Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 6, Number 7, 1 July 1989 — Traditions-- family renews old, adopts new ones [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Traditions-- family renews old, adopts new ones

One of life's greatest pleasures is bringing happiness to others — and thereby hangs this tale of a special Hawaiian 'ohana. In March, a whole new chapter unfolded for the Kaikainahaole 'ohana who held their first family reunion of mainland and Hawai'i relatives in southern Califomia. It was a fun-filled week of getting together and enjoying visits to Disneyland, Sea World, Knotts Berry Farm and other popular sites. Most of the 33-member Hawai'i delegation had never before ventured farther away from O'ahu than to the neighbor islands. Leader of the island group was John W. Kaikainahaole, III, himself a longtime mainland resident before he retired to Hawai'i. He called the family trip "a smoothly-run, fun-filled adventure full of laughter and encouragement, love, caring and eoneem. The whole experience truly enriched our lives." The family is now making plans for a second group trip to another mainland state. Taking an active role today in bringing his family together, Kaikainahaole is one of the family kupuna. After living in California and Oregon for more than 30 years, he eame home to Hawai'i for a visit in 1969. While here he visited the family tomb in the Kawaiahao church cemetery, obtaining the key. Then-Kawaiaha'o minister Rev. Abraham Akaka encouraged him to do research on the family members buried in the tomb. Kaikainahaole scoured the state archives and other sourves, and searched the Bureau of Conveyances to locate his family through land they owned. He identified the individuals in the tomb as: Boaz Mahune, older brother of chief Puhalahua, original owner of the crypt; Mary Kaheleluli; Naomi Puhalahua, wife of Puhalahua; Betty Lou Kaikainahaole Chun; and

John III's nieee Cyrilla Chung, who died in 1989. Copies of the family geneaology were sent to Bishop Museum, the Hawai'i State Archives and to Kawaiaha'o church. According to Kaikainahaole, his grandfather, John William Kaikainahaole was the youngest of three children, and was given his name because he was the fairest child. John Kaikainahaole married Mary Kaheleluli, who was half-sister to King Kaumuali'i and blood sister to Simeon Ka'iu (who married Deborah Kapule). John HTs parents were John W. Kaikainahaole II (born on Mission Lane) and Hattie Schutte. Their children were: Lydia (married name Kaopuiki), John W., III, Esther (Leong), Gilbert (who lives in Oklahoma), May-Rose (Chung), Christopher, Mary Kuulei, Joan Momi and Betty Lou (Chun). Like many families, their tradition of reunions

had lapsed with the death of their parents. Now the family is onee more gathering regularly. When John Kaikainahaole III retired to Hawai'i 11 years ago in 1978, he and his wife, the former Dora Lum, began a tradition of a family Christmas party at their Kane'ohe home. The highlight of the party is a family music competition on a Hawaiian or a Christmas theme. Another family tradition that endures dates back five generations. Eaeh Memorial Day they gather to decorate the family tomb with haku lei made from flowers from John III's yard. He still recalls visits to the graveyard with his family as a child in the 1920s, making leis to put on graves, then later having a potluck meal together. Kaikainahaole and his wife have a son, John William Kaikainahaole IV (wife Janet), and adaughter Leialoha (husband Ted Holmquist). They have two mo'opuna, Ted, Jr. and Kaiulani Holmquist.

"The family that plays together . . ." Family members about to board their chartered sightseeing bus.

John and Dora Kaikainahaoie, center, their son John IV (left), daughter Leialoha and husband Ted Holmquist, and mo'opuna Ted and Kaiulani Holmquist.