Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 34, Number 7, 1 July 2017 — OHA honors Native Hawaiian knowledge keepers [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OHA honors Native Hawaiian knowledge keepers

By Sterling Wong The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) celebrated Kamehameha Day with its inaugural Nā Mamo Makamae o Ka Po'e Hawai'i: Living Treasures of the Hawaiian People, a Native Hawaiian community-driven event that honored seven master practitioners and knowledge keepers. The event was a collaboration between OHA and the PA'I Foundation and was held at Dole Cannery, with about 200 people in attendance. The Living Treasures awardees are: • Patience Nāmaka Bacon of O'ahu for hula • Josephine Fergerstrom of Hawai'i Island for lauhala weaving • Sam Ka'ai of Maui for carving • Marie McDonald of Hawai'i Island for lei making and kapa making • Nainoa Thompson of O'ahu for navigating This inaugural cohort of awardees also includes two posthumous recognitions: • Elizabeth Malu'ihi Ako Lee of Hawai'i Island for lauhala weaving • Abraham "Puhipau" Ahmad of Hawai'i Island for videography and documentary filmmaking. These treasures were nominated and

selected by a group of nine cultural experts and practitioners. While other organizations honor living treasures, Native Hawaiian organizations have not had their own program to honor our kūpuna and esteemed elders, said OHA Ka Pouhana (CEO) Kamana'opono Crabbe. "These kūpuna are not just keepers of the Hame, they are the connection and bridge to our past," he said. "The more we learn fromour kūpuna and apply what we learn from them, the more we maintain that bond with our ancestors, our homeland, and our identity as Kanaka

uiwi. PA'I Foundation Executive Director Victoria Holt īakamine said, "The PA'I Foundation is pleased to provide partnership support to this important event, whieh aligns well with the PA'I Foundation mission of preserving and protecting Native Hawaiian culture and arts for future generations." ■

These kūpuna are not just keepers of the flame, they are the connection and bridge to our past." — Kamana'opono Crabbe, OHA Ka Pouhana (CEO)

Sam Ka'ai, center, was honored as a master carver, as well as teacher, mentor, historian and spiritual leader. - Photos: Elaine Fergerstrom