for one reason or another, they could not return, and now, they remain in desolate, lonely places long forgotten. The trade winds crossing the land like ancient spirits floating by whisper their names as you pass.
Korean Cemetery
The former Korean Cemetery (also known as the Japanese and Korean Cemetery) is located at Hakalau Point, behind what was formerly the stables. According to an archaeological inventory survey (Rosendahl, Inc. 2009), the graves were disinterred. It was noted that grave markers were buried on site and that the burials were removed using a backhoe, indicating the likely presence of grave markers and disturbed human skeletal remains at the site (DLNR Log 2013.6237, Doc 1312TD01).
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Japanese Cemetery
This cemetery was located on a point directly behind the hospital in Hakalau Lower Camp. It was known as the Japanese Cemetery. Waichi Ouye reported that the cemetery held mostly Japanese and a few Korean immigrants who worked at the mill (Haun and Associates, 2014). While the cemetery was based on ethnicity and not religious affiliation, many of the Japanese immigrants to Hakalau Plantation were Pure Land Buddhists with rich ceremonial traditions for funerals and honoring the dead. The cemetery contained 202 graves and was maintained by the Hakalau Jodo Mission. The earliest graves here were probably late 19th/early 20th century and the latest graves are probably the mid to late 1930's. A 1966 Department of Health survey reported that Rev. Bino Mamiya, acting as an interested party for the community, collected money to keep the cemetery clean. Tetsuo Yugawa cleaned the cemetery on a regular basis. In the early 1970's, probably early 1974 (see notice to the right) the remains were removed to Homelani Memorial Park at the request of the local kumiai, which also paid for the relocation of remains. Data Sources: a) Archaeological Inventory Survey #2083169, April, 2014, Department of Land and Natural Resources, State Historic Preservation Division and b) PHRI letter report #2174-090101 to John Cross, Mauna Kea Agribusiness, Inc., September, 2001. |
Photo courtesy of Department of Land and Natural Resources, State Historic Preservation Division, from Archaeological Inventory Survey #2083169, p. 15, April, 2014
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Catholic Cemetery
This cemetery was an informal plantation cemetery. It was neither owned nor operated by the Catholic Church but was likely associated with the Wailea Church and the Hakalau Filipino Catholic Club. There may have been between 200 and 250 Filipinos, Portuguese, and Puerto Ricans buried there. These were probably plantation workers and members of their families. Deceased were interred at the Catholic Cemetery during the first half of the 20th century. Some of the remains might have been moved to another location by family members. Most of the grave markers were made of wood, though a few inscribed stone monuments were used. The wooden grave markers are not longer present at the cemetery. Given the age of the cemetery, it likely qualifies as an Historic Property under state rules. Data Source: A Data Recovery Plan for Site 50-10-16-26592, Scientific Consultant Services, June 2014. |
Click on map to enlarge.
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Honohina CemeteryHonohina Cemetery was established about 1899 to serve the Japanese community in Honohina. This cemetery is not shown on the plantation maps from 1947, but annotations in red have been added below.
Because Honohina was occupied by mostly sugar workers, the town disappeared with the demise of the sugar industry in that area in the 1970s. The Honohina Hongwanji, built in 1939, was dismantled in 1969. The Ninole Hongwanji along the Hawaii Belt Highway near the 19 mile marker, was renamed the Honohina Hongwanji. Members of the temple continue to maintain the cemetery today. From the brochure of the Honohina Centennial ...
Honohina Cemetery also had an early beginning...1899 was its first burial. Majority of the burials took place in the early 1900's...and the latest was Ken's mom, Kimiyo Fujimoto in 1954. Since the beginning of the Honohina Hongwanji, members of the Church took care of the graveyard, keeping it tidy and presentable. |
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For the Hakalau Kuleana, our responsibility is to care for the land, the people, and the culture. We are guided by cultural values of YESTERDAY: Engage in collective effort. Look out for each other. Honor hard work. Show respect for those who came before us. Aloha and Mālama `Aina. In 2021, Akiko Masuda added two more values to the list: Consistently show up. Whatever has to be done, jump in and do it!
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