Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 3, Number 8, 1 August 1986 — Precious Moments with Kupuna at Queen Emma [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Precious Moments with Kupuna at Queen Emma

It was a typical Hawaiian summer day last June 21 when more than 200 kupuna and keikis gathered on the spacious lawn at the Queen Emma Summer Palaee where the Daughters of Hawaii sponsored "Na Momi Mai O Na Kupuna Mai" or precious moments with kupuna. The day marked the coming together of young and old in a setting most befitting the occasion. There were indeed precious moments spent with the kupuna, seven of them sharing their mana'o and experiences with their younger charges. These kupuna and the subject matters they discussed and demonstrated were: Elizabeth Nalani Ellis, stringed figures (games with strings); Violet Hughes, birds and how to identify the different species; what they meant to the Hawaiians; Vivian Kamahele, kukui nut and its various uses; Kaimi Kealoha, niu or coconut and how the leaves, shell, outer covering and the meat itself were utilized; Kamuela Kong Kee, kalo or taro and its many uses as a staple; Maile Vargo of Hilo, music and dance of Hawaiil; Emmaline Unga, tapa making. Audrey Corpuz, kindergarten teacher at Halau O Haleiwa, was also on hand to share her classroom experience. Children in the crowd were given drawstring bags made by Office of Hawaiian Affairs Researcher Christine Vallies and donated for the occasion. As eaeh child visited a kupuna, he or she was given a little remembrance of that particular kupuna's subject matter. By quitting time, eaeh child had his little puolu all filled up. lt was this kind of warmth or precious moment that made it so warm and yet so refreshing as the breeze whieh eame down from Nuuanu Valley . The young ones got a better idea of how the ancient Hawaiians devoted a great deal of time to games, amusement and relaxing pastimes as a way of developing physical strength and stamina, alertness, relaxation, skill, bravery or just plain fun. The entire program was orgainzed by OHA Community Kupuna Coordinator Betty Kawohiokalani Jenkins who also put together a booklet to assist kupuna and participants in their presentations. - That it was another outstanding production by Jenkins is evidenced by a brief note from noted singer, eomposer, author and na mea Hawaii authority Nona Beamer who wrote: "I was so pleased with Daughters (of Hawaii) progrcim and how well you organized everything. You are a real gem! The worthiness of the subject material was only surmounted by the charm of the event. So many excellent concepts were well presented."

Emmaline Unga demonstrates tapa making while responding to a question posed at left.

Kamuela Kong Kee explains the many uses of taro and gives a demonstration on poi pounding.