HANAMA‘ULU — The sound of a chainsaw cut through the air as volunteers hauled cut branches and pulled weeds at an abandoned cemetery in Hanama‘ulu yesterday. For Peter Ryno, the cleanup in his community is a way to make sure
HANAMA‘ULU — The sound of a chainsaw cut through the air as volunteers hauled cut branches and pulled weeds at an abandoned cemetery in Hanama‘ulu yesterday.
For Peter Ryno, the cleanup in his community is a way to make sure people don’t forget out the loved ones who passed away.
“We used to play here when we were kids,” Ryno said. “We would see a hearse drive up (for a funeral) and we would say a prayer for the dead.”
Ryno has been coming to the cemetery for the last three years to help clear away overgrown branches and weeds so family members can visit and pay their respects.
He said the plantation used to take care of the land, but before they went out of business, they handed the responsibility over to the county. According to Ryno, local government couldn’t keep up on the care, and the graveyard was neglected.
Ryno talked to some friends and they decided they would get together on weekends or whenever they had time to put some effort into maintenance. They started on the Filipino side and have since worked their way to the Japanese side.
Along with members of the Hanama‘ulu Community Association working yesterday, members of the Boy Scouts from the Lihu‘e Hongwanji Mission pitched in.
“We want the young people to get involved so they can help with upkeep for years to come,” Ryno said.
But people of all ages were working, including Lillian Miyake of Lihu‘e.
“My grandparents are buried here, but the gate was always locked and I didn’t want to come alone,” Miyake said, work gloves in hand. “Now the gate is open today.”
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