Disputes over Maui Veterans Cemetery expansion delay work

WAILUA-KONA, Hawaii (AP) - Officials are working to get a $6 million project to expand Maui's only cemetery for veterans back on track before burial space runs out.

The Maui News reports that the project for Maui Veterans Cemetery in Makawao has been on hold since November after the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs was found to be in violation of federal historic preservation laws.

A department spokesman said Friday that the agency's review of how the project will affect the neighboring Makawao Cemetery will be completed "very soon."

Officials believe that the cemetery currently has about 44 open burial sites.

President of the Maui County Veterans Council, Mitch Skaggerberg, says action needs to be taken quickly so that the cemetery won't have to turn away veterans.

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