‘You can see everything’: Remains revealed in Naalehu Cemetery destruction

News admin August 19, 2026 0 Comments

‘You can see everything’: Remains revealed in Naalehu Cemetery destruction

NĀʻĀLEHU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Residents in the rural town of Nāʻālehu on Hawaii Island’s south side could’ve never imagined a once peaceful resting place for their loved ones would be unearthed by the wrath of Mother Nature.

A torrent of water from Hurricane Lala brought a wall of debris down Kaʻalaiki Road, the path leading to the Nāʻālehu Cemetery.

Rocks, trees, and mountains of mud have made the road impassable. Also scattered among the debris: headstones, a casket, and remains of those once buried at the cemetery.

“Sad to see everybody’s ʻohana just washed away and everything. Like even my papa’s headstone is missing, but, it is what it is. We couldn’t stop this,” resident Raedyn Louis said.

The sight was heartbreaking for many lifelong Kaʻu residents.

“Kaʻu is just not a place, Kaʻu is ‘ohana. Our family is buried in these grounds. And their iwi kupuna is scattered all over the highway,” Nohea Kaʻawa said through tears.

Louis went to the cemetery Tuesday. He said many of the plots on the lower side of the cemetery were washed away.

“You can see caskets, bones, like it’s deep. It’s overhead kine, so it’s deep. You can see everything,” he said.

The community is asking for respect, saying only people with loved ones buried there should attempt to go up. Even then, it’s a dangerous trek. One of the utility poles is leaning and the mud remains thick days after Lala moved away from the islands.

“Heartbreaking. It’s just really heartbreaking. I don’t know. There’s no words that can describe the feeling,” longtime resident Colleen Gundaker said. She also has loved ones buried there and she’s tasked with locating their headstones.

With remains scattered through the area, families are one again faced with reliving the grief of losing their loved ones.

“How we go about finding all of them and reburying is a long process and it just hurts to see our community. We’re all in mourning. Everybody is in need of help. There’s no water. No electricity,” Ka’awa added.

Roadside community hubs have popped up throughout the town with free water, food, and propane. Some people even making deliveries to kūpuna who can’t make it out.

“We distributed water and gas here in Nāʻālehu, for Waiʻōhinu as well, and then we also distributed food up in Ocean View yesterday,” resident and community volunteer Kahanu Alcoran said.

“You’re looking at it, it doesn’t feel real. But then you swallow it at the back of your throat, and you realize, you look at one another and each other gives you strength, you know, knowing that, I think they know they’re not alone, but yeah, it’s a lot,” Alcoran added.

Residents are grateful for the donations and aid that has poured in.

“Oh my God, look around. Just so many people, so much support from everybody around the island. Thank you so much,” Gundaker said.

Residents say there’s still a great need for necessities like water, food, and generators. National Guard teams alongside county crews have also been assisting.