Army signs covenant with native Hawaiians

By Loran Doane, U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii Public AffairsMarch 25, 2010

Army signs covenant with native Hawaiians
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT DERUSSY, Hawaii -- Col. Matthew Margotta, commander, U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii, assists local native Hawaiian community leaders with the planting of an Ulu tree following the Native Hawaiian Covenant signing between the local Hawaiian community ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Army signs cCovenant with native Hawaiians
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Army signs covenant with native Hawaiians
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Army signs covenant with native Hawaiians
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FORT DERUSSY, Hawaii Aca,!" Leaders from across Hawaii, representing various Native Hawaiian organizations, community groups, political and civil interests, joined Army leaders, here, March 24, to formally sign a Native Hawaiian Covenant.

Aca,!A"The covenant recognizes that HawaiiAca,!a,,cs rich cultural and historical experiences are shaped by the land and surrounding ocean,Aca,!A? said Maj. Gen. Michael J. Terry, commanding general, U.S. Army-Hawaii. Aca,!A"We acknowledge that the Army has the responsibility of being good stewards for the lands we maintain and that we must be mindful to protect and preserve this fragile environment for future generationsAca,!A?.

The pledge is a symbolic joint accord between the Army and the Native Hawaiian community signifying the commitment to forging a stronger relationship of cooperation, appreciation and understanding of HawaiiAca,!a,,cs native culture and resources, as well as the ArmyAca,!a,,cs role in Hawaii and the inclusiveness of its Soldiers in the local communities.

Aca,!A"The army in Hawaii is capable of and committed to providing sustainable installation support and services for our Soldiers, our army families, and our local communities of which we are a part,Aca,!A? said Col. Matthew T. Margotta, commander of U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii. Aca,!A"We firmly believe that it is possible to protect HawaiiAca,!a,,cs precious cultural and natural environmental resources while still meeting the mission and goals of the Army. The covenant outlines our pledge to do just that.Aca,!A?

Over the past 15 years, the Army has developed a variety of outreach programs through its Partnership of Ohana program involving neighborhood boards, civic clubs and schools across Oahu and the Island of Hawaii.

To strengthen mutual understanding and awareness between the Native Hawaiian community and the Army, the Native Hawaiian Advisory Council was created to guide the Army in effectively working with the Hawaiian community. As part of our effort to reach out and engage the Hawaiian community, we established several new programs to facilitate education, understanding and mutual trust. Most notably the Distinguished Lecture Series in which prominent Native Hawaiian guest speakers share the history, culture and customs of Hawaii with Soldiers and their families.

Aca,!A"These programs give our Soldiers and family members living in Hawaii a greater understanding and appreciation for Native Hawaiian issues and culture, and provided opportunities for our neighbors to see that we share many of the same goals, values and experiences,Aca,!A? Margotta said.

Prior to the ceremony commencement, Members of the Royal Order of Kamehameha and Benevolent Societies performed a Hookupu in front of Fort DeRussyAca,!a,,cs Kukalepa Memorial to commemorate fallen Maoli warrior ancestors who have died in Native Hawaiian conflicts. Hookupu is a traditional Hawaiian offering or gift ceremony showing respect to a host, land, ancestors or gods in exchange for knowledge and spiritual or physical growth in oneAca,!a,,cs life.

Rev. William Kaina, well known as the Senior Pastor of Kawaihao Church, OahuAca,!a,,cs oldest Christian church, and also for his work with the Papa Makua Kui Kawa of the Hawaii Conference United Church of Christ, gave the opening invocation, or Pule.

Neil Hannahs, Kamehameha Schools and Bishop Estate land manager and member of the Native Hawaiian Advisory Council joined Terry and Margotta as guest speakers at the event.

The ceremony concluded with the ceremonial planting of an Ulu tree. The tree stands as both an offering and a reminder of the partnership between the Native Hawaiian community and the U.S. Army in Hawaii.

Aca,!A"The Ulu is one of the trees brought by canoe to HawaiAca,!a,,ci by the first Hawaiians, as evidenced by the many Hawaiian legends about the Ulu,Aca,!A? said Annelle Amaral, Native Hawaiian Liaison to USAG-HI. Aca,!A"It served as a vital source of subsistence and is viewed to Hawaiians as the Aca,!Eoekinolau of Kukailimoku,Aca,!a,,c which is the body form of the Hawaiian god Ku. We selected the Ulu (for the planting) to symbolize the significance and rewards of having strong cohesive relationships between the Army and Native Hawaiians.Aca,!A?

Aca,!A"Ultimately, the goal of our coming together to sign the Native Hawaiian Covenant is to build bridges of understanding and cultural exchange between Kanaka `oA,,"wi (HawaiiAca,!a,,cs native peoples) and create opportunities for mutual enrichment,Aca,!A? Margotta said.

View the covenant in its entirity <a href="http://www.garrison.hawaii.army.mil/sites/news/familyCovenant/NativeHawaiianCovenant.pdf">here</a>.

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