Family’s Tribute to Ancestors Vandalized in Iosepa Cemetery
TOOELE COUNTY, Utah — A Utah family recently faced heartbreak after discovering their handcrafted wooden tikis, created to honor ancestors buried at Iosepa Cemetery, were vandalized. This site holds significant history, as it was once home to Latter-day Saint Hawaiians who settled in Utah during the 1800s. Nick Hoopiiaina, who tends to the cemetery, expressed the deep emotional connection families have with this sacred place.
Cole Kaplar Haws built the tikis to memorialize his grandfather and other relatives, stating that their purpose was to protect the land and watch over their ancestors. During a routine visit in early May, Hoopiiaina found the tikis destroyed, left in a pile near an Imu pit. The Tooele County Sheriff’s Office reported that the tikis were intentionally cut apart.
Despite the devastation, Haws and his family quickly rebuilt the tikis in time for Memorial Day, determined to continue honoring their family’s legacy. Haws is now awaiting approval from the Iosepa Historical Association to permanently return the tikis, emphasizing the importance of respecting this communal space.
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