Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 2, Number 8, 1 August 1985 — Largest Gathering of Hawaiians, Maoris Recorded at Museum Opening Ceremonies [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Largest Gathering of Hawaiians, Maoris Recorded at Museum Opening Ceremonies

The recent opening of the new Bishop Museum exhibition, "Celebrating the Maori," marked several unique events. It is the Museum's first show devoted exclusively to Maori art and culture. "Celebrating the Maori" honors Sir Peter Buck, known as "Te Rangi Hiroa," the third director of Bishop Museum. Buck, the son of an Irish father and a Maori mother is often held up as an example of the successful merging of Maori and western cultures. He was trained as a medical doctor but gained international recognition for his work in anthropology and as a member of the New Zealand Parliament. The exhibition, whieh runs through the end of June, 1986, consists of two comp>onents. The first, entitled "Maori CoIlections of Bishop Museum", consists of recent Maori acquisitions as well as pieces whieh have not been displayed since the early days of the Museum. The second component, "Tangata: The Maori Vision of Mankind," is a photographic exhibit by New Zealand photographer Brian Brake. In addition to the unique nature of the exhibition itself, the opening ceremonies on July 18 were the occasion for the largest gathering of Maoris and Hawaiians in recorded history.

The two cultures are among the closest of the Polynesian groupings and a person who speaks fluent Maori has no trouble understanding the native Hawaiian speaker. The celebration began at 4 o'eloek in the afternoon on the lawn outside the Museum's main building. Chants of greeting and weleome in Hawaiian and Maori were exchanged by members of eaeh delegation. The ceremony included a speech of weleome in Hawaiian by Office of Hawaiian Affairs Trustee Moses Keale.

The Maori contingent then pfcceeded into the Museum to bless the exhibition. After an exchange of prayers, speeches, songs and dances in Hawaiian Hall it was time for the lu'au on the great lawn, accompanied by mueh good food and music and a few additional speeches. OHA Chairman Joseph G. Kealoha Jr. presented a monetary gift or ho'okupu to the Maori elders as a gesture of aloha and goodwill from the OHA board. The gathering was an emohonal and meaningful event for both Maori and Hawaiian. Lt. Governor John Waihe'e in his speech of weleome said, "Today truly is the joining of our cultures, (a joining made) more firm when we said our prayers together so that indeed we are no longer just cousins . . . but one people, one family."

Whetu Tirikatene-Sullivan, a member of the New Zealand Parliament who represented the Prime Minister, agreed on the significance of the gathering. "We have joined together, we have known kinmanship today and we do not know it often enough, a!though we are of the same origins." Mrs. Sullivan who, as a young girl knew Sir Peter Buck well, said it was her father who recommended that Buck be knighted. She added "Somehow it is fitting that I am here today with my people to recognize that great scholar, who for all his greatness was a humble person . . . without arrogance and with respect for the young. So it is very significant to me that young and old are gathered here to honor him." Erima Henare, New Zealand Vice-Consul in Los Angeles, said he and his people are elated about the interchange. Henare said the Maoris now await a visit to New Zealand by Hawaiians "even though the migration will be by flying eanoe."

Maori contigent in full regalia perform ritual dance while preparing to enter main exhibition building of Bishop Museum for formal opening ceremonies of "Celebrating the Maon."

Joseph Kealoha, chairman of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of T rustees, presents ho'okupu to Maori elders T om Te Maro and his wife.

Office of Hawaiian Affairs Trustee Moses Keale extends greetings in the native Hawaiian tongue to Maoris at Bishop Museum ceremonies.