Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 1, Number 8, 1 October 1984 — Queen Liliʻuokalani also Left Enduring Gift of 168 Songs [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Queen Liliʻuokalani also Left Enduring Gift of 168 Songs

The 146th anniversary of Queen Lili'uokalani's birth was observed Sunday, Sept. 2, in solemn and brief ceremonies held at Mauna Ala or the Royal Mausoleum.

The program started prompt!y at 8:30 a.m. on a sun-baked day although guests and members of various Hawaiian organizations were protected by a large canopy. Hawaii's usual trades, however, were absent that morning and the audienee sweltered under the covering. Emerson Curtis Smith, former chairman of the Queen's Song Book Committee who was one of the day's speakers, pointed out a perhaps little known legacy of the Queen inthat"sheleftusanequally precious and enduring gift in the 168 beautiful songs she composed." The Lili'uokalani T rust and its agency, the Queen Lili'uokalani Children's Center, "are truly enduring monuments to the eoneem of Lili'uokalani for the welfare of her people and the children she loved," Smith declared. Smith said the song book committee, now headed by Dr. Richard Kekuni Blaisdell, plans to put together all 168 of the Queen's songs. Lili'uokalani was born 146 years ago on Sept. 2, 1938, in a grass house on the farslopes of Punchbowl just about where the Queen's Medical Center now stands. She was named Lili'u Loloku Walania Wewehi Kamak'eha. As was the custom among the chiefs in those days, her mother, Keohokalole, and father, Kapa'akea gave her in hanai to the high chiefs Konia and Paki. To honor and weleome her new hanai daughter, Konia composed a mele inoa — a namechant. lt wascalled"Makalapua," meaning "opening flower" — so appropriate for the baby girl whose life wasjust opening to reveal the beauty to eome. Years later, her friends David Nape and Eliza Holt serenaded her on her birthday with that mele inoa sung to the tune: "Would 1 Were with Thee." Many of her simple tuneful songs are favorites of the children. One of them is "Ka Wiliwiliwai" or "The Lawn Sprink-

ler." Sometime between 1890 and 1893, Lili'uokalani was sitting one evening on the lanai at Washington Plaee, bemused by the sight of a new sprinkler throwing out its spiral streams of water on the lawn of her neighbor, Dr. Robert McKibbon who lived at the corner of Beretania and Miller Streets. lt inspired the song, "Ka Wiliwiliwai." Lili'uokalani's beautiful "Aloha Oe" was composed late one afternoon in 1 877 when she was returning on horseback from a visit to the Edwin Boyd Ranch in Maunawili. With her were Princess Likelike, Charles and Evelyn Wilson(parents of longtime Honolulu Mayor John H. Wilson) and Major James Boyd. After starting back to Honolulu, they noticed Maj. Boyd was missing. They turned and found him still at the gate saying a fond farewell to a Hawaiian girl. Lili'uokalani was deeply touched by that tender scene and as they left again, she rode somewhat apart from the others. As the party closed together on entering the steep pali trail, Charles Wilson became aware that Lili'u was singing a song softly to herself. That song was the"Aloha Oe" we all love. These were the observations made by Smith on the Queen's songs, four of whieh were sung at the ceremonies by the staff of the Children's Center and the audience. The opening and closing pule were offered by staff members Mildred Kawa'a and Dennis Kauahi. Kawai Aona-Ueoka gave the oli kahea and oli inoa.

The hookupu procession to the crypt was led by Mrs. Clorinda Lucas, chairperson, Lili'uokalani Trust Board of Trustees. The Mauna Ala ceremony was followed by church services at Kawaiahao Church. A social program, activities for children, an art exhibit, an exhibition of produce from youth farm projects and a video showing of "Her Majesty — Lili'uokalani" highlighted the afternoon at the Children's Center. Music and entertainment by several hula halau also spiced the afternoon's program schedule.

The procession to the crypt included City and County of Honolulu Chief Engineer Miehael Chun and Lt. Gov. John D. Waihee at top of stairway carryinghookupuand floral offering.

Hawaii First Lady Jean Ariyoshi presents leis at crypt.

Lemen Leao proudly poses in front of Queen Lili'uokalani's portrait during afternoon open house at Lili'uokalani Children's Center. Lemen is a beneficiary of the center. In addition to the portrait, there are Hawaiian flowers, kapa apana and other Hawaiian artifacts.