Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 6, Number 1, 1 January 1989 — Outstanding Hawaiian [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Outstanding Hawaiian

Malia Craver Wins Civic Award

A loving Hawaiian upbringing is part of the moving story of Aunty Malia Craver, who received the "Outstanding Hawaiian" award at the Association of Hawaiian Civic clubs convention in Keauhou in November. The award is presented annually to an individual of Native Hawaiian ancestry nominated by a civic club member. The selected candidate has demonstrated significant contributions by example and commitment, to the State and people of Hawai'i, to the Hawaiian community and people, and pride in and involvement with the Hawaiian community. Malia Craver was born in 1927, and.was reared in peaceful Ho'okena, Kona, as the hanai child of her paternal grandparents, Manu and Malia Kama. Her paternal aunt Annie, and her husband, John Kauwe, also resided in this stable and loving home, readily sharing the responsibility to care for her with mueh genuine aloha spirit. Mrs. Craver recalls fondly. "They were Hawaiian folks with great strength and comfortably existed in their normal lifestyle." As they raised her, they taught her the Hawaiian language and traditional ways. She notes, "While some Hawaiian people were seeking after the haole cultural ways my folks hung on to theirs with great pride." This early upbringing she believes gave her a positive Hawaiian education. Mary Kawena Pukui was another positive eultural influence in Craver's life; from 1968 through 1978 she was Craver's mentor in her study of Ha-

waiian poetry. From Mrs. Pukui, Craver learned the traditional art of writing Hawaiian poetry. "She insisted that I retain (cultural values and language) to the fullest. 1 am extremely appreciative and grateful to her and the George Bacon 'ohana for granting me this great opportunity." Craver's early compositions have been recorded by Peter Ahia, Kaimana, Violet Pahu, Hui 'Ohana, Haunani Apoliona, and others. The chants that she shared with 'kumu hula Darrell Lupenui and his students were used at two hula kahiko competitions prior to his death. In both events they won first plaee. Other songs and chants composed by Aunty Malia are being used today by several halau in their performances or competitions. Craver has taught Hawaiian conversational language at Kamehameha Schools continuing education classes, at the Queen Lili'uokalani Children's Center, in the Ko'olauloa area, and to various groups of interested Hawaiians on O'ahu. In 1980 she was honored by Alu Like for her Hawaiian cultural contributions, when selected as one of the women commended during National Women's History Week. In early 1988 Craver was installed into the 'Ahahui Mamakakaua or Daughters and Sons of Hawaiian Warriors. She was appointed to serve on its advisory committee by premier Healani Doane. For 23 years Aunty Malia has been with the Queen Lili'uokalani Children's Center based at Punalu'u, O'ahu, working primarily with full or part-Hawaiian orphans and youngsters and their parent/guardian towards self-sufficiency for eaeh child. Co-worker Gwendolyn Kim said "She has helped innumerable Hawaiian youngsters and their families. Because of her cultural understanding and background (Craver is a full-blooded Native Hawaiian), she is compassionate about the difficulties experienced by those she works with." "She combine qualities that are becoming more and more rare eaeh day. She has been well educated in the w.estern world of English but she thinks in the poetic world of the Hawaiian language as she is a native speaker." "From 1978 through 1985 she provided critical leadership in organizing the annual Kualoa Amateur Hula Kahiko comp>etition among high school students, sponsored by QLCC."

Wendell Silva, executive director of the KalihiPalama Culture & Arts Society, ine. also praised Aunty Malia, "Under the tutelage of MaryKawena Puku'i, (she) has achieved recognition as one of Hawaii's most renowned composers of poetry in the traditional Hawaiian fashion." Malia Craver has contributed her personal eollection of chants composed in honor of Queen Lili'uokalani to the Queen Lili'oukalani Keiki Hula competition held annually under the auspices of the Kalihi-Palama Culture & Arts Society, for the benefit of Hawaii's children. Today, Aunty Malia Craver continues to share her aloha for her heritage, culture, language and people, as her kupuna onee shared their precious traditions with her. "(These) continue to be foremost in my mind and heart eaeh beautiful day," she says. "Today, I ean still hear the soft and sweet voices o£ my beloved folks calling to me, 'Mai, mai,' in their melodious native language. I ean still feel their warm, gentle and soothing touches comforting me eaeh new day. Yes, I do have a loving memory of a beautiful life yesterday that I will cherish and behold forever and ever."

Malia Craver