Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 11, Number 1, 1 January 1994 — Hawaiian community mourns loss of Andrea Akana [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Hawaiian community mourns loss of Andrea Akana

by Jeff Clark The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Hawaiian eommunity, 'ohana, and friends suffered a great loss when OHA staffer Andrea Akana died December 3. Akana's life was taken by a driver, aUegedly drunk, who crossed the center line and struck her Volkswagen head on as she returned from picking up her 19-month-old daughter Ka'aimea from her babysitter in Papakōlea. Akana was 24. Akana joined OHA as a legislative aide in OHA's government affairs office on Aug. 24, 1992. She tracked legislation affecting OHA and the Hawaiian eommunity, drafted testimony for OHA's lobbying team, maintained extensive legislative files

and kept OHA trustees and staff abreast of legislative activities. She was previously a legislative aide to state Sen. Russell Blair. She planned to become an attorney and was to take the law school entrance exam on December 4. Scotty Bowman, government affairs officer, said, "Andrea was a real asset for OHA. Her legislative experience and her analysis of legislative issues helped OHA to have a successful 1993 legislative session. And her desire to further her education and become an attomey would have made her an integral player in the future success of the Hawaiian eommunity. In addition to her profes-

sional handling of the workload, it really was a pleasure to work with her. She was easy to talk to and very willing to do whatever had to be done to get the job done. OHA and the Hawaiian community are really going to miss her." Akana's work at OHA included facilitating the activities of the 'Onipa'a Centennial Committee, whieh coordinated the centennial observance a year ago.

Committee chairperson Sen. Eloise Ululani Tungpalan said, "She really stood out as a very capable, competent individual who was working toward fulfilling her commitment to the people of Hawai'i, and for that she will always be remembered." Retired OHA administrator Richard Paglinawan said, "She was a beautiful, young woman, a humble person who was eon-

cerned about people and who never spoke negatively about others. She was a caring mother. Ka'aimea was the focus and inspiration of her all-too-short life." Services were held at O'ahu Cemetery in Nu'uanu on Dec. 9 and Akana's ashes were scattered in the oeean off of Kailua-Kona on Dec. 1 1. Ua hala aku nei ia 'ōpu'u pua 'ala Nalohia i ka 'ehu kakahiaka o Puna Lu'ulu'u Kalāwahine i ka ua loku Hanini ihola mai ke po'o wai o ka lani Ahuwale ke aloha ua hiki mai Kau keha i ka moe o Niolopua

A fragrant, budding blossom has passed Concealed in the hazy dawn of Puna Kalāwahine is burdened in pouring rain Overflowing from the water source of Heaven Love has eome clear into view And is placed in the lofty repose of Niolopua Composed by Manu Boyd. (Kalāwahine, literally "the day of the woman," is the ridge above Roosevelt High School, and is named for a deity who protected water resources. Puna, where the sun rises on Hawai'i, is associated with love. Niolopua is the god of sleep.)

Andrea Abigail Naomi Akana March 29, 1969December 3, 1993