Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 4, Number 10, 1 October 1987 — Outstanding Achievements Acknowledged [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Outstanding Achievements Acknowledged

OHA Resolution Honors Abraham Pi'ianai'a

By Kcnny Haina, Editor Ka Wai Ola O OHA A resolution acknowledging the many outstanding achievements of Abraham Kalilioku St. Chad Pi'ianai'a upon his retirement as director of Hawaiian Studies at the University of Hawaii was approved at the Aug. 20 meeting of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees in Honolulu. Pi'ianai'a, 72, was honored at a surprise retirement party Sept. 1 by students and alumni of the Hawaiian Studies Program at the Waikiki Aquarium. There were many speeches highly lauding the honoree for his outstanding public service and for his demonstrated eoncerns to better the conditions of his own native Hawaiians, particularly those related to education through his research in matters Hawaiian. In giving back to Hawaiians, Pi'ianai'a served with distinction through continuous interest and immersion in the proper teaching and development of students and scholars for the future. Moses K. Keale Sr., chairman of the OHA Board of Trustees, presented the resolution to Pi'ianai'a before a crowd of 200. Among the congratulatory messages were those from Governor John David Waihe'e III, and U. S. Senators Daniel K. Inouye and Spark M. Matsunaga whieh were read by their respective representatives Dr. Albert Simone, president of the University of Hawaii, also praised the pioneer of Hawaiian Studies at UH and pinch-hit for Gladys Brandt, chairperson of the UH Board of Regents, who was unable to attend because of illness. OHA Administrator Kamaki A. Kanahele III offered a chant during Keale's presentation. Pi'ianai'a himself was taken completely by surprise when he and his wife, Anne, entered the Aquarium amidst handclaps, handshakes, honi honi and the traditional bedecking of leis. Following a Hawaiian dinner served by Haili's Hawaiian Foods, there was a brief program during whieh time it was announced that the UH Foundation had established an Abraham Pi'ianai'a Scholarship Fund in Hawaiian Studies. Dr. Kiyoshi Ikeda, who made the announeemenl, put the first donation in a big calabash whieh was in turn passed around. Eddie Kamae and the Sons of Hawaii entertained in a beautiful open air setting that was preceded by a pieturesque setting sun off the Waikiki Beach waters as captured on many a postcard. It was indeed a fitting tribute to a Hawaiian in this Year of the Hawaiian, Ho'olako 1987. TheTesolution notes that Pi'ianai'a was born June 15, 1915, at Waikahalulu, Oahu, hanai of his grandparents, Fanny Malulani Kahoaali'i, Louise Kahoaaloha Kalama and St. Chad Pi'ianai'a. The latter was sent to Oxford in England by King David Kalakaua, eventually to advise the monarchy. Pi'ianai'a attended Mo'ili'ili School (now Kuhio School); Lili'uokalani Junior High and graduated from the Kamehameha School for Boys in 1933. While at Kamehameha, Pi'ianai'a participated in a self-initiated marine training program with Matson Navigation Company. Twenty years later in 1953, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Administration from UH and one year later completed all the requirements for a Master of Arts degree in geography. While studying for his college degrees, Pi'ianai'a worked nights as a patrolman and detective with the Honolulu Poliee Department. He also was a part-time instructor at the Kamehameha Schools. During the Great Depression of the 1930s, Pi'ianai'a worked at various marine-related occupations, including employment as a stevedore, a seaman on interisland ships and a Line Island colonist for the U. S. Interior Department. He retired from the U. S. Merchant Marine Service in 1983 as a ship captain and holds a certified ship's pilot

license for Honoiulu Harbor. He served as captain of the first fishery research vessel of the Division of Fish and Game, carrying out many fishery research projects in Hawaiian waters and examining fishery techniques in other parts of the Pacific for possible adoption in Hawaii. Pi'ianai'a was transportation coordinator of the Territory of Hawaii's Public Utilities Commission and served under Governor John A. Burns as director of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and chairman of the Hawaiian Homes Commission. Ironically, his only daughter, 'Ilima Anne Pi'ianai'a, currently serves in the same capacity. Pi'ianai'a and his wife, Anne Yee Pi'ianai'a, also have two sons. They are Gordon Keaweaheulu Pi'ianai'a, director of the Hawaiian Studies Institute at Kamehameha, and Norman Abraham Pi'ianai'a, ship's captain

with Matson. Three Pi'ianai'a generations — Abraham, Gordon and grandson Chad — sailed together on the Polynesian Voyaging Society eanoe Hokule'a last year in its twoyear Voyage of Rediscovery. He was a member of the official U. S. delegation to the coronation of the king of Tonga; consultant to Robert Lindquist, U. S. State Department director of the South Pacific region; consultant to the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the legislature of American Samoa on land tenure systems; consultant to Ratu Edward Cakobau, Minister of Land and Tourism, Fiji, on Hawaiian native lands since the Great Mahele. Pi'ianai'a was co-founder with Paul Yamanaka of Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii living treasure program, recognizing persons who are repositories of knowledge and valuable skills. Additionally, Pi'ianai'a developed, designed, assessed or provided educational programs or projects such as the proposal for the Hawaiian Studies Program, social role of the courts in the Hawaiian monarchy, creation of Nanakuli High School, research training program in institutional racism, English as a second language at Keaukaha, makeup program for Hawaiian Homestead children and many, many more projects.

Office of Hawaiian Affairs Kauai Trustee and Board Chairman Moses K. Keaie Sr., right, greets Abraham Pi'ianai'a following presentation of OHA resolution. In ^ackground is Mrs. Anne Pi'ianai'a while University of Hawaii President Albert Simone is in foreground.