Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 4, Number 8, 1 August 1987 — Three Poʻokela Winners Announced [ARTICLE]

Three Poʻokela Winners Announced

Minnie Kaawaloa, the late Vicki I'i Rodrigues and Alexander Nalua Kahapea have been named winners of Na Po'okela Awards by Celebrate the Hawaiian: Ho'olako 1987, in the categories of Music, Military Service and Culture and the Arts.

The awards were announced by Thomas K. (Unele Tommy) Kaulukukui Sr., president of Ho'olako 1987. All three winners are residents of the Island of Hawaii. Kaawaloa is a renowned teacher of weaving and other crafts, and a lecturer in Hawaiian culture. She has been invited to give demonstrations of Hawaiian crafts at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. Rodrigues eame from a musical family and began entertaining publicly in 1917 at the age of five. She was later with the "Hawaii Calls" radio show for 16 years, and was a USO entertainer during World War II. A eomposer of several Hawaiian songs, she has been with the Aloha Week Committee since its inception.

Kahapea joined the Army in 1941, served in World War II and Korea, and retired as a lieutenant eolonel with many decorations and honors. He earned the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit, three Bronze Stars, five Purple Hearts, the Croix de Guerre from France, 11 battle stars and other awards. After his retirement from the Army, he helped establish the Job Corps Center at Koko Head and two satellite centers on Kauai and the Big Island. Kaawaloa, Rodrigues and Kahapea join the Rev. Abraham Akaka, Rubellite Johnson and Herb Kawainui Kane who previously were recognized with Na Po'okela awards for religion, education and art, respectively. The awards honor living individuals of Hawaiian or partHawaiian ancestry whose accomplishments and eontributions have improved the quality of life for Hawaii's

people, through enriching their understanding of the Hawaiian culture. The recipients will be formally honored at a banquet in December. Amfac ine. is the Na Po'okela sponsor. Celebrate the Hawaiian: Ho'olako 1987, is a year-long celebration of Hawaii's people, heritage and culture, and of the aloha spirit. As part of the celebration, the organization is honoring several citizens for their efforts in various categories.