Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 6, Number 5, 1 May 1989 — Resolutions Honor Kalama, Smith, Williamson [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Resolutions Honor Kalama, Smith, Williamson

Last month, three outstanding Hawaiians — Meali'i Kalama, Walter "Freckles" Smith, and Eleanor Williamson — were recognized for their accomplishments and community service in resolutions adopted by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees. Meali'i Kalama, who was also honored by a Senate resolution last month, has long contributed to the preservation andpromotion of the Hawaiian language, culture, and arts. When she retired from a career of 26 years as a park supervisor for the City and County of Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation, Kalama didn't slow down, but rather increased her community service. She has been recognized as one of the prominent women in Hawai'i by Alu Like, and was designated an "island treasure," by KHON-TV in its "Treasures" program narrated by Brickwood Galuteria. She is well-known for her involvement at Kawaiahao Church, where she has been a lay pastor for 14 years, encouraging members and friends to grow in faith. At Kawaiahao, she perpetuates the Hawaiian language by teaching Bible classes in Hawaiian, assists individuals and groups with Hawaiian interpretation and translation, and offers meditations in Hawaiian language at the church on Sundays. Kalama also is amaster teacher and coordinator of Launa Aloha, a weekly class of Hawaiian crafts held at Kawaiahao Church.

This active kupuna, who recently observed her 80th birthday, has been widely credited with reviving the art of Hawaiian quilting by teaching this colorful art, and displaying her handwork in quilt shows, hotels and other places. Her artistry was recognized by the U.S. Senate when she was named Master Traditional Artist in 1985 by the National Heritage Fellowship of the National Endowment for the Arts. In 1981 she was selected the alumna of the year for the class of 1927, St. Andrew's Priory, by the St. Andrew's Alumnae Association. The OHA trustees also congratulated Walter Smith, Jr. upon being chosen as Hawaii's "Small _ Businessperson of the Year" by the U.S. Small Business Administration. The SBA criteria for this award eall for: "staying power," growth in number of employees; increase in sales and/or unit volume; current and past financial reports; innovativeness of product or service offered; response to adversity; and evidence of contributions to aid community-oriented projects. Smith has provided leadership to Smith's Motor Boat Service, ine. whieh surpasses these criteria, and whieh has kept the strong Hawaiian sense of 'ohana instilled by his parents. The Wailua river of Kaua'i, the only commercially navigable river in Hawai'i, leads to one of Hawaii's most interesting and beautiful natural attractions, the Fem Grotto. In 1946, Walter and

Emily Smith, Sr. started a business taking tourists to the Fern Grotto in a row boat powered by a borrowed outboard motor, with Emily acting as boat driver and guide when Walter was busy with his job "up" at the pineapple cannery in Kapahi. 1Tie Smith children all literally grew up with Smith's Motor Boat Service acting as drivers, musicians, guides, cashiers and even mechanics as Fern Grotto became more popular and the family business continued to develop. In 1965, Walter Sr. tumed over the presidency of the company to his 31 year oki son, Walter, Jr. Better known as "Freckles," the younger Smith was managing the Coco Palms Resort dining room at the time. He more than met the challenge of being chief executive officer of the family business by his knowledge and analysis of the visitor industry, and through his ability to plan and make adaptations as the industry has changed. He led the company to expand and modemize, while keeping the basic "push" boats invented and patented by his father, whieh ingeniously reduce engine noises, vibrations and fumes, and increase safety factors. In recent years, "Freckles" has added other major components to the business by: leasing the Paradise Pacifica botanical garden and culture center along the banks of the Wailua river; and adding a luau and Polynesian show on an innovative "floating stage"; and by developing a light industrial park in nearby Kapaa town. While Smith developed and expanded the business he kept the family nucleus intact so that a third generation is now employed by the company. With all his business demands, Smith still finds time to be very involved in a number of visitor industry associations and councils. He is also a contributing member of the Hawaiian Homes Commission for the island of Kaua'i. Taking the approach that life ean be "fun," has made it so for Eleanor Williamson, who the OHA trustees recognized on her retirement from 35 years of service to Bishop Museum and the public with her knowledge and understanding of Hawaiian culture. Born Eleanor Lilihana 'a'I Horswill, but better known as "Ele," a niekname from Dr. Isabella Aiona Abbott, she attended both the St. Andrew's Priory and the Kamehameha Schools, then began taking "fun"courses at the University of Hawai'i. Between the "fun" classes, she had enough time to catch the eye of Elmer Williamson, and as fate would have it, she decided Elmer was more fun than her classes and they were married in 1938. They raised two children Rex and Gay, who always gave both parents aloha and interesting times. In 1952, Dr. Alexander Spohr, then director of Bishop Museum, was fortunate to have among his new volunteers a bright-eyed young woman by the name of Ele Williamson. By 1958 she became a part of the permanent staff at the museum. In the 1950s,

1960s and 1970s she worked and studied with the big names in Hawaiianstudies: Dr. Kenneth Emory, Mary Kawena Pukui (whom she assisted closely in several projects), Martha Hohu, Theodore Kelsey, Lokalia Montgomery, Samuel Elbert, 'lolani Luahine, Pele Suganuma, Ma'iki Aiu Lake, Ka'upena Wong, Dr. Betty Tatar and Edith McKinzie. From the 1960s to now she has shared, and eontinues to share, her expertise with such individuals as Kalani Meineeke, Naomi Losch, Larry Kimura, Eddie Kamae, Kaha'i Topolinski, Palani Vaughan, Israel Kamakawiwo'ole and many others. Though she is now retired from the Museum, and enjoying the extra time to enjoy "fun" time with husband Elmer and their family, this kupuna who is "piha 'eu" (full of liveliness and good spirit) continues to make numerous contributions to her community through various projects. She is a member of the KalihiPalama Hawaiian Civic Club , and is historian for the Oahu District Council of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs.

Meali'i Kalama

Walter Smith, Jr.

Eleanor Williamson