Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 12, Number 1, 1 January 1995 — Hawaiian educators recognized as kukui -- guiding lights [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Hawaiian educators recognized as kukui -- guiding lights

by Jeff Clark Four educators have been rec-

ognized by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs for their outstanding contributions in the field of Hawaiian education. Leilani Violet Browne Hughes, Edith Kawelohea McKinzie, Myron "Pinky" Thompson and John Anson Hau'oli Tomoso received OHA's Ke Kukui Mālamalama award during a reception Dec. 7 in Honolulu. Hughes is one of those energetic individuals who, lucky for the Hawaiian community, doesn't know the meaning of the word

"retirement." She is still going strong after many years as a teacher in the state Department of Education (DOE). As a kupuna kāko'o in the state DOE's Kupuna Program, Hughes supports other kūpuna and helps them to be effective

in the classroom. During the summertime she helps staff the Explorations program at Kamehameha Schools. A native speaker of Hawaiian. Hughes has taught the language at the Mission Houses and has translated documents for the courts. She established, along with her late husband, the scholarship fund for the Royal Order of Kamehameha. She is a charter

member of that group's Hawai'i Chapter #1 Women's Auxiliary. She is also active in the Hawaiian

Civic Club of Honolulu and is a member of the Hui Hānai Council, an organization associated with the Queen Lili'uokalani Trust whose focus is the preservation of the Queen's music and writings. A renowned schol- | ar and kumu hula, Edith McKinzie

wears many hats. She teaches

Hawaiian language, culture and literature as an assistant professor of Hawaiian studies at H o n o 1 u 1 u C o m m u n i t y College. She has served as a lecturer for Kamehameha Schools, Alu Like, the UH-Mānoa College of

C o n t i n u i n g Education, and the Kalihi-Pālama Culture and Arts Society. She is the translator for the Hawaiian Historical Society, is a member of UH's Committee for the Preservation and Study of Hawaiian Language. Art and Culture, and heads the Native Hawaiian Culture and Arts Program's Hawaiian language newspaper indexing project.

McKinzie is a noted genealogist who published Hawaiian Genealogies, Volumes 1 and 2,

important genealogieal reference works. She represented Hawai'i in the Smithsonian Institute's Folklife Program in Washington, D.C. and at Pacific Arts Festivals in New Zealand and Tahiti. As a result of all these activities, McXinzie has

touched the minds - and hearts — of thousands of students, many of whom have themselves gone on to become teachers. Upon receiving her award, McKinzie told her fellow educators, "Our work is just beginning - there's more to eome."

As a Bishop Estate trustee for the past 20 years, Myron Thompson has helped guide the expansion of educational programs throughout the Hawaiian community, reaching more than 30,000 people every year. A firm believer in early education, he helped establish Kamehameha Schools Bishop Estate's 28 een-ter-based preschools and played a major role in obtaining federal

funding for traveling preschools and parent-infant education. His foresight and support have paved

the way for many of the alternative edueaīion programs for at-risk students. Active in the eommunity, Thompson is the president of the Polynesian Voyaging Society and staunch supporter of the voyaging eanoe Hōkūle'a, whieh has proven to be an effective educational

tool. While using his considerable skills as an administrator and advocate, Thompson has not lost his grounding in the Hawaiian culture: When the estate's new mission statement was developed, he made sure to [ infuse it with Hawaiian cultural values such as lōkahi,

pono and ha'aha'a. Now retired, Thompson has been retained by Bishop Estates as a consultant. John Tomoso is a social worker, teacher, president of Seabury Hall Preparatory Academy, and allaround friend of the community. He has been a social worker with Child and Family Services and a junior specialist with the University of Hawai'i School of Social Work. As a social worker

he has encouraged Hawaiian families to reach their full potential by holding family life and educa-

tion seminars in the Hawaiian tyTo better serve Hawaiians, he eompleted the two-year "Hawaiian Learning Program in Social Work" at the National Institute of Mental Health. He is 1 active in his church, where he continually inspires young

Hawaiian children through a youth tutoring program. Through his involvement in a great many community organizations, issues and concerns, Tomoso is able to educate the community at large about the importance of aeknowledging and respecting Hawaiian traditions. Eaeh year, OHA solicits Ke Kukui Mālamalama award nominations from the Hawaiian eommunity. A selection committee reviews the nominations and its selections are approved by OHA's Board of Trustees. In addition to the four winners, nominees included Miehael Casupang, Paula Ann DeMorales, Clyde Kahula, Margaret Machado, and Fred Kalani Meineeke. All exemplary educators, these nominees serve as kukui, illuminating the educational path for students of all ages.

Hughes

McKinzie

Thompson

Tomoso