Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 5, Number 3, 1 March 1988 — Theme, Intent were Fulfilled [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Theme, Intent were Fulfilled

Ho'olokahi Marks New Beginning for Hawaiians

By Kenny Haina, Editor Ka Wai Ola O OHA "It was something beyond our expectations. I 've never seen anything like this. lt was just overwhelming. Fantastic." These were just some of the comments made by a beaming and obviously ecstatic Charles Heen, who served as chairman of an organizing committee whieh planned the Jan. 23 Ho'olokahi Hawaiian Unity Day program at Aloha Stadium. Heen was not one bit disappointed at some of the empty seats, exuding with confidence that "There are more than 50,000 people in this Stadium today. We've got some 4,000 people working under the tents outside in the parking lot and thousands more are on this field." "The theme of bringing Hawaiians and Hawai-ians-at-heart together for one day was fulfilled. This is a day long to be remembered by everyone in attendance. The mana was there and that was the intent," Heen declared. Heen offered his thanks to the thousands of individuals, members of unions and Hawaii's business community who donated services, equipment, manpower, entertainment and money to make the event possible. "All of these people from every segment of our community working hand in hand assured the success of Ho'olokahi whieh marked the official closing of Ho'olako 1987: The Year of the Hawaiian and a new beginning for Hawaiian unity," Heen said. Hawaiian Unity Day was an idea developed by the Office of Hawaii Affairs Administrator Kamaki A. Kanahele III who said: "I extend to you the spirit and the mana of the future. Remember the spirit of this moment. Remember it is the time to be Hawaiian. Never again will the Hawaiians be divided." Ho'olokahi actually began seven hours before the first spectators entered the stadium when 80 kumu hula and dancers gathered on the field before dawn to weleome the sun with the ancient chant, "Au'a 'la," written by Keaululumoku who predicted King Kamehameha would unite the island kingdom and that his nation would also disappear. The prophecy was a warning to Hawaii's ehildren to observe their heritage and land and to keep them. That message was carried out in songs, dances, speeches and entertainment throughout the afternoon and night. Before the stadium parking lot opened at 11 a.m., premier entertainer Don Ho of the Hilton Hawaiian Village and South Pacific Man A1 Harrington, along with Radio KCCN Hawaiian Radio disc jockey Brickwood Galuteria, and several musicians were already going full throttle in what the stadium scoreboard noted was a pre-program warmup for the workers. When the stadium gates finally opened at 1:30 p.m., spectators searching for their seats were already jiving to a full scale entertainment program. On the stadium concourse were Ho'olokahi T-shirts, Ho'olako posters, voter registration tables, stacks of a special issue of Ka Wai Ola O OHA, beer, hot dogs, nachos. In the parking lot were several ohana reunions and barbecue fires going full steam. You could tell the different family gatherings by the T-shirts they were wearing. Individuals from many Hawaiian organizations were there, too. (See separate sidebar stories by Assistant Ka Wai Ola O

OHA Editor Deborah Lee Ward throughout this issue.) The formal celebration got underway shortly after 3 p.m. when the Rev. William Kaina of Kawaiahao Church asked people to unite in prayer. With bowed heads in silence, the stadium became a large Hawaiian church. Pastors and kahuna offered prayers. Then the drama unfolded. It was time to be proud and to get "ehieken skin." Governor John David Waihee III, Hawaii's first elected Hawaiian chief executive since statehood, walked onto the field with two other Hawaiians — U.S. Rep. Daniel K. Akaka and U.S. Senate Sergeant-at-arms Henry K. Giugni — followed by the Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, members of the royal societies, Hawaiian Civic Club members, the Royal Court, and halau after halau after halau in a rainbow of colors until the field was covered with dancers facing the huge stage.

All the pahu whieh sounded the early morning eall that day were on stage and onee more the beat of "Au'a 'la" sent their sounds through the stadium and the crowd responded with thunderous applause. Following the departure of the Royal Court and the conclusion of the formal celebration, the more than 2,000 dancers from the 33 hula halaus remained on the field as the stadium became an open-air nightclub with many of Hawaii's best performers entertaining with a wide range of oldies and contemporary Hawaiian music. The beauty of "Makee Ailana" was never more nostalgic when performed by Nina Keali'iwahamana, Lani Custino and Boyce Rodrigues. The Brothers Cazimero, Roland and Robert, and the Makaha Sons of Ni'ihau, among many, many others, turned the field into a hula-free-for-all with their songs. Na Hoaloha from the Kamehameha Schools Alumni Association, both men and women, were • See Ho'olokahi, page 2

Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees Chairman Moses K. Keale Sr. (with hat) confers with Governor John David Waihee III (palaka shirt) on stage as others look on. From left to right are Manu Kahaialii (with guitar), Rodney Kealiimahiai Burgess III, Thomas K. (Unele Tommy) Kaulukukui Sr., U.S. Congressman Daniel K. Akaka, A. (Frenchy) DeSoto, Louis Hao, Moanikeala Akaka, Clarence F.T. Ching, Clayton Naluai of The Surfers and Al Harrington, The South Pacific Man. T rustee Kevin M.K. (Chubby) Mahoe was also on stage to the far left out of camera range.

Office of Hawaiian Affairs Administrator Kamaki A. Kahahele III, Charles Heen and Dick Howard (in eap), go over the day's program at Aloha Stadium. Heen served as chairman of the planning committee while it was Kanahele's idea to have a Hawaiian Unity Day. Howard is a veteran show business personality.

• Ho'olokahi, from page 1 among those who stood out in the mass of halaus with their nifty tapa design dress and shirts. The crew of the Polynesian Voyaging Society's Hokule'a, led by Navigator Nainoa Thompson, and trustees from the Bishop and Campbell estates were there. The crowd rocked to two rallying songs, "United We Stand," and "Ka Na'i Aupuni," as theRoyal Hawaiian Band under the director of Aaron Mahi, and Ho, Harrington, Zoulou (Gilbert Kauhi), the Naluai Brothers, Galuteria, Haunani Apoliona and virtually everyone on stage repeatedly kept the beat going.

Then followed a long line of entertainers, including comedian Frank DeLima and his dedication of "Lueille" to all the Portuguese-Hawaiians. There were singer Ilona lrvine, Ledward Kaapana and Ikona, 3 Scoops of Aloha, Kaleo O Kalani, Kohala's Lim Family with dancer Kaulu, Kapena, Hawaii's Kaapana Family, Dick Jensen and his dancers,' Frank Hewett, Bill Kaiwa, Leon Siu and the Hawaii Children's Chorus, Kealoha Kalama, Jay Larrin, Marlene Sai, Glenn Medeiros and mueh, mueh more. The Ho'olokahi message was clear and loud: Hawaiians were united and proud and they showed it.

Dancers, kumu hula and chanters participate in the early morning program at Aloha Stadium calling on all Hawaiians to eome together on Ho'olokahi Hawaiian Unity Day.

The largest group of hula dancers from 33 halaus ever assembled at one plaee makes its way onto the Aloha Stadium fieid, appearing before the Royal Court.

Na Hoaloha of the Kamehameha Alumni Association and their ohana join in mass hula. They ean be seen in their new and beautiful tapa design costumes.