In light of the recent earthquakes, recession of the lava lakes at Pu‘u ‘O‘o and Halema‘uma‘u, eruptive fissures, explosions, and ash plumes with urgent regard to Puna Geothermal Venture, the Pele Defense Fund considers it of immediate necessity to call attention to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the matter of the 20 percent of royalties derived from geothermal production.
It must be stated that the position of the Pele Defense Fund is and has always been in opposition to geothermal extraction anywhere in Hawaii on the grounds that it is an act of supreme desecration toward Tutu Pele and has been the source of longstanding safety risks which have prompted the public outcry as of late.
Considering the recent state audit of OHA, the Pele Defense Fund also wishes to remind the community of its $1.25 million investment in Innovations Development Group in 2011 in pursuit of a contract with HELCO, which was ultimately denied. Imagine the magnitude of the potential catastrophe that could have been at hand if further geothermal development had been allowed to expand, exponentially at that, as had been proposed several times over the last 35 years. This begs the question, how can the Office of Hawaiian Affairs continue to justify involvement with geothermal to any degree?
In the interest of transparency, accountability and its fiduciary duty to beneficiaries in lower Puna, the Pele Defense Fund demands that the Office of Hawaiian Affairs be forthcoming with the following information and take the following actions:
• Publish the sum of all royalties collected by OHA from geothermal
• Produce a full accounting of how these monies have been utilized for the benefit of the Lahui
• Contribute substantially, both materially and in kind to ongoing relief and relocation efforts immediately
• Divest of all interests in geothermal production permanently
Buying Wao Kele o Puna is not enough and $500 assistance for the old 2014 lava flow is not enough. Our people deserve more than pretty words about “sacred places for Hawaiians.” They need you to say, “pau.”
The rationale behind these demands is simple. Geothermal extraction in any form should never have been undertaken in the first place. This desecration of Tutu Pele has always been absolutely unacceptable and now poses a potential threat to life, health and safety in an unprecedented manner. Were this not the case then pentane would not have been removed and efforts to kill the wells would not have been necessary.
As of this writing there are now three fissures alarmingly close to PGV. The trust has a kuleana to wash its hands of dirty money but not before it uses these funds to auamo kuleana and malama and kakoo na kanaka o Puna. We would also caution against continuing a de facto policy of support for industrial projects whose impacts would amount to desecration.
We encourage the public, especially Kanaka Maoli, to voice any concern on this issue to Ka Pouhana and Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs directly. This is by no means an exhaustive list of measures that could be undertaken to kokua, however, the above items represent a bare minimum. As we await OHA’s response, she continues to dance.
We will continue to honor her and remain in reverence.
He inoa no Pele.
Palikapu Dedman is the president of the Pele Defense Fund, a group dedicated to protecting Hawaiian rights, culture and practices.