The woman who posted a video of a large rock being thrown into Lake Waiau on her social media accounts earlier this month contacted the DLNR on December 28 to and apologize for her actions.  She also removed the items from her social media after learning of the disrespect it caused.

The woman apologized to DLNR for her role in highlighting what is considered a culturally disrespectful act.  She said she was not the one who threw the rock and also said she did not see any signage that prohibited swimming, watercraft and rock piling when she was in the area.  She added that had she known it was  disrespectful to Native Hawaiians, she would not have recorded the video and posted it. She added that she does not know the identify of the person who threw the rock. The woman also issued an apology on Instagram but disabled her account after receiving several death threats.

In a press release, Steve Bergfeld, the Hawai‘i Island Branch Manager for the the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) said, “While the rock throwing, the videotaping, and posting are all seen as being disrespectful none of these acts should result in people being threatened in any fashion.” Lake Waiau and the Mauna Kea Ice Age Natural Area Reserve are under DOFAW’s jurisdiction. Bergfeld added, “We bring these issues to the public’s attention in the hope people will become better educated about what is acceptable (pono) culturally in Hawai’i.”

Photo credit: DLNR