Mahealani Cypher

Denise Mahealani Cypher DeCosta (born July 16, 1946) is a historian, community advocate, Hawaiian cultural practitioner, and owner of Native Knowledge LLC. Cypher was a former president of the Oʻahu Association of Hawaiian Civic Club, and the Koʻolaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club. She is a born and raised kamaʻāina of Kāneʻohe and has authored Distinguished Kamaʻāina of Kāneʻohe Bay Koʻolaupoko II. Of her recognitions she was awarded the Frank Haines Award for Lifetime Achievement by the Hawaiʻi Historic Foundation (2019). She has helped to create the Ahupuaʻa Boundary Marker project on the island of Oʻahu, and is renowned for her advocacy on the windward side, in particular for native rights, prevention of urban sprawl, and her opposition to the construction of the Interstate Highway known as the H-3.

Early life Cypher is a kamaʻāina born and raised in Kāneʻohe and comes from a family of civil service. She is a descendant of generations of family who were among the founders, members, and leaders of the Koʻolaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club. Her kūpuna shared with her the stories of old from historical instances such as the bombing of Pearl Harbor by her grandmother to Hawaiian stories that would contribute to her identity and actions later in life. At a young age she recalls traveling with her grandmother and taught the location of the various ahupuaʻa, or traditional Hawaiian land division. According to her, her values toward others and the ʻāina of Hawaiʻi came to her from examples set by her grandparents Elizabeth and George Cypher.

Politics and education Early education (1954–1968) Cypher graduated from St. Andrews Priory in 1964. She attended Woodbury University studying journalism and business and also attended the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, where she studied Journalism. While attending the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa she was a reporter and editor of the student newspaper Ka Leo, and worked part time for the University catalogue.

Construction of The H-3 (1972–1992) When Cypher returned to living in Kāneʻohe she was hired by the Sun Press community newspapers. In her works as news editor, she would encounter news reports about the controversial proposed construction of the interstate highway known as H-3. After reading all 13 volumes of the EIS and the Socio-economic impact statement, Cypher decided to oppose the project for the urban sprawl it would cause on the windward side of Oʻahu and the adverse impact it would cause to sacred Hawaiian sites including but not limited to: Kūkuiokāne, Kānehekili Heiau, and the Hālawa heiau complex that contained a Hale ʻo Papa, and Luakini, among others. Cypher would then write articles and editorials to inform the community about the impact the H-3 would have. Over the years Cypher volunteered with organizations: Hālawa Coalition, Mālama Kūkuiokane, Stop H-3 Association, Moanalua Gardens Foundation, and helped to establish the Koʻolau Foundation; all of whom actively advocated against the construction of the highway and later advocated for mitigation to meet the needs of the damage caused to sacred sites. It would be in Hālawa where she would assist groups to access the valley to protect culturally significant sites and conduct cultural practices as acts of native resurgence in opposition to the highways construction. With the controversy the H-3 had at the time, Cypher was sure to keep a low profile as she had worked with the Board of Water Supply at the time and could not risk being caught amid the controversy.

While working with the Sun Press newspapers, Cypher would write various articles and editorials regarding development and community concerns in Windward, Oʻahu. ACypher developed her background in advocacy through her experiences working as staff writer for Unity House, where she learned about the values and strength of labor unions under the mentorship of labor leader Arthur Rutledge; As a lifelong Democrat, her support for Mayor Frank Fasi placed her at odds with other Party members during the 1970s intra-party disputes, but she maintained her support for the colorful Mayor until his term ended. She was also an active participant in the Hawaiian initiative for self-determination known as Ka Lahui Hawai`i, serving as communications advisor and grants writer for some time during the early 1990s. Cypher also participated in the 1993 Onipa'a March to the palace marking the centennial of the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom. Cypher would also volunteer much time to the Koʻolaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club which she would later become president of the club, and actively work to support the perpetuation of the Hawaiian Culture.

Post-construction and later politics (1992–present) Cyper speaking at the Kaneohe Bay Cultural Orientation Tour in 2023. Even after the highways completion, Cypher remains firm in her position against the H-3, and she still works to mitigate the adverse impacts of the highway to this day. When the State announced its intended "fun run" to celebrate the opening of the Highway, Cypher and Lilikalā Kameʻeleihiwa were featured on a PSA encouraging others to not participate, out of respect for the Hawaiians sites and burials that had been impacted by the Highway. She personally refuses to use the highway, out of her respect for the sacred sites and burials that she feels were disturbed or destroyed by the building of the road. Cypher is a board member of the Koʻolau Foundation which was formerly known as the Stop H-3 Association, that fought against the highway. She has done various consultations with state agencies to work on mitigating the impacts caused by the highway to culturally significant sites. Along with many other practitioners and board members of the Koʻolau Foundation, she works to establish a cultural preserve in Haʻikū Valley, which was adversely impacted by the highways construction. The cultural preserve includes rehabilitating the OMEGA Station transmitter building into a Koʻolau Museum and Cultural Center to feature information regarding the history of the lands affected by H-3, the Omega station itself, and the highway project This effort was expanded from the Ko`olaupoko district to islandwide after Cypher was elected president of the O`ahu Council of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs. The initiative led to similar efforts to mark traditional land boundaries among neighboring islands of Kaua`i, Maui and Hawai`i. Among her other endeavors, Cypher - along with fellow practitioner Leialoha "Rocky" Kaluhiwa - worked to legalize restoration of Native Hawaiian burial practices, an initiative that would be passed into law in 2015. She was also essential in the renaming of Kaneohe Beach Park to the traditional name Nāʻonealaʻa.

Career Cypher would begin working at the age of 5 selling the newspaper, the Star-Bulletin. She also worked in Hawaii Departments the DLIR & DSSH.

After the construction of the H-3, Cypher would go on with other advocates and cultural practitioners to form the Ko'olau Foundation - a non-profit organization with the intent of caring for the sacred places and spaces. Although their efforts have been primarily focused on sites affected by construction of the H-3 highway, the organization has statewide interest in advocacy for preservation, restoration and support for historic sites and cultural properties. It is the Koʻolau Foundation where Cypher remains as a board member and cultural advisor, working with other board members and volunteers to perpetuate and preserve Hawaiʻi`s rich history and heritage.

Awards

11th Annual Frank Haines Award, Historic Hawaiʻi Foundation, May 31, 2019 Resolution of Appreciation, Honolulu Board of Water Supply, December 15, 2014 Ka Poʻokela o Kūhio Award, Outstanding Hawaiian Civic Club Member, Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs 2007 Helen C. Kane Award Winner, Koʻolaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club, 2014 Outstanding Member Award, American Water Works Association/Hawaii Section, 1990 Patriotic American Civilian Award, Federal Executive Board, 1977 Outstanding Young Women Recognition, Hawaiʻi State Legislature, 1977