In 1893, the Kingdom of Hawaii, under the rule of Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalaniana‘ole, was overthrown by a coalition of American and European businessmen. After a self imposed exile, Prince Kūhiō returned to his homeland and became a statesman, advocating for the rehabilitation of native Hawaiian people. As the only ever royal US Congressman, Prince Kūhiō petitioned for the establishment of a Hawaiian homestead program to return native Hawaiians to their ancestral lands. In 1920, two years before Prince Kūhiō’s passing, he sent a letter to US Senators stating, “After extensive investigation and survey on the part of various organizations organized for the purpose of rehabilitating the race, it was found that the only method in which to rehabilitate the race was to place them back upon the soil.” Prince Kūhiō’s work led to the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1921 whereupon the United States Federal Government set aside approximately 200,000 acres of land as protected native Hawaiian lands to be homesteaded.

Governed under the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act is The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) that oversees the administration of Hawaiian homesteads, both private homes and properties, and public spaces. Nānākuli, on the island of O’ahu, has been particularly shaped by DHHL’s native rehabilitation services. It is the location of one of the oldest homesteads and where three homestead public schools have been built. The community culture of Nānākuli is greatly influenced by the idea of strengthening native Hawaiian roots. One of the sites managed by the DHHL is the Nānākuli Homestead Cemetery. In protecting and maintaining the cemetery, DHHL announced on February 23, 2021, that they would be conducting a drone survey of the site.

Nānākuli residents were alerted that a drone would be flying over the cemetery beginning on Monday, March 1st going through Friday, March 5th, between the hours of 8:00 am-4:30 pm. As per state and Federal Aviation Administration regulations, anytime a drone is being used near residential areas, the residents must be notified. As stated in the notification given by the DHHL, “Activities will include scanning and penetration to properly document burial sites and open plots.” Carrying out the drone mission will be Hawaii Engineering Group, Inc. based out of Honolulu.

Hawaii Engineering Group (HEG) was founded by Ather Dar in 1993 out of a spare bedroom in his home. They started as a structural engineering firm, branching into civil engineering, electrical engineering, and land surveying to meet the needs of the growing communities of O’ahu. To keep up with demand, HEG invested in drone technologies. As stated on their website, “HEG owns and operates several UAVs to perform topographic surveys, create orthographic maps, simulate watershed runoffs, and generate 3D models. This allows us to view areas that are otherwise inaccessible or dangerous to reach, such as building facades requiring small repair or the undersides of bridges over waterways, and perform assessments on the structural condition of existing structures.”

The specific drone that HEG uses is DJI’s Mavic 2 which retails on average for less than $2,000. The Mavic 2 weighs under 2lbs and has an approximate 30 minute flight time. It is known for being extremely user friendly with one of the best cameras available for aerial photography. As DJI proudly states, “Our dream has always been to make a drone that exists where engineering, technology, and the needs of the aerial photographer converge. A drone that embodies all of DJI’s advanced, signature technologies, and is able to redefine what is possible for the world of aerial photography. In creating the Mavic 2, we have made this dream come true.” Its affordability and high performance have made the Mavic 2 a favorite for both recreational and commercial drone operators.

Recently HEG was contracted by the DHHL to survey the Nānākuli Waimanalo Flood Control Channel with their drones. After a large rainstorm, part of the channel wall collapsed. Using the drones, HEG was able to determine that the wall’s failure was due to the flood wall lacking reinforcing, inadequate draining, and excessive force from surrounding retaining walls. The detailed images collected by the drone provided HEG with a decisive plan of action to repair the wall and prevent future damage. With the rapid and professional work on the flood wall, the DHHL felt confident that HEG was the correct resource for ensuring the Nānākuli Homestead Cemetery is maintained to the highest degree. Prince Kūhiō dedicated himself to seeing that native Hawaiians had a place to call home. It is just as important for native Hawaiians to have a safe place to lay their loved ones to rest. With the help of HEG’s drones, the Nānākuli Homestead Cemetery will continue to be a place of honor and rest for native Hawaiians.