WAILUKU (AP) — State officials say they’re moving forward with plans to open a new burial site to provide much-needed space at Maui’s only cemetery for veterans in September.
Veterans had voiced concerns in December that they would have to be buried elsewhere due to the limited space at Maui Veterans Cemetery.
“No veterans families will be turned away at this point and based on the work that’s already been done, we should be able to accommodate veterans families through September,” said Hawaii Department of Defense spokesman Lt. Col. Charles Anthony on Thursday.
A $6 million project to expand the cemetery resumed in February after it stalled in November, when the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs found it to be in violation of federal historic preservation laws.
An association for the neighboring 19th-century Makawao Cemetery had sued federal and state agencies, arguing the expansion would degrade the cemetery’s historic charm. Representatives from both cemeteries met in February to discuss ways to mitigate any adverse impacts, The Maui News reported (http://bit.ly/2amTdfR).
“I’ve always wanted to work cooperatively with the veterans and that they would work cooperatively with us,” association attorney Isaac Hall said. “By allowing them to build the crypts so they can continue to bury their loved ones, we’re hoping they will accommodate our needs as well.”
Hall said the group agreed to allow the expansion project to proceed, as long as there was no construction near a parking lot, a primary concern for the association.
Maui County officials said the cemetery had space for about 36 burials as of July 12, excluding four burials scheduled for the rest of July and August.
“We managed to find extra plots on the side that were maintenance sections.” said Laureen Perreira, administrative service assistant for the county Public Works Highways Division.
The first phase of construction includes plans for about 500 in-ground burial crypts and an area for about 200 in-ground cremains. The completed project will include up to 7,500 in-ground burial crypts and 2,900 in-ground cremains.