Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 5, Number 10, 1 October 1988 — Hulihee Palace Celebrates Three Milestones [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Hulihee Palace Celebrates Three Milestones

by Deborah Lee Ward, Acting Editor Ka Wai Ola O OHA In the growing resort town of Kailua-Kona, one of the most truly Hawaiian places is the famed Hulihee Palaee, whieh celebrated these three important anniversaries with festivities over the September 9-11 weekend:

*One-hundred-fifty years ago, in 1838, the twostory palaee was built by Governor John Adams Kuakini, brother of Ka'ahumanu. In later years it served as a home for Hawaiian royalty such as Princess Ruth Ke'elikolani, King David Kalakaua, and later by Pnnee Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole. *Eighty-five years ago, in 1903, the Daughtersof Hawaii, a private historical preservation organization, was formed by island-born daughters of American Protestant missionaries to perpetuate the memory and spirit of old Hawaii. Membership is open to any woman who is directly descended from a person who lived in Hawaii prior to 1880. Membership statewide is over 2000. *Sixty years ago, in 1927, the Daughters of Hawaii took on the curatorship of the palaee as a museum, after years of neglect, and restored it to near its splendor of a hundred years ago. The Daughters of Hawaii are also curators of the restored Queen Emma Summer Palaee, Hanaiakamalama, in Nu'uanu Valley.

The first formal event of the Hulihee Palaee eelebration was held the evening of Friday Sept. 9, when two beautiful kahili, commissioned from master craftsmen Paul and Mary Lou Kekuewa, were presented by donor and kumu hula George Naope to the Daughters of Hawaii and the Hulihe's Palaee. Naope is tbe founder of the King Kalakaua Festival. The 12-foot kahili named for Governor John Adams Kuakini was presented in memory of two past curators of Hulihee Palaee, 'Iolani Luahine and Lokalia Montgomery. The other eight foot tall Kahili is named "Kamanele O Kamamalu," and was presented in memory of the first two curators, Mary Low and Aliee Brown. The regal kahili, one made of white and black, and the other of tawny-colored feathers, grace the entrance hall of the palaee.

The afternoon ceremony was followed by a lively reception featuring the music of harpist Momi Riley and a band from Aloha Airlines. On Saturday evening 200 invited guests, including alii descendant Prince David Klaren Laamea Kaumualii Kawananakoa and his lady, Eleanor, enjoyed a hearty pa'ina honoring the Daughters of Hawaii and past and present leaders. The delicious lu'au was prepared and served by members of the Waimea Hawaiian Civic Club and enjoyed by all at tables on the seaside lawn of the palaee. It was truly a festive occasion, tables decorated with colorful haku lei and 'ulu centerpieces, with music and impromptu hula shared by the "originals" of Hawaiian music, including "Aunty" Irmgard Farden Aluli. Some wonderful old favorite songs "Kealoha" and Laimana," written by Lei Collins, among others, were shared by retired palaee curator "Aunty" Lei, Nalani 01ds Reinhardt, and Myra English, who all entertained as the "Halekulani Girls."

In the formal part of the evening's program, the founders of the Daughters of Hawaii were recognized, along with all the regents, vice regents and palaee curators. It brought tears to the eyes of many of the members present from all over the state to hear their friends' names called, echoing out over the bay. In some cases, family members or friends stood up to receive leis of acknowledgement on behalf of their family member. Aunty Lei Collins was presented a beautiful koa table by the Daughters in honor of her years as curator from 1978 to 1988. Dancing to music by the Roy Anthony Band brought the evening to a satisfying close.

Sunday's events concluded the weekend festivities. Dressed in their uniform — white mu'umu'u with go!d feather lei — members of the Daughters of Hawaii assembled at Hulihee Palaee, then proceeded across Ali'i Drive to Mokuaikaua Church for services conducted by the Rev. Henry K. Boshard. Greeting the members, Rev. Boshard recalled the long history of close relations between the palaee and the church. He said Governor Kuakini raised funds to build the present Mokuai-

kaua Church, and built its two previous buildings. An afternoon band concert featuring the Hulihee Palaee Band, Charles Bud Dant, bandmaster, drew an appreciative crowd to the palaee lawn with popular Hawaiian tunes of the turn of the century and some modern pieces. Songs by royal composers King David Kalakaua, and Queen Lili'uokalani were among the pieces sung by the Merry Monarchs, a five-member men's chorus and singer Grace Basque. Traditional Hawaiian chants and dances were performed by the young students of kumu hula Etu Lopez and his Kona Gardens

School of Hawaiian Arts. Some recent compositions included a song written by Lei Collins, "Hulihe'e," "Ke Ali'i Lili'uokalani," by Larry L. Kimura, and "The Big Island Anthem," by bandmaster Dant and his wife, June. State Rep. Virginia Isbell (Kona), who also plays baritone hom in the Hulihee Palaee Band, presented Lei Collins with a certificate of congratulations from the House of Representatives to the Daughters of Hawaii.

Lei Lineoln Collins, who retired last Apnl after 10 years as curator of Hulihe'e Palaee in KailuaKona, has been succeeded by her daughter, Fanny K. Au Hoy. During her tenure, Collins supervised the interior and exterior restoration of the Palaee and the construction of the Kuakini Building. She also increased public awareness of the works of the Daughters of Hawai'i, custodians of the Palaee since 1928. She will remain active doing public relations for the Daughters of Hawai'i and is in charge of Hulihe'e's Sesquicentennial celebrations in September.

Mrs. Au Hoy has long experience in the travel industry, having served as reservations director for Aloha Airlines for 20 years and most recently as sales representative for Mid Pacific Airlines. She also helps manage the family farm in Holualoa. Au Hoy will be responsible for fundraising and management of the palaee, including the considerable daily upkeep necessary to maintain the gracious palaee furnishings, artifacts and building in a sea-air environment just a few steps away from the wash of the waves.

Entering Mokuaikaua Church: center, Eleanor and David Kawananakoa and Lei Collins.

Members of the Daughters of Hawaii assemble at the Palaee.

Curator Fanny AuHoy in a graceful hula at Saturday pa'ina.