barryv —

The Pearl City Neighborhood Board held a community meeting this afternoon at Waiau District Park to discuss formulating a non-profit organization supported by community volunteers to help with the maintenance, upkeep, and collecting of donations for Sunset Memorial Park. Volunteers have taken a portion of the upkeep in their own hands but have been faced with the issue of liability while volunteering on the property. Hawaii State House Representative's Gregg Takayama and Roy Takumi introduced a bill during the 2017 Legislative session that would protect nonprofits and volunteers from liability, but didn't make it through the House for final approval.

Pearl City Neighborhood Board Chairman Larry Veray led the special meeting that began at 1:00pm. Director of the state Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Catherine Awakuni Colon, updated the attendees as well as fielded questions and concerns from family of loved ones buried at Sunset Memorial Park. Darrell Salvador, funeral director for Leeward Funeral Home gave everyone a little background on the previous ownership of the Sunset Memorial Park property as well as suggestions for improvements with a priority on securing the cemetery grounds by installing a fence and gate. Homeless individuals have taken over a portion of the park which has become a growing problem.

The following area elected officials also spoke at today's meeting: State Senator Clarence Nishihara, State Senator Breene NHarimoto, State Representative Gregg Takayama, State Representative Roy Takumi, and Honolulu Councilmember Brandon Elefante.

I left today’s meeting before it adjourned, but I hope they were able to form a committee that the Pearl City Neighborhood Board had hoped would happen to get everyone united and moving in a positive direction.

It seems as though family will continue to take it upon themselves to maintain their loved ones gravesites, liability or no liability, they’ll carry on. The tasks of backbreaking volunteer work that includes filling holes and cutting back overgrown brush and weeds will continue. One gentleman stood up and invited anyone who would like to volunteer their time, following the meeting, to come down to Sunset Memorial Park and help him move 10 wheel barrels of dirt and fill holes on the park cemetery property. Liability or no liability, he was determined to get the work done, with a little help.

Photo by Barry Villamil | barry@mypearlcity.com

Pearl City Neighborhood Board Chairman Larry Veray is pictured with

PCNB Treasurer Myrtle Nyuha during Saturday's special meeting held

Waiau District Park to address Sunset Memorial Park.

Photo by Barry Villamil | barry@mypearlcity.com

Director of the state Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Catherine Awakuni Colon,

updated the attendees as well as fielded questions and concerns from family

of loved ones buried at Sunset Memorial Park.

Photo by Barry Villamil | barry@mypearlcity.com

True land ownership of the Sunset Memorial Park property was addressed

by this iindividual to the Pearl City Neighborhood Board and meeting attendees

on Saturday at Waiau District Park.