Ke Alahou, Volume I, Number 6, 1 May 1980 — Happy Birthday Tutu Kawena Pukui [ARTICLE]
Happy Birthday Tutu Kawena Pukui
The pe.rfumed. Ala'eli breeze of Manoa gives forth a message of celebration, honoring the birth of the beloved one. Like wise the fine, light rain or windblown spray called Kilihune (famous of Manoa) speaks the story of praise for the iady who dwells at La'i Aloha. It is the serene la<fy Kawena Puku'i of whom we speak. Beautiful is this lady of the rosy glowing morning. She reigns in peaee at Huelani-the one of the sacred blaze. Dear.ly loved is this woman like the bud of the fair lehua blossom. Plantation manager Henry N. Wiggin (of Salem Massachusetts) and his wife High Chiefess Mary Pa'ahana Keali'i Kanaka'ole of Ka'u, gave birth to their second child on April 20, 1895. She was named Mary Abigail pelekawahine'aihonua Wiggin. her name was shortened to Kawena. j . At Kawena's birth, the custofn of hanai-giving the first-born child to their grandparents still prevailed. This was to insure the preservation of Hawaiian, culture and lifestyle by teaching them to the eldest children of eaeh family. Thus the grandparents had the responsibility forlhis. Kawena was given to her maternal grandparenis. It was the. rearing she had from her kupuna that cultivated Kawena's vast knowledge of Hawaiian culture and history. By Kawena's 18th birthday she had emerged as a refined part-Hawaiian beauty skiiled in Hawaiian and western social sciences. In f913 Kawena married Napoleon Kaloli'i Ka Puku'i. Later the name was changed to Puku'i. Three daughters were born to this union. Pat Namakauahoa, who later became Mrs. Geprge Bacon; Lottie Kaiama, who married Ed Ukashima; and Pelehonuamea, who became the wife of Bernard Kauhale Suganuma. Kawena taught many people relating to the knowledge of Hawai i and its people. Among them were her daughters, lolani Luahine, Ka'upena W r ong and Kaha'i Topolinski» her ino'opuaa ho'okama» She is known for her compilation of the HawaiianEnglish dictionary, whieh provided a strong base for all Hawaiian language scholars. Kawena's vast knowledge of hula has heiped many kumu hula such as Kent Gerard» Margaret Hunkin, Hoakalei Kamau u, Mrs. Pat Bacon, Mrs, Peie Suganuma, the master chanter Ka upena Wong, and Kaha'i Topolinski. T oday Kawena Puku'i isxecognized as the greatest living authority on Hawaiian culture and language, She is the personification of the evolution of Hawai'i froni the ancient io the modern« Kavyena Puku'i's awards are too nunierous to mention ia detail. But on November 4, 1971, she received Hawaiian music's most significant prize, the iiawai'i Aioiia Awani, on whieh was inscribed the iullowiu#; "Author and composer, linguist and transiatoi, lecturer on history and folklore, and instructor ui the ianguage, chant and dauce. Her interpretations have revealed to ali of us the drama and color of Hawaiian life. Kawena is a nalional treasure who will aiways live in the artistry of her devoted studeuts and in the weaUh of knowledge and inspiration recorded iu innumemhle sources," Ou this your 85th birtliuay, we all wish you a happy birthday. May your naiue live forever among the blossoms of the land whieh you so love, Welina e ke kumu aio^a,