ASSOCIATION OF HAWAIIAN CIVIC CLUBS
A RESOLUTION
No. 2018 – 39
URGING HAWAI‘I’S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF HAWAI‘I, AND THE HAWAI‘I STATE LEGISLATURE TO ASSURE EXPEDITED BURIALS FOR VETERANS, DECEASED ACTIVE DUTY MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES AND THEIR SPOUSES AT VETERANS CEMETERIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF HAWAI‘I
WHEREAS, in the perspective of the Native Hawaiian culture, the proper burial of a deceased Native Hawaiian is an important sacred practice, rite and right; and
WHEREAS, the Hale O Nā Ali‘i O Hawai‘i Hawaiian royal society adopted a similar resolution at its 68th annual convention held in April 2018; and
WHEREAS, at its first annual convention on September 3, 2018, the Maui Council of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs adopted this same resolution; and
WHEREAS, the family of a member of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs recently experienced difficulty in securing a speedy burial for a deceased loved one at the Hawai‘i State Veterans Cemetery in Kāne‘ohe, O‘ahu; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Viola Lewis, a spouse of a predeceased U.S. veteran buried at the Hawai‘i State Veterans Cemetery, passed away on February 19, 2018, but could not be buried for more than five weeks due to administrative delays at the cemetery; and
WHEREAS, the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs recognizes that all U.S. veterans and their spouses have earned the privilege to be buried in a veterans cemetery, and all decedents deserve the highest standards for burials, as is a long-standing tradition and practice in the Native Hawaiian culture; and
WHEREAS, the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs implores the Hawai‘i Congressional Delegation, the Hawai‘i State Legislature, and all counties in the State of Hawaiʻi to enact legislation and appropriate sufficient funding required to expedite burials at all veterans cemeteries throughout Hawai‘i; and
WHEREAS, the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs implores the Governor of the State of Hawai‘i to direct the Hawai‘i Office of Veterans’ Services to implement all measures practicable and necessary to expedite burials at State Veterans Cemeteries.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs at its 59th Annual Convention in Kalapaki, Kauaʻi, in the malama of Welehu and the rising of ʻOlepau, this 17th day of November 2018, urging Hawai‘i’s Congressional Delegation, the Governor of the State of Hawai‘i, and the Hawai‘i State Legislature to assure expedited burials for veterans, deceased active duty members of the United States Armed Forces and their spouses at veterans cemeteries in Hawai‘i; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs respects the rights of Native Hawaiians to be buried in a timely manner or with the respect of the wishes of the decedent and families; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a certified copy of this resolution be transmitted to all members of Hawai‘i’s Congressional Delegation, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs, the Governor of the State of Hawai‘i, the Director of the Hawai‘i Office of Veterans’ Services; and that copies of the this resolution be transmitted to the President of the State Senate, Speaker of the State House of Representatives, Chair of the State Senate Committee on Hawaiian Affairs, Chair of the State House Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and all County Mayors.
The undersigned hereby certifies that the foregoing Resolution was duly adopted in the malama of Welehu and the rising of ‘Olepau on the 17th day of November 2018, at the 59th Annual Convention of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs in Kalapaki, Kaua‘i.
Annelle C. Amaral, President
