Roadside Markers and Graves in Hawaii

Roadside marker and grave between Punalu’u and Kona

Roadside Markers and Graves in Hawaii
All along Route 11 on the Big Island of Hawaii are memorial markers, monuments, and graves for those who have lost their lives. In addition to the monuments are quite a few roadside cemeteries. Above is one of the most interesting ones I encountered in Hawaii, it was a tree, decorated with all the seasons – you could find Halloween memorabilia, Easter, Xmas, etc. Not quite sure who it was dedicated to. But is a great example of the roadside markers. These are commemoratives usually to pay tribute to someone who has passed either suddenly or unexpectedly while away from home. The memorials/markers are not grave site headstones marking where the body/ies lay, but rather often where they died or the last place they were alive. This is usually put together by family or friends and consist of a cross, a bunch of flowers taped to trees or road signs, signs, piles of rocks, or some sort of marker – sometimes with a handwritten message and personal mementos. This is a pretty common tradition throughout the world’s cultures, especially modern culture, replacing the fact that people can’t be buried anymore where they died. In the United States, one theory points to coming from early hispanic settlers of the Southwestern United States often on long trails, though earlier were actual grave markers for the burial then incorporating the practice of a monument or marker since funerary laws changed the ability to bury their dead where they fell. The modern evolution of this practice is very common where car crashes occured and a person died. There are descansos constructed in similar style often decorated specially for holidays or special anniversaries in a person’s life. For children, often with their toys, or votives added for special occasions. The practice sprung up in Australia and has been estimated to be 1 in 5 road deaths to be memorialized at the site of the crash, especially since 1990. They are legally protected in the State of New Mexico from being altered or touched, even by road construction while they are banned in Colorado, Massachusetts, and Wisconsin. California charges residents a $1,000 to permit one.

Graveyard along highway between Punalu’u and Kona