HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

200

TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 


HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

Recognizing and commending the moiliili Japanese cemetery beautification project for conducting historical research of and improving the moiliili japanese CEMETERY.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, the House of Representatives takes great pride in honoring the superb achievements and notable contributions of those who preserve Japanese immigrant history, recognize the importance of reconnecting families with their ancestors, and beautify our communities; and

 

     WHEREAS, in the early 1900s, Emyo Imamura, Minister of the Hawaii Betsuin of Honpa Hongwanji, dreamed of building a bochi or cemetery for his parishioners in Moiliili; and

 

     WHEREAS, in 1908, the Moiliili Japanese Cemetery was opened to the entire Japanese community and was a designated resting place for many early Japanese immigrants to Hawaii; and

 

WHEREAS, currently, the Moiliili Japanese Cemetery houses more than 2,000 family monuments and 10,000 souls; and

 

     WHEREAS, as the Moiliili Japanese Cemetery fell into disrepair, dedicated individuals involved with the Moiliili Japanese Cemetery Beautification Project gave the cemetery its first facelift in 105 years; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Moiliili Japanese Cemetery Beautification Project consists of more than 100 volunteers, who work diligently each weekend and during holidays to maintain and improve the cemetery in order to preserve the character of this historically significant site; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Moiliili Japanese Cemetery Beautification Project was awarded an Awesome Foundation Grant in August of 2012 that helped to enhance the beauty of this cemetery; and

WHEREAS, volunteers have worked tirelessly to replace a link fence with a bluestone wall; improve the main entrance; remove debris; plant and maintain plumeria trees, desert roses, mao and ilima plants, and manila palms; build gardens and seating areas; and install a new water supply with washing stones and additional faucets; and

 

     WHEREAS, volunteers involved with the Moiliili Japanese Cemetery Beautification Project also understand the importance of preserving and accessing historical records and together with the University of Hawaii Honors 291S course, "The City as Text—Reading Moiliili," worked extensively to gather and translate data from the hundreds of gravestones in the Moiliili Japanese Cemetery and catalog the names online in order to make information available to the public about individuals that now rest inside the cemetery; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Moiliili Japanese Cemetery Beautification Project helps to preserve the historic nature of this site, and project advocates are currently applying for the Moiliili Japanese Cemetery's placement on the National and State Register of Historic Places; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-seventh Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2014, that this body hereby recognizes and commends the Moiliili Japanese Cemetery Beautification Project for conducting historical research of and improving the Moiliili Japanese Cemetery, expresses its appreciation to the volunteers for their noteworthy achievements, and extends to them its best wishes for continued success in all future endeavors.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Moiliili Japanese Cemetery Beautification Project