The use of cultural monitors that walk the ground alongside bulldozers as they work is fairly prevalent today. The monitors are often required as conditions on grading and grubbing permits that are given to developers entering culturally sensitive areas or required by Environmental Impact Statements, Preservation Plans, Burial Treatment Plans etc.
The job of hiring staff and conducting monitoring is often given to the main archeological contractor on the project. Although monitoring staff may have archeological training they are not necessarily well versed in Hawaiian culture. At Kuleana Consulting we hire individuals to perform cultural monitoring that have a background in Hawaiian culture. Then we train them extensively in the physical art of monitoring, the laws that they are on site to implement if need be and the proper process for doing so. We also train our monitors in the spiritual aspects of such work and the need for full time vigilance. We instill in our people the importance of their work in the overall protection of the cultural resources that may be present on any job site in Hawaii. We also pay our monitors a living wage and provide 100% of their health insurance which promotes long lasting relationships. Our goal is to provide the general contractor the most efficient and professional process possible.
Cultural Monitoring of the construction landscape should be Hawaiian work; based in family, driven by spirit. We see Cultural Monitoring as another layer of protection within the overall archeological process which we fully support.
Kuleana Consulting LLC 