Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 11, Number 1, 1 January 1994 — OHA presents Ke Kukui Mālamalama award to five outstanding educators [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OHA presents Ke Kukui Mālamalama award to five outstanding educators

by Jeff Clark The Office of Hawaiian Affairs recently honored outstanding educators with its Ke Kukui Mālamalama award, recognizing contributions toward excellence in the area of Hawaiian education. The awardees are Elsie S. Kawaonaheleopa'i'i (Rodrigues) Durante, Kupuna Elizabeth

Nalani Mersberg Ellis, Edward Kaiponohea Hale, Rowena Kanaukapu Keaka, and David

Kahelemauna Roy Jr. An awards presentation was held Dec. 8 in Honolulu. In past years four awards were given, but ftve were presented this year because of the high caliber of the nominees.

"We receive many nominations that personify the symbolism of the kukui - enlightenment," said OHA education specialist Ka'iulani Vincent. "We hope to continue to promote the love and

dedication these people display by honoring them and their contributions to excellence in Hawaiian education." OHA trustee Kamaki Kanahele, chairman of the education and culture committee, said, "Their contributions I to education and therefore culture is

the whole purpose of the Kukui Mālamalama Award. Eaeh recipient is deserving in that, in their individual capacities, they eontribute in the practice and preservation of culture by educating."

Durante has been involved in the Department of Education (DOE) Hawaiian studies program since its implementation 12 years ago. She has helped develop classroom texts and materials used statewide, including the Hawaiian Studies Program Guide,

Elementary Component; Early Hawaiian Life, a social studies guide; and the Hawaiian studies curriculum guides for grades K-6. She also conducts weekly training sessions with Windward district kūpuna. Since 1983 Durante has offered her expertise in native plants to the Kamehameha Schools Explorations Program, and has

conducted native plants workshops at He'eia State

Park, Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden, Ulupō Heiau and at Kāne'ohe Maiine Corps Air Station. She is also scholarship chairman of the Kailua Hawaiian Civic Club, whieh she helped to establish.

Ellis's teaching career of more than 40 years

began in 1923 when she was 19, and spanned terms on Hawai'i, Kaua'i and O'ahu. When the Department of Education implemented its Hawaiian studies program, she eame

out of retirement to drive every day to Hale'iwa where she volunteered as a kupuna in the classroom. She has also taught Hawaiian language at the Mission Houses, and served as

program chatrperson at the Lanakila Senior Citizens Center, where she introduced many seniors to their Hawaiian heritage. Ellis is a charter member of the Queen Emma Hawaiian Civic Club and kahu of the Ali'i Pauahi Hawaiian Civic

Club. She was the first recipient of the Lei Kamoe Award presented by the Ladies of Hawai'i Chapter #1, Royal Order of Kamehameha. For many years she has been extremely active in

church activities, and regularly offers the morning pule wehe (opening prayer) at KawaiaHa'o Church. In addiUon, she performed in the 'Onipa'a street play last during last year's eommemoration ceremonies, has been a

leader in the Cub and Boy Scouts, and serves on OHA's kupuna team. Hale is a Kamehameha Schools Hawaiian resource specialist. He conducts workshops on how people learn, and over the past five years he has instructed hundreds of teachers and kūpuna in learning styles. A fluent speaker of Hawaiian, last summer he assist-

ed with Leo Ola, Hale Ku a m o ' o ' s

t r a i n i n g institute for H a w a i i a n 1 a n g u a g e immersion teachers. He also teaches students about Hawaiian eul-

tural values, cultural pride, and what it means to be Hawaiian.

Hale assists such groups as the Hawai'i Children's Museum, the Hawai'i Nature Center, the Life Foundation, the KawaiaHa'o Ministry of Music, Bishop Museum, Juniroa Productions, Hālau Nā Kamalei, HUGS, Friends of 'Iolani Palaee, and various Hawaiian language organizations. Keaka is a retired teacher who spent many years teaching in Hawai'i. Starting in 1950, she taught at Kahuku, Fort Shafter, Royal and Ala Wai Elementary Schools. Starting in 1970 she ran the DOE's "Artmobile" program. The artmobile, appropriately named by Keaka "Ho'onani," is an art museum on wheels. Keaka created informational brochures and worked with community and government organizations to make it a success, whieh gave more than 25,000 students a year the opportunity to see original works of art created by Hawai'i artists.

Keaka retired in 1984 but in 1987 was appointed by Gov. John Waihe'e to be a commissioner on the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts. Today she chairs the personnel committee and is a member of the planning and budget committee. In addition, the State Council of Hawaiian Heritage has benefitted from Keaka's efforts as a volunteer since the 1970s. Roy, known in the Hawaiian community as "Mauna," has distinguished himself as a preserver of historic Hawaiian sites. He headed two preservation projects to restore the ancient Ahu'ena Heiau in Kailua-Kona. The most recent, in whieh he was the hands-on point man for an effort that brought together disparate elements of the entire KailuaKona community, was completed last summer. More recently he has been restoring, pōhaku by pōhaku, Hikiau Heiau in South Kona. Roy was deeply involved in the establishment of KalokoHonokohau National Park as coordinator of Nā Kōkua KalokoHonokohau, a non-profit organi-

zation. His efforts included flying to Washington, D.C. and testify-

ing for more than half an hour before a committee of the U.S. Senate. Roy is also a eonsultant for E Ho'ohawai'i Kākou Hula Hālau, and uses his cultural expertise in the education of hotel employees. Awardees received a $100 gift certifi-

cate from Native Books, a lei hulu in a koa box, and a copy of Plants in Hawaiian Culture by Beatrice Krauss. All nominees received a certificate and a copy of Lā'au Hawai'i by Isabella

Aiona Abbott. Nominations are accepted from

all segments of the community, and processed by a panel of judges administered by OHA's education division. The judges' selections are voted on by the board of trustees. Nominees need not be of Hawaiian ancestry, and are judged on how they

inspire students of Hawaiian ancestry to excellence, are respected and admired by students, parents and colleagues; and take an active, useful role in the community.

Elsie Durante

Elizabeth Ellis

Kaipo Hale

Rowena Keaka

Mauna Roy Jr.