Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 5, Number 5, 1 May 1988 — Outstanding Pearl Harbor HCC Member [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Outstanding Pearl Harbor HCC Member

Maile Puahala Named Pei Winner

A completely surprised Maile Puahala was named 1987 winner of the Mitchell Pei Award, symbolic of the outstanding member in the Pearl Harbor Hawaiian Civic Club, during the club's annual installation banquet Apr. 2 at the Flamingo Chuck Wagon. Mrs. Puahala broke into tears when her aeeomplishments and name were announced by awards Chairperson Toni Lee. "I know how she feels because that's the way I was when my name was announced last year," said 1986 winner Shirley Kala Holden in presenting a large koa calabash to Mrs. Puahala. The 16th winner of the award has been a club member for 10 years. She served on its board of directors and on several committees. Her work with church and community were also cited. "Her commitment is outstanding," Mrs. Lee noted in her remarks. On hand to share in Mrs. Puahala's happy moment were husband, Richmond, and their children and mo'opuna. Mrs. Lee remarked before the presentations that she couldn't help but notice three "generations" of Hawaiian Civic Clubs at the banquet. Kailua is Pearl Harbor's mother club and was represented by President Chris Faria and his wife, Willie. Pearl Harbor in turn is the mother club of Princess Ka'iulani whieh was represented by President Kenny Haina and wife, Kuulei. The club award is named for Pei who himself was a truly outstanding member, Mrs. Lee pointed out.

Insl*illing officer and keynote speaker was the Rev. William H. Kaina of Kawaiahao Church who is also a club member. He prefaced his brief remarks by making several acknowledgements and noted that he hasn't been faithful in attending meetings because of conflicting schedules but added, "I keep in touch." Kaina spoke about preserving the culture, history and tradition of the Hawaiian. One of the ways he has done this, he explained, has been pooling the talents of kupuna in the church. He said he was surprised to leam that many of them spend a good deal of their retirement years just taking care of mo'opuna. Instead, he felt they should be sharing some of this storehouse of knowledge and talent. "We started with 15 kupuna a year ago and now we have over 100. They are involved in lauhala weaving, lei making, feathers, music, language and other things," Kaina explained. "They're having so mueh fun and they're just enjoying themselves," he reported. He said they meet at the church every Thursday from 9 a. m. to 2 p. m. "They bring their own lunches and you should see what they bring," he quipped. The kahu's light-hearted address brought enthusiastic responses from his audience. Kaina installed the following officers and members of the board of directors: John Kekuhaupi'o Kamalani, president; Shirley Kala Holden, first vice president; Beatrice Rosa, second vice president; Patrick Sniffen, treasurer; Toni Lee, recording secretary; Donna-Mae

Hopkins, corresponding secretary; and Peter Ching, immediate past president. Leiala Cravalho, Leialoha Enos, Ella Howard, Clarence Kelley, Jean Ponteras and Anna Wahinehookae, directors; Lila Medeiros, ehaplain; Helen Chamizo, historian; Joseph Naehu, sergeant-at-arms. Director Sam Keliiaa was unable to attend and Paul Needham stood for him. Also honored were outgoing board members Mrs. Puahala as corresponding secretary; Kaua Ioane, Dahlia Kamalani, Eli Kawai, Tamara Wat-son-Wade, directors; and Phillip Fernandez, sergeant-at-arms. For Fernandez, it endedover 15 years in the position.

Maile Puahala and her husband, Richmond, hold calabash with names of previous Mitchell Pei winners aiong with her own name plaque affixed to it.