Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 5, Number 5, 1 May 1988 — Remember Decoration Day? [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Remember Decoration Day?

By Nanettc Napoleon Pumell, Director Cemetery Research Project Before World War II, Memorial Day in Hawai'i was also known as Decoration Day. It was a festive time of the year when Hawaiian families would gather at family gravesites to have a pienie luneh, talk about family history and to really "decorate" the graves with elaborate flower arrangements and designs. Many of these gravesites became mini gardens over the years, admired by the rest of the community. In recent years, this colorful tradition has all but

disappeared. Although a few families still take the time to visit and elean their gravesites, most Hawaiians nowadays do not even know where their family gravesites are! (Do you know where your grandparents or great grandparents are buried?). If so, do you maintain the site on a regular basis? Perhaps this year those of you who do have family gravesites will take a few hours on Memorial Day, May 30, to take your own family to pay respect to your ancestors' graves and to decorate the site. Let us not forget these special places! Or you may want to join me on Monday, May 30, on a walking tour of several cemeteries in the Nu'uanu area, including Mauna 'Ala or the Royal Mausoleum and O'ahu Cemetery, one of the oldest and most historic in Hawai'i. The tour is from 9 a. m. to 12 noon and there is a cost of $5. Enrollment is limited and reservations are required. CaII 262-2723 for reservations and full details.

The gravesite of Hawaiian entertainer Jesse Kalima is decorated eaeh year by his wife, Dottie, at Hawaiian Memorial Park in Kaneohe.

Kahili feather standard bearers add color and distinction to this family gravesite at Hawaiian Memorial Park.