Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 6, Number 5, 1 May 1989 — Hawaiian Studies Scholar Mitchell Dies At 83 [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Hawaiian Studies Scholar Mitchell Dies At 83

Dr. Donald Dean Kilolani Mitchell, teacher, author, lecturer, historian and consultant in Hawaiian studies, died Sunday, March 26, 1989 at his home in Kahalu'u, O'ahu. Fondly known as "Kilolani" to his family and mu!titude of friends, Mitchell was instrumental in perpetuating the traditions whieh are unique to the Hawaiian culture. His career with Kamehameha Schools and association with the Bishop Museum spanned nearly 60 years, and what he learned he in turn sought to teach others— what he understood and felt, he was always anxious to share. "Kilolani helped to pioneer some of Kamehameha's most exciting Hawaiian studies programs," stated Fred Cachola, Kamehameha's director of extension education. "He was a kupuna in the truest sense whose classroom just kept getting bigger and bigger." It was 1928 when Donald Mitchell, 22 years old and fresh out of co!lege, arrived in Honolulu aboard the ship Malolo. Mitchell was one of 67 mainland teachers hired to teach in the five new junior high schools established by the Department of Public Instruction. As a young biologist from Great Bend, Kansas, Mitchell was completely taken with the beauty of the islands, the richness of the culture and the love of the Hawaiian people. He taught general science at Kalakaua Intermediate School before he joined the staff at the Kamehameha School for Boys in 1930. During his career at Kamehameha, Mitchell taught English, biology and general science, and journalism, but his first and foremost love was for Hawaiian studies. In 1931, he founded Hui 'Oiwi, a Hawaiian cultural club for the boys that studied and promoted interest in Hawaiian games and traditions. Twenty-one years later in 1952, Mitchell conceived and managed the work experience program for Kamehameha students at the Bishop Museum. "Back in the late 1960s, Kilolani was one of the farsighted people who realized that a Hawaiian renaissance was coming," remembered Lokomaika'i Snakenberg, longtime friend and a DOE educational specialist. "He and a core of other educators formed the concept of a professiona! Hawaiian studies organization, and Hui 'Imi Na'auao O Hawai'i was bom." From 1964 to 1970, Mitchell taught Hawaiian studies, and then transferred to Kamehameha's extension education division to head t!ie Hawaiian studies resource team. Since 1972, he served as a consultant to Kamehameha Schools and eontinued to contribute to the education of Hawaii's children through his research, curriculum materials, lectures, articles and books. Among the many publications that he authored or contributed to are the 1960 edition of the Brittanica Junior Encyclopedia; Hawaiian Games for Today; Resource Units in Hawaiian Culture; The King Kamehameha Memorial Statue; and The Story of the Hawaiian Steel Guitar. His latest book, Ku Kilakila 'O Kamehameha, about the grounds and facilities of Kamehameha Schools, is currently in production. Mitchell was active in many cultural and eommunity organizations, including the Hawaiian Historical Society, Hui īmi Na'auao O Hawai'i, He'eiaKualoa Ha' ' an Civic Club, Hawaiian Music Foundatio' i_yon Arboretum Association and Hui Hanai. Mitchell was honored many times during his lifetime. Some of his honors were the Ke Ali'i Pauahi award in 1975 from Kamehameha Schools, the

Living Treasure of Hawai'i award in 1980 from Honpa Hongwanji Mission, Outstanding Non-Ha-waiian award from the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, and the Na Makua Mahalo 'Ia award in 1989 from Brigham Young University-Hawai'i. Mitchell, a widower, is survived by his brother Glenn Mitchell, daughters Margaret Mitchell Dukore and Katherine Elizabeth Myers, and three granddaughters.

♦ Memorial services were held Sunday, Apnl 2, at the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Memorial Chapel on the Kamehameha Schools campus. Donations may be made in Dr. Mitchell's name to the Bernice P. Bishop Museum.

Donald K. Mitchell